News broke Wednesday night that the Nuggets’ sixth man, Will Barton, had been invited to the 2016 NBA All-Star game Slam Dunk Contest.
Barton, 25, revived his career in Denver and is having the best season of his young NBA career. This yea,r Barton is averaging 15.6 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, and 2.4 assists per game.
The man who’s nickname is “The Thrill” told Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post he has competed in competitions in the past and won, meaning fans will get someone with prior experience in the art of dunking.
Barton has dazzled fans of the game all year like with his ferocious dunks, so anyone who does not know the high-flying Barton is in for a show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRXBGj-GlpA
However, Barton’s selection means much more for the Denver Nuggets than the representation. The team is now presented with a star that can help put Denver on the map for basketball.
The Nuggets struggle to gain recognition and popularity because they do not have an all-star caliber player on their roster; however, Barton allows fans of the game to put a name to a face in Denver.
The dunk contest is a fan favorite and singles out the part of the game that everyone loves. All eyes will be on Barton when it’s his time to shine, meaning that everyone will be glued to Barton and the city he plays for.
Denver needs a player that is marketable and entertaining to watch, and they may have that with Will Barton.
Since the departure of Carmelo Anthony the Nuggets have not sent a player to the All-Star game. Although Barton is not an All Star, he will represent the Nuggets at the festivities leading up to the game, which is progress for the Nuggets who have been in rebuild mode for the past three years.
The Thrills’ nomination is more than dunking; it’s about putting the Mile High City on the map, bringing a dunk championship to Denver for the first time in team history.
