DeRozan, Gordon to compete in All-Star Slam Dunk-In

NEW YORK -- Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan and Clippers guard Eric Gordon will compete in the All-Star Slam Dunk-In competition at halftime of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge on Friday, Feb. 12. The winner will advance to the All-Star Saturday Night Sprite Slam Dunk event.

DeRozan and Gordon will each get two dunks in the one-round dunk-in, with the player receiving the highest percentage of fan votes via NBA.com and SMS text messaging advancing to the dunk contest on All-Star Saturday.

Taking the fourth and final spot in the event, the dunk-in winner will then compete against three other dunk contestants for the 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk title. The NBA has yet to announce the other dunkers. The Knicks' Nate Robinson won the contest in 2009.

DeRozan is a rookie forward from USC, averaging 7.8 ppg with Toronto. He was drafted ninth in the 2009 Draft. He created a Web site, LetDeMarDunk.com, to promote his candidacy.

Gordon is in his second NBA season out of Indiana, averaging 17.1 ppg with the Clippers this season after being selected seventh overall in 2008.

• NBA to hold first Slam Dunk-In during All-Star Weekend

Two dunkers will compete in a one-round competition at halftime of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge to advance to the All-Star Saturday Night "Sprite Slam Dunk" event.

• Officiating -- Throughout the competition, an NBA Referee will judge whether a dunk is considered a made dunk or a missed dunk.

• Time Limit -- Upon receiving the ball from the referee, players will have two minutes to complete their dunk. Attempts resulting in missed dunks are unlimited. However, once a made dunk is ruled by the referee, that dunk will be scored. There is no replacing a made dunk, even if time remains.

• Final Attempts -- If a player has not begun an attempt that results in a made dunk when the clock expires, he will have two final attempts to do so. An attempt is defined as the ball leaving the player's (or his teammate's) hand in an effort to complete the dunk (in any motion other than dribbling). The referee is the final judge and will advise the dunker when he has used an attempt.

• Props -- Use of any props (including the use of any person other than a current NBA player in uniform) to assist in any way must be approved in advance of the competition by the NBA Basketball Operations department.

• Two Dunks per player: A random draw will determine the order.

• At the beginning of the event, fan voting polls will open via SMS text messaging and on NBA.com.

• For text message voting, the letter "A" will be assigned to the dunker who goes first. B = Player 2.

• Fans can vote via SMS Text message from their wireless phone by sending in the letter "A" or "B" to the wireless short-code 38657 (DUNKS).

• Voting will be closed two minutes after the final dunk has been completed.

• The combined SMS text message and NBA.com votes will determine who advances.

• The player with a higher percentage of overall votes, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent, will advance to participate in the Sprite Slam Dunk event on All-Star Saturday Night.

• At the discretion of the referee, instant replay may be consulted for clarification of rules compliance.

• Number of votes per user is unlimited. Voting is available to users on all major wireless carriers in the United States, plus most second-tier carriers. Voting is also available to wireless users in Canada. Standard SMS text message rates apply.