And then there were four.
Four Knicks are in the All-Star festivities in Houston now that James White has been added to the Slam Dunk contest and Steve Novak will fire away in the 3-Point Contest.
“A lot of people haven’t seen James,” Carmelo Anthony, who will play for the East in the Feb. 17 All-Star Game with teammate Tyson Chandler, told ESPN.com. “He’s the best-kept secret.”
The 6-foot-7 White will compete in the Dunk Contest against Jeremy Evans of Utah, Eric Bledsoe of the Clippers, Kenneth Faried of Denver, Gerald Green of Indiana and Terrence Ross of Toronto.
“I saw James when I was probably like 10, 11 years old,” Kevin Durant told ESPN.com. “That was the first time I saw him play, in D.C. He was just flying. He jumped from the free throw line, dunked between the legs before anybody I’ve seen do it. He was like the most athletic guy ever. Hopefully he gets in the dunk contest.”
White said Vince Carter is his favorite dunker of all-time but he has no specific dunks in mind. There won’t be any jumping over cars.
“Nah, I won’t be doing none of that stuff,” he said recently.
Novak, who is third in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 44.4 percent, will join fellow sharpshooters Kyrie Irving of Cleveland and Paul George of Indiana — both first-time All-Stars — as well as Ryan Anderson of New Orleans, Matt Bonner of San Antonio and Stephen Curry of Golden State.
“I would love to, I would love to, so obviously we’re still hoping that that happens,” Novak said before it was announced.
SLAM DUNK WINNERS
1984—Larry Nance, Phoenix
1985—Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta
1986—Spud Webb, Atlanta
1987—Michael Jordan, Chicago
1988—Michael Jordan, Chicago
1989—Kenny Walker, New York
1990—Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta
1991—Dee Brown, Boston
1992—Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix
1993—Harold Miner, Miami
1994—Isaiah Rider, Minnesota
1995—Harold Miner, Miami
1996—Brent Barry, L.A. Clippers
1997—Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
2000—Vince Carter, Toronto
2001—Desmond Mason, Seattle
2002—Jason Richardson, Golden State
2003—Jason Richardson, Golden State
2004—Fred Jones, Indiana
2005—Josh Smith, Atlanta
2006—Nate Robinson, New York
2007—Gerald Green, Boston
2008—Dwight Howard, Orlando
2009—Nate Robinson, New York
2010—Nate Robinson, New York
2011—Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers
2012—Jeremy Evans, Utah Jazz
FOOT LOCKER THREE-POINT CONTEST YEAR-BY-YEAR WINNERS
1986 – Larry Bird, Boston
1987 – Larry Bird, Boston
1988 – Larry Bird, Boston
1989 – Dale Ellis, Seattle
1990 – Craig Hodges, Chicago
1991 – Craig Hodges, Chicago
1992 – Craig Hodges, Chicago
1993 – Mark Price, Cleveland
1994 – Mark Price, Cleveland
1995 – Glen Rice, Miami
1996 – Tim Legler, Washington
1997 – Steve Kerr, Chicago
1998 – Jeff Hornacek, Utah
2000 – Jeff Hornacek, Utah
2001 – Ray Allen, Milwaukee
2002 – Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento
2003 – Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento
2004 – Voshon Lenard, Denver
2005 – Quentin Richardson, Phoenix
2006 – Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
2007 – Jason Kapono, Miami
2008 – Jason Kapono, Toronto
2009 – Daequan Cook, Miami
2010 – Paul Pierce, Boston
2011 – James Jones, Miami
2012 – Kevin Love, Minnesota
(Photo: Getty Images)
