Pat Connaughton Throws Down Monster Dunk

Former Irish guard shows off his impressive hops.

Pat Connaughton threw down an emphatic dunk on Sunday night in Summer League action. Connaughton made a very athletic play as he took his man off the dribble, went flying down the lane for the posterizing, one-handed slam. Coming out of Notre Dame he had one of the best vertical jumps in the country. At the NBA combine he tested out at a 44 inch vertical jump, which was one of the best at the combine. You can see the video of his dunk below.

This dunk was very reminiscent of a dunk Connaughton put down Jabari Parker and Duke back in 2013.

Connaughton was drafted last season in the second round by the Brookyln Nets, but was quickly shipped to the Portland Trail Blazers. Now in the NBA second round draft picks are not guranteed a roster spot, but Connaughton played well enough in last year’s Summer League and in training camp to earn a spot on Portland’s roster. Last season for the Trail Blazers Connaughton only averaged 4.2 minutes and 1.1 points per game.

There is a level of uncertainly with regards to where Connaughton will be playing next year. Portland still has to decide whether or not they want to pick up his option for next season. From what I understand they have until the end of Summer League play to do so, which is only about a week a way. Also the Trail Blazers did ink guard Allen Crabbe to a four-year $75 contract last week. Crabbe took most of the minutes away from Connaughton last season, so this could also have an impact on his future for next season.

Through two Summer League games this year, Connaughton is averaging 31.5 minutes a game and is the team’s third leading scorer at 11.5 points per game. The downside is that he’s shooting a dreadful 23% from the floor and 14% from three-point land. Three-point shooting was one of Connaughton’s strengths coming out of Notre Dame and so far it hasn’t translated to the NBA.

Next: Notre Dame vs. Michigan is Coming Back

Connaughton is a great athlete, not everyone is drafted in two different sports. Luckily for him if this whole NBA thing doesn’t work out, he has a baseball career to fall back on with the Baltimore Orioles. The way it’s looking right now, baseball sure looks like the way to go if you’re Connaughton.