2023 NBA Slam Dunk Contest: Format, Rules, and Participants for All Star Event

• NBA announced the participants for the 2023 Slam Dunk Contest
• The event will feature four dunkers, with five judges rating their dunks
• YouTube sensation Mac McClung is set to take part in the All-Star event

The 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend is now just a few days away.

One of the most anticipated parts of the weekend festivities is All-Star Saturday Night, which features classic NBA events such as the 3-Point Contest, Skills Challenge, and Slam Dunk Contest.

Ahead of the big weekend, here's a look at who will be involved in the 2023 AT&T Slam Dunk competition.

Who are the dunkers?

The entire field for this year’s Slam Dunk Contest was confirmed on Tuesday night and featured several high-flying young NBA players.

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The list includes Mac McClung, who has spent most of the season in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats before being called up by the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this week.

The players who will challenge McClung are KJ Martin of the Houston Rockets, Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans, and Jericho Sims of the New York Knicks.

Shaedon Sharpe was set to enter the competition, but the Portland rookie decided against joining, per The Oregonian. He showed fans what they will miss on Tuesday when he dunked over Kyle Kuzma.

Who are the judges?

The judges for this year’s event are 14-time NBA All-Star and Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone, nine-time NBA All-Star and two-time Slam Dunk champion Dominique Wilkins, eight-time WNBA All-Star Lisa Leslie, three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford, and two-time Slam Dunk champion Harold Miner.

Slam Dunk Contest rules

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Each judge will give a score from 40 to 50 for each dunk of the contestants. The average of the five judges’ scores will then be the individual dunk score, according to NBA.com.

The two dunkers with the highest composite scores for their two dunks in the First-Round advance to the Final Round. In case of a tie, the advancing dunkers will be determined by “Judges’ Choice.”

The dunker with the lowest total score from the First Round will dunk first in the Final Round. The inverse order of the scores of the first dunk will determine the competition order for the second dunk of the Final Round.

The dunker with the highest composite score in the Final Round will be declared the Slam Dunk champion. A dunk-off will occur in case of a tie after the Final Round to determine the winner.

Each player will be limited to one dunk attempt during the dunk-off round. If there is still a tie after the dunk-off, the Slam Dunk champion will be determined by “Judges’ Choice.”

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NBA Skills Challenge participants

Sports Brief recently reported on the format and participants for the 2023 NBA Skills Challenge. Three teams of three players will be competing in this event that will take place on February 18.

Team Antetokounmpo will lock horns with Team Jazz and Team Rooks in the three-round competition. Brothers Giannis, Alex, and Thanasis will represent Team Antetokounmpo, while Utah stars Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler, and Collin Sexton will fly the banner for Team Jazz.

Team Rooks will be represented by Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, and Jabari Smith Jr.