Video: Blake Griffin slam-dunks over a Kia Optima

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By Tim Beissmann | February 28th, 2011

It’s not every day that you see someone jump over a Kia Optima to make a slam-dunk.

LA Clippers basketball player Blake Griffin did just that during the NBA’s All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest over the weekend.

Kia Motors has wasted no time either, already turning the dunk into an advertising campaign for the midsized sedan.

Many have criticised the dunk – which eventually won the competition – as underwhelming given the Optima is only 1835mm wide and is relatively low at the bonnet, but I’d like to see all the knockers pull off the move.

It was also an excellent demonstration of the Optima’s large sunroof, with Cleveland Cavaliers player Baron Davis making a cameo appearance with the alley-oop pass from inside the car.

Kia is the official sponsor of the NBA, and stunts like this are the perfect way to get the attention of its target audience in the US, and around the world.

Read CarAdvice’s full drive review of the Kia Optima.

john

If any of the knockers gave that a crack, the poor little Kia would be at the body shop getting its human sized hole hammered out of the bonnet right now.
An excellent dunk and kia is smart too utilise it!
crouchy

As a basketballer, I tend to agree that its a pretty average looking dunk and it’s certainly not worthy of winning when you compare it to years gone by.

Kia is the major sponsor though so I guess its the corporate dollar winning again………..
aidan

It won largely due to theatrics, of course being the official car of the NBA helps.
His swecond round ‘elbow’ dunk was best.
Jimmy

I’d be more impressed if it was parked length-ways from the free throw line.
Valet Dabess

as dunking goes, it’s already been done before
G

Pretty average dunk for this contest, he starts the jump way to close to the basket.
Just go to youtube and try to find the one when Jordan jumps from the free throw line, much better.

Valet Dabess

look up team flight brothers
aidan

Serge Ibaka dunked from behind the free throw line this year.
realistic

I miss Jordan – there was and probably never will be someone like him.

Damian

Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose… Jordan is outdated already.

Yun

Jordan is outdated Damian?? That’s the biggest joke i’ve heard in years. Stick with cars mate, comparing Jordan with Durant and Rose just shows you don’t know nothing about bball lol.

Jacob Martyn

I think if each team was allowed to go with different manufacturers, there would be more money in the NBA overall, instead of some bigwigs deciding every team in the NBA will use KIA.

That’s how it is in the EPL, AFL, etc.
Hansome_AL

I thought “white men can’t jump”….

Jimmy

Clever. Blake Griffin isn’t white anyway. He’s mixed race.

Anthony

Jordan woulda nailed it… over the roof of the Kia. I reckon Spud Webb (at under 6ft tall) woulda done a great job of it too.

Nice looking car, the Optima. Saw one in a car yard in Bairnsdale today. Neverthought a Kia would make me look twice!
http://MARTIN BP legacy 3.0RB

If he smashed and destroyed this crap…(no I mean car).
It would be a great Kodak moment !!!
Yun

This dunk is way overrated and shouldn’t have won the title. JaVale McGee’s dunks were more creative but Blake is just more popular.
Amir

I remember the 80s with Jordan and Dominique Wilkins…
And you call these slam dunks?
Jordan was one of a kind; don’t dare compare him with little above-average players like Kobe Bryant, let alone Durant and Rose.
I’ve been playing the game for 20 years now and in my dictionary, Basketball means Michael Jordan.
And for this year’s competition, the winner was the KIA not Griffin.