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The NBA Slam Dunk Contest thrusted the likes of Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins and Vince Carter into gravity-defying immortality, but you won't find Rockets rookie guard Jalen Green in that echelon.
Green, the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, turned in a disastrous performance during this year's event, causing many hoops fanatics to wonder whether it should continue.
Barring any changes that signal the dunk contest's demise, the 6-foot-4 Jalen Green hopes to redeem himself in Utah next February.
“I for sure need a run-back," Green told NBC Sports. "I messed up. I need to run that back next year. We’ll figure it out. Next year. I’ll be here next year.”
Originally projected the favorite to outdo a field that featured eventual winner Obi Toppin of the New York Knicks, Cole Anthony of the Orlando Magic, Juan Toscano-Anderson of the Golden State Warriors, Green continuously missed dunks to get himself eliminated in the opening round on the night of Feb. 19.
The Houston Chronicle reported that he took about five minutes to execute his first dunk because he had run nine times at the rim.
It was a pass from fellow Rockets rookie Josh Christopher that Green finally turned into a decent windmill dunk, according to the publication.
But the fans and the panel of NBA stars had seen enough.
The cameras caught Hall of Fame center Shaquille O'Neal courtside with a disgusted look on his face, and social media -- as it has done with anything infamous -- ran away with Green's faux pas.
One amateur commentator targeted the NFT Green unsuccessfully promoted with an NSFW Tweet.
All-Star Weekend wasn't all that terrible for Green.
In the Rising Stars Challenge the night before the dunk contest, the former G League star led his teammates on the squad coached by Los Angeles Lakers great James Worthy in scoring, generating 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting, NBA.com reported.
Team Worthy; however, lost to the team coached by Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas, 50-49.