Sprite Slam Dunk Showcase

This article has been contributed by James Blackburn (thanks, James!):

I went to Atlanta this weekend for the Sprite Slam Dunk Showcase presented by Sprite and the NBA. The event was held at Lenox Square Mall in the parking lot. Sprite had flown in 16 of the best dunkers in the country to compete for $5,000. Steet legends like TDub, Special FX, JFK, and Werm competed as well as YouTube regulars Golden Child, Elevator, Dthac, and Jonesy. Many of these guys are with Team Flight Brothers who post insane dunks on the web regularly. The atmosphere was cool with a DJ, and special appearances by Marvin Williams of the Hawks, Hot Sauce from And 1, and the Atlanta Hawks dance team. Sprite and the NBA teamed up to put on a great event. Prizes like NBA shirts, headbands, and shorts were given out, as well as free Sprite and water to everyone in attendance. Everyone in the crowd was also given electronic keypads to vote for each dunk, which transmitted to a TV to decide who won.

They had a large bracket with all the contestants’ names on it, so there were head to head battles with the winner moving on. Marvin Williams helped judge the championship round.

The dunks were insane with 540’s, through the legs, behind the back, and windmills shown on a regular. JFK tried to jump over a car, but rolled his ankle in the process and had to pull out. That left a relatively easy road for the 5’9” TDub who wowed the crowd enough to take home the enlarged $5,000 check. Props to Sprite and the NBA for putting on a well thought out and planned event like this for free for people to enjoy.