For an event that’s lost its excitement and prestige over the last few seasons, it’s worth a shot to grant an opportunity to one of Miami’s top athletes to perform in a venue of such.
Martin doesn’t have many creative finishes, which is indeed a big deal for one of the most anticipated traditions in basketball but is a fearless dunker.
That, alone, is a trait and reason to insert him into the event. So far, he’s been a launching pad that the Heat haven’t had since late 2020, which wasn’t long after Derrick Jones Jr. took home the Dunk Contest honors.
There’s no coincidence there either, as that was when he was an essential piece to Miami’s run in the 2020 Playoff Bubble, all in the same season. While Martin likely wouldn’t be a finalist as Jones Jr. was, it just seems that he has the stuff to prove that he is more than just an in-game dunker.
Caleb Martin can fly 🤯@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/M6iv0BBQi9
— Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (@BallySportsFL) December 5, 2021
As the Heat currently have Bam Adebayo out indefinitely, their franchise center has led in total made dunks, and by a wide margin. Martin won’t get the volume to challenge that while Bam sits though— or will he?