Bucks' Andre Jackson Jr. to Participate in 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Milwaukee Bucks starting swingman Andre Jackson Jr. will suit up for this year's 2025 Slam Dunk at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco next month, sources inform Shams Charania of ESPN.

As of this writing, Jackson will compete against another defense-first young guard out of UConn, San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle, and Chicago Bulls rookie forward Matas Buzelis. More names may be added later.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Andre Jackson Jr. has committed to the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend, sources tell ESPN. Jackson, a 2023 champion at UConn, has emerged as a Bucks starter in his second season and joins Stephon Castle and Matas Buzelis so far in dunk contest. pic.twitter.com/5hwReMjBt1
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 23, 2025

More Bucks: Blockbuster Milwaukee Trade Proposal Sends Khris Middleton to West for 3-Time All-Star Guard

Jackson has enjoyed a breakout second pro season with Milwaukee.

The 6-foot-6 wing replaced veteran Gary Trent Jr. as head coach Doc Rivers' preferred starting shooting guard following a dismal beginning to the Bucks' season, and has been thriving as a critical point-of-attack and wing defender ever since.

More Bucks: Bucks Could be Interested in Landing $251 Million All-Star

Although the Slam Dunk Contest used to be the purview of All-Stars during its halcyon days, when Dominique Wilkins would duel with Michael Jordan or Vince Carter would blow minds, the competition these days has been relegated to more of an also-ran event during All-Star Saturday.

The 3-Point Contest is now the premiere event of that slate, having left the Dunk Contest and the Skills Contest in its dust.

That doesn't mean this year's Slam Dunk Contest won't be fun.

The 6-foot-6 Castle, 20, was selected with the No. 4 overall pick by San Antonio this past summer after winning a title with the Huskies. He has been elevated to a starting role already on a chippy 19-22 Spurs club, and is averaging 11.6 points on 40.3 percent shooting from the floor and 71.3 percent shooting from the foul line, 3.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 0.8 steals a night.

Like Castle, the 6-foot-10 Buzelis was a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, having been selected by his hometown Bulls following a run with the G League Ignite.

Buzelis has played significantly less on a 19-25 Chicago squad headed nowhere fast, averaging 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds across just 12.8 minutes a night in his 42 games so far.

Jackson is the only player among this triumvirate to be a contributor on a team with a record better than .500, as the Eastern Conference's No. 4-seeded Bucks are 24-17.

We may be biased, but Jackson has some major hops, and could be the favorite heading into the Slam Dunk Contest.

Yea nobody competing with Andre Jackson Jr. in the dunk contest 😤

🐰🐰 pic.twitter.com/7YsQT0f62T
— Bucks Lead (@BucksLead) January 23, 2025

Across 39 healthy contests this season (31 starts), Jackson is averaging 3.6 points while slashing .442/.362/.538, along with 3.1 rebonds, 1.4 assists, and 0.6 steals in just 17.3 minutes per.

More Bucks:

Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Could be Massive Trade Target for Warriors: Report

Bucks Reportedly Looking to Trade for Third Star Ahead of Deadline

For all the latest Milwaukee Bucks news and notes, tune in to Bucks On SI.