SPOKANE, Wash. — Tyler Cronk added another trophy to his collection Sunday, defeating Spokane native Ben Ehlert in the finals to win his fourth Hoopfest Slam Dunk Contest championship under the GESA Pavilion.
The championship round featured six finalists, but it ultimately came down to Cronk and Ehlert battling for the title. After a back-and-forth final that included several missed attempts from both competitors, Cronk came away with another championship.
“Me and Ben were just going head-to-head, missing dunks back and forth,” Cronk said. “It’s just fun being here. So many people, great energy. People come here to see some dunks. I try my best to knock down as many as possible.”
Cronk, who finished third a year ago while dealing with an injury, said returning to the top made the victory even more meaningful.
“Last year I was injured, so I came up short and came up third,” Cronk said. “But it’s just fun being here.”
Now a member of the Harlem Wizards, Cronk spends his time traveling around the world entertaining fans through basketball.
“They go around the world entertaining everybody, putting smiles on faces,” Cronk said. “Just spreading the word to always have fun and always have a smile on your face.”
Cronk said interacting with fans—especially kids—is one of the biggest reasons he continues to compete at Hoopfest each year.
“It’s more about having fun and letting the kids have fun,” Cronk said.
While he admitted he would’ve preferred the contest to end with both finalists successfully throwing down their final dunks, Cronk was grateful for another opportunity to compete.
“It was a weird ending, but I had fun,” Cronk said. “Being here every single year is a great privilege for me.”
Cronk’s fourth title further cements his place as one of the most accomplished dunkers in Hoopfest history.
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