Feb. 16, 2012
What: Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
When: Feb. 25, 8:30 p.m. ET (4th event)
Where: Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.
TV: All-Star Saturday Night coverage starts at 8 p.m. ET on TNT
Shumpert highlights | Shumpert’s NBA bio
New York, N.Y. – Former Georgia Tech star and New York Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert is among four first-time participants named to compete for the Sprite Slam Dunk championship on Feb. 25, at Amway Center in Orlando (TNT, 8 p.m. ET). He will compete against the Houston Rockets’ Chase Budinger, the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George, the New York Knicks’ Iman Shumpert, and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Derrick Williams.
The 2012 Sprite Slam Dunk in Orlando will feature a new single-round format in which the winner will be chosen solely by fan vote, and the introduction of fan voting via Twitter.
Shumpert has started 16 of the Knick’s 26 games this season, averaging 10.6 points and 3.3 assists per game. The 6-5 guard from Oak Park, Ill., earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors and a spot on the ACC’s All-Defensive team in 2011, and averaged 12.7 points and 4.2 assists during his career at Tech (2009-11), finishing 32nd all-time in career points (1,166), 11th in assists and fourth in steals (207).
A new format will be implemented for the 2012 competition. The contest will consist of only one round and each competitor will execute three dunks. Fan voting will open after all four players have completed their first dunk. Previously, the Sprite Slam Dunk contest consisted of two rounds, with the first round scored by a panel of judges which determined two finalists.
Beginning this year, only fan voting will be utilized in determining the winner and voting also will expand to social media. For the first time ever, fans will be able to cast votes on Twitter by posting a corresponding letter assigned to each dunker along with the hashtag #SpriteSlam. Since 2008, fans have determined the winner of the Sprite Slam Dunk through SMS TXT and voting on NBA.com as part of the “They Dunk. You Decide” campaign.
The Sprite Slam Dunk is part of NBA All-Star 2012, which also includes the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm featuring the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, Haier Shooting Stars and Taco Bell Skills Challenge; NBA All-Star Jam Session; and the 61st NBA All-Star Game.
Sprite, the world’s leading lemon-lime soft drink, has been the official soft drink of the NBA since 1994 and the title partner of the All-Star Slam Dunk competition since 2003.
Sprite Slam Dunk Year-By-Year Winners2011 -- Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers2010 -- Nate Robinson, New York2009 -- Nate Robinson, New York2008 -- Dwight Howard, Orlando2007 -- Gerald Green, Boston2006 -- Nate Robinson, New York2005 -- Josh Smith, Atlanta2004 -- Fred Jones, Indiana2003 -- Jason Richardson, Golden State2002 -- Jason Richardson, Golden State2001 -- Desmond Mason, Seattle2000 -- Vince Carter, Toronto1997 -- Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers1996 -- Brent Barry, L.A. Clippers1995 -- Harold Miner, Miami1994 -- Isaiah Rider, Minnesota1993 -- Harold Miner, Miami1992 -- Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix1991 -- Dee Brown, Boston1990 -- Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta1989 -- Kenny Walker, New York1988 -- Michael Jordan, Chicago1987 -- Michael Jordan, Chicago1986 -- Spud Webb, Atlanta1985 -- Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta1984 -- Larry Nance, Phoenix
