Thunder rookie Hamidou Diallo is coming off a victory in the 2019 NBA Slam Dunk contest, but he already has his eyes set on next year's matchup and competing against someone in particular.
Diallo wants a rematch with Duke sensation Zion Williamson. The two faced off against each other at the Under Armour Elite 24 dunk contest nearly three years ago in New York City, and Williamson took home the win that day.
DIALLO REALLY DID THE VINCE ELBOW DUNK OVER SHAQ pic.twitter.com/NmH9vUWyFI
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 17, 2019
When asked Saturday after winning the dunk contest if he'd be interested in a rematch against Williamson in 2020, Diallo jumped at the opportunity.
"Oh that's tough. Let's do it," he said, per the Washington Post.
OKC’s Hamidou Diallo, who lost to Duke’s Zion Williamson in a high school dunk contest, wants a rematch next year in Chicago. “Oh that’s tough. Let’s do it.” pic.twitter.com/t6OO2e2fkr
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 17, 2019
Even though Williamson technically won the contest in 2016, Diallo claims the win was "basically" his.
“I won,” Diallo told The Athletic earlier this week. “I had won. I just didn’t complete the (last) dunk. If I had completed the dunk, I would have won. But basically I won. I did everything to make me a winner up to that point. I just didn’t complete the dunk.���
A projected No. 1 pick for June's draft, Williamson has become known for his dunks in his first season with Duke. The forward has drawn praise from players around the league, including LeBron James, while averaging 22.4 points and 9.2 rebounds on 68.3 percent shooting from the field.
