This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Minneapolis — Jazz forward Jeremy Evans will likely replace New York's Iman Shumpert in the NBA All-Star dunk contest, according to HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy.
The Salt Lake Tribune first reported Evans' possible addition to the event.
The contest is scheduled Saturday at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.
Shumpert is dealing with patellar tendinitis in his right knee and is day-to-day. He is expected to sit out All-Star weekend to allow his injury to heal, which would open the door for Evans' last-minute addition.
Utah players, fans and the organization enacted grass-roots campaigns to get Evans in the contest. If selected, he'll join Minnesota's Derrick Williams, Houston's Chase Budinger and Indiana's Paul George.
Evans is only averaging 1.7 points during his second season with the Jazz and is averaging less minutes (5.6) than any player on the team. The Human Pogo Stick is a fan-favorite for his alley-oop slams, though, and he jumped over his Camaro after being partially inspired by 2011 dunk-contest champion Blake Griffin.
The Tribune first reported Evans' initial interest in the dunk contest.
If Evans is selected, he'll join Jazz teammates Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors this week in Orlando. The latter two are part of the Rising Stars Challenge.
Brian T. Smith
Twitter: @tribjazz