The participants in the 2013 NBA Slam Dunk Contest are cleared for takeoff.
Eric Bledsoe (Clippers), Kenneth Faried (Nuggets) and Jeremy Evans (Jazz) are representing the Western Conference while Gerald Green (Indiana), Terrence Ross (Toronto) and James White (Knicks) will be slamming on behalf of the East. Defending his 2012 crown, Evans joins Green (2007) as the two previous winners in the field.
Although household names like LeBron James continue to shun the dunk contest (despite the urgings of other household names), the selection of White offers hope that fans will get a better show than last year when Matt Moore of CBSSports.com declared "the dunk contest is dead." Dubbed "the NBA's secret dunk hero" by Jared Zwerling of ESPN.com, "Flight" White has been renowned for his dunk prowess since his high school days (when he battled David Lee in the 2001 McDonald's High School dunk contest) but never found regular run in the NBA. Not only has he thrown down a two-handed dunk from the free throw line but he's passed the ball between his legs on another dunk with that long-distance launching point.
To get you ready for the upcoming dunk contest, here are some of the fiercest flushes from the field of 2013
2013 NBA Dunk Contest Competitors
Courtesy of The Associated Press, here is a full list of 2013 participants as well as the rundown of previous winners:
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2012_Jeremy Evans, Utah
2011_Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers
2010_Nate Robinson, New York
2009_Nate Robinson, New York
2008_Dwight Howard, Orlando
2007_Gerald Green, Boston
2006_Nate Robinson, New York
2005_Josh Smith, Atlanta
2004_Fred Jones, Indiana
2003_Jason Richardson, Golden State
2002_Jason Richardson, Golden State
2001_Desmond Mason, Seattle
2000_Vince Carter, Toronto
1999_No competition
1998_No competition
1997_Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
1996_Brent Barry, L.A. Clippers
1995_Harold Miner, Miami
1994_Isaiah Rider, Minnesota
1993_Harold Miner, Miami
1992_Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix
1991_Dee Brown, Boston
1990_Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta
1989_Kenny Walker, New York
1988_Michael Jordan, Chicago
1987_Michael Jordan, Chicago
1986_Spud Webb, Atlanta
1985_Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta
1984_Larry Nance, Phoenix