The NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest will feature some of the best dunkers in the league. Therefore, it requires having the best judges ready to call the event.
The contest will wrap up the All-Star Saturday Night, and as it is every year, it figures to be a highly anticipated matchup. The participants will feature Mac McClung, Jacob Toppin, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Jaylen Brown.
McClung will be looking to be the first back-to-back winner since Zach LaVine from 2015-16. Jacob Toppin will attempt to make the Toppin brothers the first pair to win the event, joining Obi Toppin who won in 2022. Brown, having already participated in the 3-Point Contest, is only the 14th player to have participated in both skill events. Jaquez will be hoping to put an exclamation mark on a standout rookie season with a win in the Dunk Contest.
But who will be the ones determining the winner of those four dunkers? Here's what you need to know.
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Who are NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest judges?
There will be five judges at the 2024 Slam Dunk Contest:
- Gary Payton
- Mitch Richmond
- Dominique Wilkins
- Fred Jones
- Darnell Hillman
The collective resumes of these judges is impressive. Payton, Richmond and Wilkins are all in the Hall of Fame. Wilkins and Jones each have won the event as we know it today, with Wilkins collecting victories in 1985 and 1990, and Jones winning in 2004 while with the hometown Pacers.
Hillman was the second-ever winner of the Slam Dunk Contest, though at the time it was a different format, with the contest being held in the middle of each game throughout the season in a one-on-one format. At the end of the year, he was declared the winner.
Slam Dunk Contest format, participants
Four players will compete in a two-round event. Players are each given two dunks in the first round. The two players who have the highest cumulative scores from their two dunks advance to the final round.
In the final round, the two players attempt two more dunks, and the highest collective score wins the contest.
Here are the four players that will be competing in 2024:
| Player | Team |
| Jaylen Brown | Celtics |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Heat |
| Jacob Toppin | Knicks |
| Mac McClung | G League, Osceola Magic |
NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest past winners
| Year | Winner | Team | Location |
| 1984 | Larry Nance | Suns | Denver |
| 1985 | Dominique Wilkins | Hawks | Indianapolis |
| 1986 | Spud Webb | Hawks | Dallas |
| 1987 | Michael Jordan | Bulls | Seattle |
| 1988 | Michael Jordan | Bulls | Chicago |
| 1989 | Kenny Walker | Knicks | Houston |
| 1990 | Dominique Wilkins | Hawks | Miami |
| 1991 | Dee Brown | Celtics | Charlotte |
| 1992 | Cedric Ceballos | Suns | Orlando |
| 1993 | Harold Miner | Heat | Salt Lake City |
| 1994 | Isiah Rider | Timberwolves | Minnesota |
| 1995 | Harold Miner | Heat | Phoenix |
| 1996 | Brent Barry | Clippers | San Antonio |
| 1997 | Kobe Bryant | Lakers | Cleveland |
| 2000 | Vince Carter | Raptors | Oakland |
| 2001 | Desmond Mason | Sonics | Washington, D.C. |
| 2002 | Jason Richardson | Warriors | Philadelphia |
| 2003 | Jason Richardson | Warriors | Atlanta |
| 2004 | Fred Jones | Pacers | Los Angeles |
| 2005 | Josh Smith | Hawks | Denver |
| 2006 | Nate Robinson | Knicks | Houston |
| 2007 | Gerald Green | Celtics | Las Vegas |
| 2008 | Dwight Howard | Magic | New Orleans |
| 2009 | Nate Robinson | Knicks | Phoenix |
| 2010 | Nate Robinson | Knicks | Dallas |
| 2011 | Blake Griffin | Clippers | Los Angeles |
| 2012 | Jeremy Evans | Jazz | Orlando |
| 2013 | Terrence Ross | Raptors | Houston |
| 2014 | John Wall | Wizards | New Orleans |
| 2015 | Zach LaVine | Timberwolves | New York City |
| 2016 | Zach LaVine | Timberwolves | Toronto |
| 2017 | Glenn Robinson III | Pacers | New Orleans |
| 2018 | Donovan Mitchell | Jazz | Los Angeles |
| 2019 | Hamidou Diallo | Thunder | Charlotte |
| 2020 | Derrick Jones Jr. | Heat | Chicago |
| 2021 | Anfernee Simons | Trail Blazers | Atlanta |
| 2022 | Obi Toppin | Knicks | Cleveland |
| 2023 | Mac McClung | 76ers | Utah |
NBA All-Star Saturday Night schedule
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 17
- Time: 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT
- Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
It is slated to be a busy Saturday night of events in Indianapolis, starting at 8 p.m. ET.
The night will begin with the Skills Challenge and move to the 3-Point Contest. Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu will face off in a 3-Point Challenge after the 3-Point Contest, then the Dunk Contest will wrap up the evening.