2015 Slam Dunk Contest Participants: Format, Odds and Predicted Winner

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest has undergone several makeovers throughout the years in an attempt to create a more captivating event for fans of high-flying aerobatics. Well, 2015 brings another new format to the table and, this time, it may stick.

Basically, this year's contest will have a modern spin on a classic format. Like the dunk contests of old, this year will feature two rounds and give its participants the opportunity to perform the dunk of their choosing without any time constraints. They will be granted a maximum of three attempts to bucket each dunk and will be graded by five judges on a scale from six to 10.

Competitors will perform two dunks in the first round, and the two highest combined scores move on to the final round. Those participants then execute two more dunks, and the player with the highest total score will be crowned champion.

The cool twist in this year's contest is it will feature four young players. Yes, everyone wants to see LeBron James and Blake Griffin go head-to-head, but that's unlikely to ever happen. Watching these four up-and-coming players compete is a pretty darn good consolation prize.

So, who is competing this year? The 2015 NBA All-Star official Twitter account relayed the field:

Just in case you aren't quite familiar with what these players are capable of accomplishing around the rim, here's a look at the contest's odds, some ridiculous dunk highlights and a predicted winner.

2015 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Date: Saturday, Feb. 14

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY 

TV: TNT (coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET)

2015 Slam Dunk Contest Odds

Contestant	Team	Odds
Zach LaVine	Minnesota Timberwolves	-140
Giannis Antetokounmpo	Milwaukee Bucks	+245
Victor Oladipo	Orlando Magic	+350
Mason Plumlee	Brooklyn Nets	+800

Slam Dunk Contest odds courtesy of Odds Shark and current as of Feb. 13.

Highlights and Prediction

The lone rookie in this competition, Minnesota Timberwolves point guard—yes, point guard—Zach LaVine is enjoying plenty of success in his inaugural NBA season. On the year, he's averaging 7.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while connecting on 41.4 percent of his shots from the floor, including some tantalizing slams.

In fact, this tweet from NBA.com has been a theme so far this season:

We knew LaVine was an impressive athlete coming out of UCLA when he rattled off an impressive 46" vertical during an offseason workout with the Los Angeles Lakers. He's been putting his leaping ability to good use this season, generating plenty of dunks like this one:

Giannis Antetokounmpo has all the tools to give LaVine a run for his money. At just 20 years of age, he's still raw, but he's also a freak of an athlete who has the potential to give opposing teams nightmares. This may not be an example of a dunk but watch the athleticism on display during this coast-to-coast bucket from earlier this season:

In the midst of his second season in the NBA, Antetokounmpo is averaging 12.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 50.7 percent from the floor. His long 6'11" frame and phenomenal leaping ability combine to allow him to throw down jams like this one:

Victor Oladipo became an immediate star for the Orlando Magic, lighting up scoreboards and stealing the show during his rookie season. Now, a second-year player, he continues to shine and is averaging 16.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor.

A promising player with a ton of athleticism, Oladipo continues to deliver jaw-dropping dunks on a regular basis. Here's one pristine example:

The contest's final participant is Mason Plumlee. The 6'11" center may be viewed as an underdog in the eyes of Vegas oddsmakers, but he is a force to be reckoned with around the rim. Plumlee is enjoying a breakout campaign in his second year with the Brooklyn Nets, averaging 10.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 59.0 percent from the floor.

Big jams are a huge part of Plumlee's numbers on the season, and here's a good look at what he can do:

Interestingly enough, of the four contestants, Plumlee has recorded the most dunks this season, according to a tweet from ESPN Stats & Info:

Expect all four of this year's competitors to deliver some extremely memorable moments. While an argument can be made for each to take the title, the nod here goes to LaVine. He may stand at just 6'5", but his size and agility only make his incredible leaping ability look that much more magnificent. His mid-air acrobatics will bring home the win.

Predicted Winner: Zach LaVine