Where Does Will Barton Rank the 2016 NBA Dunk Contest?

Barton spoke to Complex from Thailand where he talked about his first overseas trip, his breakout season, and the Nuggets’ reported flirtation with D-Wade

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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The 2016 Dunk Contest will go down as one of the most memorable in the event’s 31 year history. And while Zach LaVine won for a second straight year, Nuggets rookie Will Barton threw down an impressive early dunk that had the Air Canada Centre crowd—including LaVine’s teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins—oohing and ahhing.  

Barton’s continued his high-flying ways this off-season, jetting to Thailand on behalf of the NBA for its Jr. NBA program presented by Foremost National Training Camp. He was there to help coach participants from all over the country looking to be named a Jr. NBA Thailand All-Star.

Barton spoke to Complex from the country where he talked about his first overseas trip, his breakout season, the Nuggets’ reported flirtation with Dwyane Wade, and February’s iconic Dunk Contest.

I know you’re in Thailand doing work with the Jr. NBA, what does that entail?
I’m out here working with the Jr. NBA program out here in Thailand. It is a great experience we’re just out here trying to grow the game of basketball. We’re out here in Thailand to give them more knowledge of the game. Help better their passion and skills for the game and help them develop a want to play the game at an early age.

So now the type of people you’re working with, are they elite-level players?
Yeah, they’re the cream of the crop. They have some good young talent over here.

How popular is the game over in Thailand?
It’s growing. It’s growing every day. Kids are learning more and more about the NBA and the game. They’re getting excited to talk about NBA players and doing certain moves and having fun playing the game.

I thought Aaron Gordon and Zack LaVine did some dunks that no one saw before and it was pretty entertaining. They were going back and forth. I would say it’s one of the top three dunk contests of all-time.

Is this your first time this far out of the country?
Yes, yes it is.

Where’s the farthest you had been before that?
Probably Cabo, Mexico.

What are your three essentials for a road trip?
My cell phone, my basketball, and a map.

Switching gears to basketball, you had a breakout year averaging 14.4 points and 5.8 rebounds off the bench for the Nuggets last year. What are you doing to make sure you keep this progression up?
Just working on my game every day, being a student of the game, just trying to get better and better. Just really trying to improve and staying focused and humble.

How excited have you been watching NBA free agency? What are your thoughts on all of those contracts?
It’s been exciting. You always love to see people get paid for what they love to do and the organizations appreciate the players and they get raises and it shows that they really are appreciated. I feel like it’s a good thing for the NBA; the business is booming and the game is so much more global now. Everyone benefits from this, so hopefully we keep growing as an organization.

How much more excited has this made you for your walk year?
I haven’t really thought about it. I’m just trying to get better, when my time comes it will come. I’ll focus on that when I get there.

 

The Nuggets didn’t sign anyone this year, but they went in hard on Dwyane Wade. What were your thoughts on that as you were seeing it play out?
I really didn’t have any thoughts about it. I feel like the Nuggets were just trying to prove they’ll go after free agents with big names and show them that they can compete and they’ll go after the big-name, big-market guys so that’s how I felt about it.

They really didn’t sign anyone but they had the three first-round picks which was great for them. How do you see Jamal Murray, Juan Hernangomez, and Malik Beasley fitting into the team both this year and as they develop as players later in their career?
They should fit in. They’re young, talented, and athletic. It brings some depth to our roster so they can fit in this year and in the future they can get better and focus and have a huge impact. That can be huge in the future.  

I know obviously there’s been a shakeup in the coaching staff this offseason. [Former assistant coach] Ed Pinckney resigned last week. Did that come as somewhat of a surprise to you?
Yeah, it surprised me. Ed was a guy I talked to a lot. He was someone on the staff that I trusted, and he was always honest with me. He’s been around the league a long time so it was surprising. I had no clue that he was even thinking about that so you never want to see a good guy like that go so it’s tough.

How did you find out about the news?
I actually found out on the Internet.

 

Wow. Going back to this year, you were in one of the best dunk contests ever. Where did that one rank all-time in your book?
It was right up there. I thought Aaron Gordon and Zack LaVine did some dunks that no one saw before and it was pretty entertaining. They were going back and forth. I would say it’s one of the top three dunk contests of all-time.

It really was one of the great ones. I remember watching your dunk, which was great, but it just got buried in such an impressive field. You probably could have won the contest in a lot of other years.
It’s something we come as athletes and being creative, like I said those two guys put on a huge show and I’m just happy to be a part of it.

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