NBA Slam Dunk Contest 2015: Participant List, Historical Records and More
The Slam Dunk Contest has been the preeminent skills competition during the NBA's All-Star weekend since its inception in 1984, and there is little doubt that will continue to be the case in 2015.
This year's event is stacked with supremely talented and exciting athletes who could potentially whip the Barclays Center crowd into an absolute frenzy on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Some might argue the Slam Dunk Contest isn't as prestigious as it was when the likes of Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins ran the show, but with a group of young, hungry dunkers ready to put on a show, the 2015 competition should be a must-watch affair nonetheless.
Here is a look at the stars who will be competing this year, as well as both current and historical information regarding the Slam Dunk Contest.
List of Participants
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks |
| Victor Oladipo | Magic |
| Zach LaVine | Timberwolves |
| Mason Plumlee | Nets |
Zach LaVine officially warned the backboards:
As The Associated Press reported on Wednesday, via ESPN.com, Victor Oladipo plans to donate part of the prize money to charity if he wins.
"I wanted to give back," he said. "I feel like that's the type of human being I am, first and foremost, just to give back to people who are not as fortunate as me. I'm all about making a difference, and I felt that was the best way to do so."
Who is considered the favorite? NBA analyst Jarrod N Rudolph and Zach Harper of CBS Sports believe the answer is simple:
Start Time: Saturday, Feb. 14, at 8:30 p.m. ET (Fourth event of night)
TV: TNT
Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
Live Stream: TNT Overtime
Mobile: NBA Mobile
Slam Dunk Contest Rules
The Slam Dunk Contest has returned to its classic format, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports:
The 2014 event pitted the Eastern Conference against the Western Conference, with three dunkers a side. The initial Freestyle Round gave every dunker 90 seconds to dunk as many times as possible. After that, the judges picked a winning conference, and that conference was allowed to choose the Battle Round order.
The Battle Round featured head-to-head matchups between Eastern Conference and Western Conference dunkers. The first conference to win three battles was determined to be the winner.
In the interest of keeping up with tradition, though, fans were allowed to vote for the night's best dunker in order to determine an individual champion, which ended up being Washington Wizards point guard John Wall.
All-Time Winners
| 2014 | John Wall, Washington Wizards |
| 2013 | Terrence Ross, Toronto Raptors |
| 2012 | Jeremy Evans, Utah Jazz |
| 2011 | Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers |
| 2010 | Nate Robinson, New York Knicks |
| 2009 | Nate Robinson, New York Knicks |
| 2008 | Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic |
| 2007 | Gerald Green, Boston Celtics |
| 2006 | Nate Robinson, New York Knicks |
| 2005 | Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks |
| 2004 | Fred Jones, Indiana Pacers |
| 2003 | Jason Richardson, Golden State Warriors |
| 2002 | Jason Richardson, Golden State Warriors |
| 2001 | Desmond Mason, Seattle SuperSonics |
| 2000 | Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors |
| 1997 | Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers |
| 1996 | Brent Barry, L.A. Clippers |
| 1995 | Harold Miner, Miami Heat |
| 1994 | Isaiah Rider, Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 1993 | Harold Miner, Miami Heat |
| 1992 | Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix Suns |
| 1991 | Dee Brown, Boston Celtics |
| 1990 | Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks |
| 1989 | Kenny Walker, New York Knicks |
| 1988 | Michael Jordan, Chicago Buls |
| 1987 | Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls |
| 1986 | Spud Webb, Atlanta Hawks |
| 1985 | Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks |
| 1984 | Larry Nance, Phoenix Suns |
Memorable Dunk Contest Moments
Dwight Howard's Superman Dunk (2008)
After what some may categorize as a few stagnant years, the Slam Dunk Contest was revitalized in 2008 when then-Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard put on one of the greatest shows in the event's history.
Howard threw down several impressive dunks, but the one that will always be remembered has been dubbed "The Superman Dunk," as the 6'11" big man donned a cape and fired the ball through the hoop.
It may not have been a dunk in the traditional sense, as Howard actually threw the ball through the hoop, but the live crowd didn't care one bit.
The Superman moniker has stuck with Howard through stops with the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, and that is due largely to his famous dunk.
Howard revolutionized the Slam Dunk Contest to some extent due to his height (6'11") and creativity. Will anyone be able to match him in that regard this year?
Vince Carter's Honey Dip (2000)
Vince Carter will forever be remembered as one of the greatest dunkers in NBA history. He has quite an impressive body of work to back that up, but the greatest example is his "Honey Dip Dunk" from the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest.
The best way for a dunker to differentiate himself from others is to do things that nobody has ever seen before. Vinsanity did precisely that as a member of the Toronto Raptors when he threw down a dunk and proceeded to hang on the rim by his elbow after sliding his arm through the net.
It was an awe-inspiring dunk that has never truly been replicated. As ESPN's SportsNation pointed out, it's difficult to believe Carter's landmark dunk occurred nearly 15 years ago:
Carter is still going strong as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies at 38 years of age. While he very rarely elevates to that degree at this point in his career, Carter's dunking legacy was cemented long ago.
Michael Jordan's Free-Throw-Line Dunk (1988)
The Slam Dunk Contest was still in its infancy in 1988, but Chicago Bulls superstar Jordan ensured that it would forever be a staple of NBA All-Star weekend thanks to his performance.
Chief among the many dunks that led to MJ being named champion was his incredible slam where he took off from the foul stripe.
Jordan dunked the ball emphatically and most definitely earned the nickname "His Airness" based on the manner in which he glided through the air with the greatest of ease.
While many of today's dunkers rely on gimmicks and trickery in order to impress the fans, Jordan didn't need anything other than pure athleticism.
His free-throw-line dunk was extremely simple on the surface, but it will always be viewed as an all-time great due to the grace he displayed.
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