After a Warriors practice recently, Juan Toscano-Anderson’s phone buzzed. It was his agent. The NBA wanted to invite him to the Slam Dunk contest on All-Star weekend.
“I thought he was trolling,” Toscano-Anderson said. “Me out of all people in the NBA?”
No joke. And it was an easy decision for JTA.
“Why would I say no, man?” Toscano-Anderson said. “I’m a kid from 95th and A street, East Oakland. I used to dunk on my courts in my grandpa’s driveway and break the milk crates.”
Toscano-Anderson admitted he’s been thinking about the dunk contest “every second of every day” since he got the invitation. On Saturday at 5 p.m. PT, he’ll be part of the four-man Slam Dunk contest field along with Jalen Green, Obi Toppin and Cole Anthony.
“I’m nervous. I’m excited,” Toscano-Anderson said. “It’s a huge platform. Y’all seen how excited I’ve been to be on this team and be in the NBA. I never in a million years thought I’d be a part of All-Star weekend. … My thoughts have been racing for sure.”
JTA's most memorable dunk of the season came in December, when he gathered in the lane before throwing down a huge windmill on Phoenix Suns big man JaVale McGee.
Toscano-Anderson was only six years old when Vince Carter stole the show at Oracle Arena in Oakland at a classic Slam Dunk contest during 2000 NBA All-Star Game weekend. In 2002 and 2003, Warriors fan favorite Jason Richardson won back-to-back titles in the Slam Dunk contest.
So, will Richardson influence Toscano-Anderson’s routine Saturday?
“He definitely inspired me, for sure,” Toscano-Anderson said. “I’ve been a Warriors fan all my life. For him to win it, not only once but twice, was huge. Kudos to J-Rich, I’m a big fan of his. But I can't confirm or deny that that’s going to be part of my repertoire.”
Toscano-Anderson said he still remembers watching those J-Rich dunk contests as a youngster.
“I remember how excited I was that he was going to bring that trophy back to Oakland,” Toscano-Anderson said. “Those Warriors jerseys are just so memorable. Whenever I think about the Warriors, even now, I think about those jerseys.”
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Don’t be surprised if Toscano-Anderson busts out a lightning bolt J-Rich jersey on Saturday, folks. JTA wants to put on a show for all of Dub Nation.
“It’s very nostalgic for myself,” Toscano-Anderson said. “More than anything, I just want Warriors fans to enjoy seeing somebody from their favorite team in the dunk contest and real Warriors fans having a nostalgic moment.”
The Warriors will have five representatives at All-Star weekend, as Jonathan Kuminga was named a Rising Stars replacement Wednesday, Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins will start the main event Sunday and Draymond Green is out with an injury. You can make an argument that JTA is the third-best dunker on the Warriors behind Kuminga and Gary Payton II, but Toscano-Anderson said he doesn't have to prove anything to anyone.
“I’m going in there with house money,” Toscano-Anderson said. “I got nothing to lose.”
