5 players who belong in the 2018 NBA Dunk Contest

3. Jaylen Brown

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reported Tuesday that Jaylen Brown has not received an invite to the Slam Dunk contest at All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.

If that remains true we say the NBA is making a major mistake.

Brown is a major part of the Boston Celtics’ young core that looks primed to make a deep playoff run later this year. Exposing Brown now to the NBA All-Star weekend fans would be a great head start to familiarize them with a rising young talent on a team with the potential to become the next NBA dynasty.

What Danny Ainge and company have built in Boston is impressive, and might not yet be finished. Boston certainly looks like they will be near the top of the league standings for years to come. Brown is an important part of that. An appearance in the Dunk Contest would showcase his talents to the world.

Plus, the dude can flat out rock the rim.

Brown is an explosive leaper off of two feet, and finishes with power at the rim. He could bring a bit of a Dominique Wilkins-like presence to the contest. He’s not afraid to attack the rim in traffic, and we want to see what he can bring to the table in the open floor environment of the Dunk Contest.

Also, he’s a Celtic, with the surname of Brown, and he wears jersey number seven. The nostalgia factor of him potentially recreating Dee Brown’s famous performance in the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest alone is worth including Jaylen in the event.

Get him a pair of Reebok Pumps and make it happen.