Griffin Leads Slam Dunk Contestants

There will be a new Slam Dunk champion
crowned on Feb. 19, at Staples Center when
four first-time contestants vie for the title: Blake Griffin, Brandon Jennings, Serge Ibaka and JaVale McGee.

Each of the four participants will work with a former player to create and practice dunks.

Griffin will match up with TNT analyst and two-time Slam Dunk participant (1990, 1991) Kenny Smith; Jennings will practice with NBA Legend Darryl Dawkins; McGee will work with NBA TV/TNT analyst and five-time NBA All-Star Chris Webber; and Ibaka will prepare with Thunder teammate and 2009-10 NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant.

Fans will be able to keep up with the latest development in the series, “Slam Dunk: Countdown to the Contest,” which will tip off Thursday and will run through the week of the event, by viewing the latest weekly episodes at NBA.com/Dunk.

Fans will again have the opportunity to determine the winner of the Sprite Slam Dunk as part of the “They Dunk. You Decide” campaign.

The two dunkers with the highest first round scores will advance to the final round. The dunker with the lowest total score from the first round will compete first in the final round. Dunks then will alternate until each player has completed two. Time limit rules still apply.

Below is a list of previous Sprite Slam Dunk winners:

SPRITE SLAM DUNK YEAR-BY-YEAR WINNERS

1984—Larry Nance, Phoenix
1985—Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta
1986—Spud Webb, Atlanta
1987—Michael Jordan, Chicago
1988—Michael Jordan, Chicago
1989—Kenny Walker, New York
1990—Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta
1991—Dee Brown, Boston
1992—Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix
1993—Harold Miner, Miami
1994—Isaiah Rider, Minnesota
1995—Harold Miner, Miami
1996—Brent Barry, L.A. Clippers
1997—Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
2000—Vince Carter, Toronto
2001—Desmond Mason, Seattle
2002—Jason Richardson, Golden State
2003—Jason Richardson, Golden State
2004—Fred Jones, Indiana
2005—Josh Smith, Atlanta
2006—Nate Robinson, New York
2007—Gerald Green, Boston
2008—Dwight Howard, Orlando
2009—Nate Robinson, New York
2010—Nate Robinson, New York

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