E-Paper
High-flying antics and athletic feats await: Guide to 2023 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Basketball enthusiasts from all around the world are looking forward to seeing the high-flying antics of the four new participants who will compete for the championship title
Get ready to witness the most exciting and thrilling Slam Dunk Contest of the year! As one of the highlights of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night, this year's contest will be held on February 18 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. Basketball enthusiasts from all around the world are looking forward to seeing the high-flying antics of the four new participants who will compete for the championship title.
NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest 2023 contestants
The previous year's champion, Obi Toppin, won't be around to defend his title, and the stage is set for a brand new champion.
The participants include-
- Kenyon Martin Jr from the Houston Rockets
- Mac McClung from the Philadelphia 76ers
- Trey Murphy III from the New Orleans Pelicans
- Jericho Sims from the New York Knicks.
All four players will compete in two rounds of high-flying dunks, and the two players with the highest composite scores will advance to the final round.
NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest 2023 judges
Judging the Slam Dunk Contest will be five of the most legendary names in the sport. Jamal Crawford, Lisa Leslie, Karl Malone, Harold Miner, and Dominique Wilkins will be the ones to determine the winner of the contest. All of these judges have made significant contributions to the sport, and they are more than qualified to assess the skills and abilities of the participants.
NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest 2023 format
The format for the Slam Dunk Contest is simple yet effective. The four participants will each attempt two rounds of dunks, with each dunk being scored from 40 to 50 points. Each player has 90 seconds to attempt the dunk, with a limit of three dunk attempts per round.
The two players with the highest composite scores will advance to the final round, where they will attempt two more dunks, and the player with the highest composite score will be crowned the champion.
In the event of a tie, a one-dunk dunk-off will be held to determine the winner.
Also read | Legends of basketball: A look at NBA's youngest MVPs in history
NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest previous winners
As for the previous champions, the list is long and impressive. Legends like Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, and Kobe Bryant have all won the Slam Dunk Contest. Most recently, Anfernee Simons won the title in 2021, and fans are eager to see who will be crowned the champion this year.
1984 - Larry Nance, Phoenix
1985 - Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta
1986 - Spud Webb, Atlanta
1987 - Michael Jordan, Chicago
1988 - Michael Jordan, Chicago
1989 - Kenny Walker, New York
1990 - Dominique Wilkins
1991 - Atlanta1991 - Dee Brown, Boston
1992 - Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix
1993 - Harold Miner, Miami
1994 - Isaiah Rider, Minnesota
1995 - Harold Miner, Miami
1996 - Brent Barry, LA Clippers
1997 - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
1998 - No dunk contest
1998 - No dunk contest, NBA lockout
2000 - Vince Carter, Toronto
2001 - Desmond Mason, Seattle
2002 - Jason Richardson, Golden State
2003 - Jason Richardson, Golden State
2004 - Fred Jones, Indiana
2005 - Josh Smith, Atlanta
2006 - Nate Robinson, New York
2007 - Gerald Green, Boston
2008 - Dwight Howard, Orlando
2009 - Nate Robinson, New York
2010 - Nate Robinson, New York
2011 - Blake Griffin, LA Clippers
2012 - Jeremy Evans, Utah
2013 - Terrence Ross, Toronto
2014 - East (Paul George, Terrence Ross, John Wall)
2015 - Zach LaVine, Minnesota
2016 - Zach LaVine, Minnesota
2017 - Glenn Robinson III, Indiana
2018 - Donovan Mitchell, Utah
2019 - Hamidou Diallo, Oklahoma City
2020 - Derrick Jones Jr., Miami
2021 - Anfernee Simons, Portland
Also read | NBA Rising Stars Challenge 2023: All about brand new format for young players
The Slam Dunk Contest is a must-watch event for basketball fans. With the best dunkers from around the league vying for the championship title, this year's contest is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Mark your calendars for February 18, and get ready for an incredible night of high-flying, gravity-defying dunks.
