The New Orleans Pelicans have no shortage of above-the-rim athletes, but determining the team's best dunker is apparently a more complicated debate than simply picking Zion Williamson. From Yves Missi's rim-rattling finishes to Trey Murphy III's creativity and Karlo Matkovic's surprising explosiveness, the Pelicans have several candidates capable of stealing the show in a hypothetical team dunk contest. Derik Queen has been watching closely during training camp and shared his rankings after a recent practice.
Queen started by qualifying the grading system, explaining why Missi's impressive power does not necessarily translate into winning a dunk contest.
“Yves, his dunks are just powerful,” Queen noted. “(Missi) doesn't do anything spectacular; he just takes off and it's a power dunk. Trey got some more stuff to him.”
When pressed on who would actually take home the hardware, Queen didn’t hesitate.
“Definitely Karlo,” laughed Queen. “(Matkovic) and (Murphy) are 1A and 1B.”
Perhaps the biggest surprise was Williamson's absence from the top three spots.
The two-time All-Star has built much of his reputation around extraordinary explosiveness, routinely finishing above defenders despite his powerful frame. However, Queen explained that Williamson has not exactly been showcasing those abilities during training camp.
“I don't really see (Williamson) dunk much in practice,” Queen admitted. “I don't think he dunks in practice.”
That does not mean Williamson has lost his trademark athleticism. Rather, the distinction highlights the difference between what teammates witness during practices and what fans have grown accustomed to seeing in the Smoothie King Center.