NBA Slam Dunk 2012 Start Time: Viewers' Guide to Throwdown in Orlando

The annual NBA Slam Dunk Contest is tonight, and many NBA fans' eyes will be tuned in. There has been talk of a weak field, and that field was made a tad bit weaker when Iman Shumpert of the New York Knicks was forced to pull out because of an injury.

In his place, Utah Jazz's high-flyer Jeremy Evans has stepped in.

No matter who's in the event, it always seems to draw a decent following with a good amount of star power courtside. Hopefully one of this year's participants has something special to show us.

Here is your guide to this year's event:

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Amway Center, Orlando, FL

TV: TNT

Changes: There will be only one round, there will be no judges. The fans will decide the winner.

Slam Net Force, a new technology that will show the force in which the ball travels through the net on a dunk, will be featured.

Past Winners:

• 1984 (Denver): Larry Nance, Phoenix Suns
• 1985 (Indianapolis): Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks
• 1986 (Dallas): Spud Webb, Atlanta Hawks
• 1987 (Seattle): Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1988 (Chicago): Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1989 (Houston): Kenny Walker, New York Knicks
• 1990 (Miami): Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks
• 1991 (Charlotte): Dee Brown, Boston Celtics
• 1992 (Orlando): Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix Suns
• 1993 (Salt Lake City): Harold Miner, Miami Heat
• 1994 (Minneapolis): Isaiah Rider, Minnesota Timberwolves
• 1995 (Phoenix): Harold Miner, Miami Heat
• 1996 (San Antonio): Brent Barry, Los Angeles Clippers
• 1997 (Cleveland): Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1998 (New York City): no slam dunk competition
• 1999 (Philadelphia): lockout, shortened season, no NBA All-Star Game
• 2000 (Oakland): Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors
• 2001 (Washington, DC): Desmond Mason, Seattle SuperSonics
• 2002 (Philadelphia): Jason Richardson, Golden State Warriors
• 2003 (Atlanta): Jason Richardson, Golden State Warriors
• 2004 (Los Angeles): Fred Jones, Indiana Pacers
• 2005 (Denver): Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks
• 2006 (Houston): Nate Robinson, New York Knicks
• 2007 (Las Vegas): Gerald Green, Boston Celtics
• 2008 (New Orleans): Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
• 2009 (Phoenix): Nate Robinson, New York Knicks
• 2010 (Dallas): Nate Robinson, New York Knicks
• 2011 (Los Angeles): Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

Participants

Jeremy Evans, F, Utah Jazz: 6'9", 200 pounds

Evans is a late add, but he has plenty of hops. He has ridiculously long arms, with a Tyrus Thomas-like build. He is certainly a big unknown here, as many fans outside of Utah haven't even heard of him.

He will need something special, as long-armed, tall dunkers generally don't fair well in the contest. Their dunks are spectacular, but because of their length, it simply doesn't look like they are doing as much.

He will have to bring some personality or something we've never seen before to overcome a lack of notoriety and his length.

Here is a nice Evans mix that shows off his sick ups:

Paul George, F/G, Indiana Pacers: 6'9", 215 pounds

He's a big-time leaper whose all-around game is beginning to grab some attention for a good Pacers team. As a dunker, he's put down some nice ones this year in games.

It seems that George is putting a lot of thought and creativity into the process, and again, for a bigger guy, that is essential.

Some may not have liked the Superman antics from Dwight Howard, but without them, his dunks would have looked ordinary.

Same goes for Blake Griffin; it's a performance as much as it is about hops.

George seems to be embracing that aspect. Check out this tweet from George from earlier today:

"

Sorry guys I have to go thanks for the tweets ! Stay tuned tonight.. YOU WILL BE AMAZED!

"

"— Paul George (@King24George) February 25, 2012"

He seems confident, but we will see.

Chase Budinger, F, Houston Rockets: 6'7", 195 pounds

Budinger is an excellent beach volleyball player as well as solid swingman in the NBA. He will be displaying some of those net skills tonight.

Budinger has had his vertical measured at an impressive 38.5 inches, so the ups are definitely there.

Of all the players participating, he's getting the least amount of press. That could work in his favor, but he will need to come out strong from the beginning.

He is in a similar situation as Jeremy Evans, as he'll have to show the fans at home and the crowd that he's for real.

Check out Chase in flight:

Derrick Williams, F, Minnesota Timberwolves: 6'8", 225 pounds

D-Will is the only rookie in the competition this year, yet he is probably the most popular and well known. That could help him out a ton with the fans in charge of the voting.

Williams may have the least impressive hops of any of the players in the competition, but he could make up for it with showmanship.

Maybe he will use some props or summon the assistance of Isaiah Rider, another T'Wolves rookie who won the event back in 1994.

We'll have to see what he has in store. Here is D-Will's slam clip:

Favorite: Paul George

He has the leaping ability, and it appears he is really going to come creative. That will win this competition. Everyone there has hops, but who will put on a memorable show?

I believe that will be George.