Suns forward Derrick Jones Jr. elevates, places second in NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Feb 18, 2017, 8:42 PM | Updated: 9:34 pm

Suns reporter, ArizonaSports.com editor

Derrick Jones Jr. was the least recognizable name to participate in NBA All-Star Saturday Night, but he made sure the world knew who he was by the end of it.

Jones placed second in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, falling to Indiana Pacers forward Glenn Robinson III in the finals.

Jones’ first dunk was over four of his buddies, including teammates Marquese Chriss, Alan Williams and Devin Booker. He missed on the first attempt, but made the second attempt.

45? 🤔🤔🤔#VerizonDunk pic.twitter.com/TxskIAdDhh

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 19, 2017

Booker did not appear to be pleased with the spot he was in.

Derrick Jones Jr. dunks in the Supreme x Nike Air More Uptempo in gold #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/hDSRXNhpVM

— B/R Kicks (@br_kicks) February 19, 2017

With the crowd quieting down, Jones woke the building back up with a thunderous between-the-legs throwdown. Booker provided the assist for the perfect 50.

50…EASY. #WeArePHX #VerizonDunk pic.twitter.com/4gxAwqSloF

— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2017

Jones advanced to the finals, but misses cost him in the final. He failed to convert on all three attempts on his first dunk and took two attempts on his last dunk of the finals.

.@TheRea1DJones with the through-the-legs 💥 pic.twitter.com/d6jLJk6ifl

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 19, 2017

Jones earned another perfect score for his last dunk, but Robinson wound up winning the trophy.

BOOKER DONE IN A HURRY

Unlike last year when Devin Booker made it to the finals of the three-point shootout on NBA All-Star Saturday Night, the second-year shooting guard out of Kentucky had a quick night.

Coming up against former Suns point guard Isaiah Thomas in the first round of the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Booker was eliminated in a hurry, barely staying in the picture to keep up with Thomas.

Thomas takes out Devin Booker. pic.twitter.com/ykKDuNtfED

— BallUpNBA ™ (@BallUpNBA) February 19, 2017

Thomas went on to be eliminated by Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward, who lost to New York Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis, the winner of the event.

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Singer Joe Jonas of the band DNCE performs at the opening of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, La., Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

In this Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, photo, young players train in Athens, Greece, under the directions of coach Spiros Velliniatis, the coach who discovered Giannis Antetokounmpo. From a scrawny, literally hungry kid kicking a ball around in an open field in the Athens neighborhood of Sepolia to a starter in the NBA All-Star Game, Antetonkoumpo has come a very long way. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Members of the All-Star Hype Squad perform during the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, La., Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver arrives at a press conference before NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, La., Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

FILE - In this March 9, 2007, file photo, Detroit Pistons forward Chris Webber dunks during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Denver Nuggets in Denver. Webber is among the 14 finalists unveiled Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, for this year's Basketball Hall of Fame induction class. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Members of the band DNCE including singer Joe Jonas, top, and guitarist Cole Whittle perform at the opening of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, , Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis raises the trophy after winning the NBA Skills Challenge during the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

Cleveland Cavaliers Guard Kyrie Irving shoots during the All-Star 3-point shootout as part of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

Cleveland Cavaliers Guard Kyrie Irving hugs Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon (10) after Gordon won the All-Star 3-point shootout as part of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon shoots during the All-Star 3-point shootout as part of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan leaps over the turntable of DJ Khaled during the slam-dunk contest as part of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

Phoenix Suns forward Derrick Jones Jr. (10) leaps over four people to make a dunk during the slam-dunk contest as part of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

Indiana pacers Glenn Robinson III reacts after winning the slam dunk contest during NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A drone carries a ball toward Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon, not pictured, during the slam-dunk contest as part of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

Indiana pacers Glenn Robinson III slam dunks over teammate Paul George as he participates in the slam dunk contest during NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Phoenix Suns Derrick Jones, Jr. participates in the slam dunk contest during NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon goes to slam dunk after a hovering drone, above, dropped the basketball as he participates in the slam dunk contest during NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Indian Pacers Glenn Robinson III participates in the slam dunk contest during NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A drone, top, drops a ball for Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon during during the slam-dunk contest as part of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

Indiana Pacers Glenn Robinson III holds up his trophy after winning the slam dunk contest during NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Phoenix Suns forward Derrick Jones Jr., leaps over three people during the slam-dunk contest as part of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

Indiana Pacers Glenn Robinson III,left, hugs Phoenix Suns Derrick Jones, Jr., right, after winning the slam dunk contest during NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. Left is Los Angeles Clipper DeAndre Jordan. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Phoenix Suns forward Derrick Jones Jr., reacts after watching a replay of his dunk during the slam dunk contest as part of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

Indiana Pacers Glenn Robinson III makes a leap during the slam dunk contest as part of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. Robinson won the competition. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)

Indiana pacers Glenn Robinson III slam dunks over teammate Paul George, a mascot, and a cheerleader, as he participates in the slam dunk contest during NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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