2009 NBA Slam Dunk Contest: You Decide

We are over one month and a half away from All-Star Weekend in Phoenix. Big deal, right? What does All-Star weekend mean these days?

I remember when All-Star weekend meant something and it had nothing to do with the game on Sunday night.

All-Star weekend was all about the dunk contest on Saturday, especially when we saw the likes of Jordan going head to head against Dominique. It meant something, it was exciting to the fans and the best players were excited to compete in it.

Well, the NBA is trying to get the fans back involved in the dunk contest. Trying, desperately, to get them interested once again by letting the fans choose the fourth participant in this year's NBA dunk contest.

Right now, the participants include last year’s champion Dwight Howard, 2006 champion Nate Robinson, and high-flyer Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The fourth participant will be chosen by the fans from these three:

1. Joe Alexander (Milwaukee Bucks)
2. Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
3. Rudy Fernandez (Portland Trail Blazers)

You can go to the NBA’s site to view highlights of the players and make the choice on who you would want to vote for.

Below, I have included some further highlights from YouTube to help you make an educated decision.

Joe Alexander dunks from the foul line with a different take-off approach.

Russell Westbrook jumps over a Cal Bear

Rudy Fernandez dunks over Dwight Howard in the Olympics this past summer

My vote goes to Joe Alexander. Who are you voting for?