2012 NBA Slam Dunk Contest: League Switches Format for Anticipated Event

The NBA has decided to make a drastic change to the way to the All-Star Slam Dunk Contest chooses its winner while severely shortening the competition.

According to The Associated Press, fans will decide who wins the title of Slam Dunk Champion by voting via Twitter, text message or NBA.com.

This is only feasible because the league has cut the competition down to just one round.

What It Means

For this year, it means that contestants Iman Shumpert, Chase Budinger, Derrick Williams and Paul George each get just one chance to impress viewers around the world.

It also could signal the beginning of the end.

Just look at the competitors in this year’s event; it’s obviously one of the worst fields in the illustrious history of competitive slam dunking.

The league is trying to get it over with as quickly as possible and won’t even waste their time bringing in celebrities or former dunk champions to judge.

They have all but declared the contest a waste of time by making it a single round with fan voting only.

It’s a sad end to an era.

Just think back to 2007, when Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Kobe Bryant, Julius Erving and Vince Carter judged the competition and people were genuinely excited about watching two rounds of dunking.

What’s Next

It’s obvious the league needs to inject some star power into next year’s contest or they run the risk of having to cancel the event.

Plenty of All-Star weekend gimmicks have come and gone in NBA history, but the Dunk Contest has been a stalwart.

It’s a fan favorite and young athletes can make a name for themselves by appearing in it.

If the NBA cannot coax some of their bright, blossoming talent into crafting creative dunks next year, the dunk contest may be gone before we know it.