2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Outright Odds

The 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest is nearly here, so we look at the latest odds to win the prestigious title.

The Dunk Contest has been a staple of NBA All-Star Weekend since 1984, when Larry Nance won the inaugural event in Denver, Colorado.

In more than 40 years since, it has provided some iconic moments, from Michael Jordan’s free throw line dunk 1987, to Vince Carter’s elbow dunk 2000, to the legendary Zach LaVine-Aaron Gordon showdown in 2016.

Ahead of the 2025 event, we look at each participant’s odds to win.

Read more about the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, including how to watch, format and scoring.

2025 Slam Dunk Contest Outright Odds

This year’s Dunk Contest features a two-time reigning champ in McClung, a second-year player in Jackson Jr., and two rookies in Buzelis and Castle.

McClung, the back-to-back champion of this event and the -225 favorite to win, can become the first player ever to win three Dunk Contests in a row.

At 6-foot-2, McClung isn’t the prototypical NBA player – he has spent the majority of his pro career in the G League – but has incredible leaping and dunking ability, which is how he continues to earn a spot in the four-man field.

The 2024 G League MVP has been going viral for his dunks since high school and will have another opportunity to put on a show in the Bay Area this Saturday night.

Jackson Jr. (+550), Buzelis (+750) and Castle (+750) are longer shots to win the event, with each making their Slam Dunk Contest debut.

Jackson Jr., a 2023 NCAA champion with UConn and current Milwaukee Bucks guard, has shown off his athleticism plenty on the national stage, including several high-flying putback dunk attempts in his first season plus in the NBA.

Another former UConn Husky known for his defense, Castle has excelled in his first season with the San Antonio Spurs after being drafted No. 4 overall this past summer, and could utilize 7-foot-4 teammate Victor Wembanyama as a “prop” on Saturday.

Buzelis, the No. 11 overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 2024 draft, reportedly worked with two-time Dunk Contest champion Zach LaVine before he was traded away from Chicago before the trade deadline.

Buzelis and Castle previously participated in the 2023 McDonalds All American Jam Fest.

Odds available in select states. Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.

David Schneidman

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