Jamie Watson would like another crack at the NBA Slam Dunk Championship.
The Utah Jazz guard finished a respectable third in the All-Star Saturday contest at America West Arena, behind winner Harold Miner of Miami and runner-up Isaiah Rider of Minnesota."Maybe next year," the Jazz's low-key rookie said. "I might prepare for it next year, huh?"
Six competitors dunked in the first round, with the exception of Dallas' Tony Dumas, who bricked several attempts, clutched his wrapped right knee and sat down. Watson finished third after that first round, scoring a 40.4 to Miner's 49.2 and Rider's 44.6. Eliminated were Dumas, Tim Perry of Philadelphia and Antonio Harvey of the Lakers.
The crowd initially seemed to have a "Who's he?" attitude about Watson, who has yet to play in Phoenix, then appeared to warm to his smooth approach.
"I'm sure they were surprised," Watson said. "I'm sure a lot of people were surprised, because I don't even dunk in games."
The final round was something of a clash of styles - Watson's glider style a contrast to the power technique of the other two guys. Watson went first, opening with a nice hang-under-the-hoop jam, but he missed his next two attempts, effectively killing his chance for the first prize of $20,000. He had to settle for a mere $5,500.
In the Baby Ruth Shootaround, the Jazz's Jeff Hornacek posted the lowest score of four competitors. The contest was won by Phoenix rookie Wesley Person, who edged his older brother, Chuck, in the finals.
"I think everything happens for a reason," Wesley Person said. "It couldn't have happened any better, with Chuck and I in the Finals and me winning on my homecourt."
The winning Person sank all eight of his long-distance shots in 40.8 seconds, while Chuck Person needed one minute, 13.7 seconds to do it. John Starks of the Knicks finished in a time of one minute, 11.7 seconds, while Hornacek required one minute, 15.5 seconds.
The AT&T Long Distance Shootout was won by Miami's Glenn Rice. Rice, Indiana's Reggie Miller, Charlotte's Scott Burrell and Chuck Person were the top scorers in the first round; local boy Dan Majerle finished tied with Philly's Dana Barros for the lowest score (so much for homecourt advantage).
In the second round, Rice and Miller each scored 19 points, and in the final Rice won the coin toss, elected to go first and scored 17. Miller followed with his lowest total of the three rounds - 16.
Glenn Robinson scored 21 points to lead the White team to an 83-79 victory over the Green team in the Schick Rookie Game, but Eddie Jones of the Lakers was named MVP after posting a game-high 25 points.
In the Foot Locker Million Dollar Shot, held during halftime of the rookies game, a 16-year-old from Strongsville, Ohio, had only to make a three-pointer to win a million bucks.
Mike Hoban, a sophomore forward on the Strongsville High junior-varsity basketball team, was chosen from more than 6 million All-Star ballots cast this season. Unfortunately, Hoban's shot fell one foot short of the million. The capacity crowd chanted "One more shot," but that only happens in the movies.
Moments later, Charles Barkley was interviewed at courtside and said, "I want you fans to remember, when I shoot an airball, I want you to cheer for me, too."