A new king should ascend to the throne at Saturday's2018 Slam Dunk Contest.Down recent jaw-dropping performers likeZach LaVine and Aaron Gordon, four would-be champions step into the fray for Saturday night's main event, where up-and-coming guards will collide with one of the Association's most explosive players at the rimwho also happens to have a family member who has won this event previously.As usual, the format of the event will see each player get two dunks in the first round, with the highest combined scores over the two attempts advancing to the final round.The "who" of the finals is quite the tough one to figure out, so let's look at the participants. 2018NBASlam Dunk ContestWhen:Saturday at 8 p.m. ETWhere:Staples Center, Los AngelesTV:TNTParticipants and OddsDennis Smith Jr.,Dallas Mavericks(+170; $100 bet nets $170 profit)According to Stephen Campbell ofOddsShark,Dennis Smith Jr. looks like a strong candidate to take home the top prize here.Why not' The No. 9 pick inthe 2017 NBA Draft received stellar draft attention not only because of his strong skills at the point, but due to his astonishing athleticism.Smith, standing at 6'2", offers up some rim-rocking power:We'll have to wait and see if the creativity side of things matches the athleticism, but it's not hard to see why the Mavericks star has the potential to win. Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz (+220)Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell, theNo. 13 pick, looks like he's on his way to the Rookie of the Year award thanks to averages of19.5 points, 3.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game.He also doesn't have any problems rising up in traffic and throwing down:Sans traffic in this competition, Mitchell is bound to make a big impact as he looks to turn heads while announcing his arrival to such a festivity.A big performance would give him plenty of staying power, so look for Mitchell to come with something creative and get himself to the finals. Larry Nance Jr., Cleveland Cavaliers (+260)Larry Nance Jr. is the guy hinted at in the intro who happens to have this sort of contest in his blood.In fact, Nance's father won the inaugural NBA Slam Dunk contest in 1984, something he's picked right up from and put to good use alongside his 6'9", 230-pound frame.As one can see above, Nance uses every bit of his skill set to throw down highlight-worthy dunks in actual games, meaning it's going to be a can't-miss affair when he throws some creativity into the equation. Victor Oladipo,Indiana Pacers(+400)Oladipo is the only guy here with prior experience in the event.And what a performance it wasback in 2015, he threw down the360-degree reverse dunk that earned him a perfect score before bowing out in the finals to the seemingly unstoppable LaVine.The man who keeps proving doubters wrong in new destinations now suits up for the Indiana Pacers and averages 24.3 points per night, all while keeping arenas filled to the rafters in anticipation of what he might do at the rim.It'll be the same story Saturday night, though he'll have some serious competition.PredictionSometimes sheer physicality has to win out.Prior familial success at the event doesn't hurt, either.This one figures to belong to Nance, who towers over the competition and has the athleticism to get even higher than the rest of the participants.Mitchell, riding the rookie hype wave and what is sure to be plenty of creativity, will be there with Nance in the finals. But the athleticism and power of Nance will wow the judges enough to escape with a win and set up a situation where he'll want to come back the year after and defend the crown.Prediction:Nance wins All stats and info viaESPN.comunless otherwise specified. Odds viaStephen Campbell ofOddsShark.
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