| RANK | PLAYER | RUNDOWN | LAST |
| 1 |  |
ISAIAH THOMAS, G, SACRAMENTO: Heads into the second half as leader in our clubhouse, averaging 20.2 points and 6.3 assists. A lot of other media outlets tout Lance Stephenson as the most improved player, but Thomas has gone from Greivis Vasquez’s backup to one of the West’s best point guards. | 1 |
| 2 |  |
LANCE STEPHENSON, G, INDIANA: Despite this incredible video, Sir Lance-a-lot didn’t make the All-Star Game. He is, however, seemingly the popular favorite to take home Most Improved Player. He’s been the Paul George to last season’s Paul George, if that makes any sense. | 2 |
| 3 |  |
ANDRE DRUMMOND, C, DETROIT: Moves up after his show in the Rising Stars with a Chamberlain-like line of 30 points and 25 rebounds. That’s probably the first time anyone has mentioned Wilt and the Rising Stars in the same sentence. In a moment symbolic of his season with the Pistons, this happened. | 4 |
| 4 |  |
DEANDRE JORDAN, C, LA CLIPPERS: He didn’t crack All-Star Weekend, either, but Jordan’s complete domination of the field goal percentage and rebounding categories keep him in the table. He’s doubled his rebounding from last season (7.2 to 14) in only nine more minutes of action per game. | 3 |
| 5 |  |
ANTHONY DAVIS, F-C, NEW ORLEANS: The ‘Brow afforded himself pretty well in the All-Star Game with 10 points, eight boards and two steals in just nine minutes. He told the Shreveport Times that he was nervous to come off the bench, which is both endearing and startling – he’s only 20 years old. |
5 |
DROPOUTS: None.
NEXT FIVE: Paul George, F, Indiana; Reggie Jackson, G, Oklahoma City; Terrence Jones, F, Houston; Jeremy Lamb, G, Oklahoma City; Miles Plumlee, C, Phoenix.
OTHER RANKINGS: MVP | Sixth Man | Power | Rookie
Kels Dayton is a freelance writer whose work has also appeared in SLAM Magazine. You can check out more of his work at RoundballDaily.com and SportzEdge.com. Follow him on Twitter @RoundballDaily.
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It seems that this was the only way they could increase the quality of the participants (name-wise). People like LeBron don’t want to be enter if they can’t be assured of winning. What they really should do is have 2 dunk contests – one exhibition for the “too proud” NBA players and a one where they are graded.
And I DO share your confusion about why we should care about East vs West in dunking.