NBA Dunk Contest: Star Time, Schedule, How to Watch, Live Stream, Who to Join

NBA Dunk Contest 2021 information.Photo: NBA

The 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest was faster, and shorter, and pretty much very weird and unlike what you're used to at all.

With a new format, start time and unorthodox presentation, the NBA is presenting this year's All-Star festivities in one night, with the Slam Dunk competition taking center stage in the middle of the NBA All-Star Game, adding intrigue to the halftime break.

While the Dunk Contest has been in the tank in recent years and hasn't exactly grabbed headlines, this year's rim-crashers may have more eyes on them than usual, according to Sporting News.

Here's what you need to know about the Slam Dunk Contest at the 2021 NBA All-Star Game:

What time does the NBA Dunk Contest start?

Time: Halftime of the NBA All-Star Game (starts at 8 p.m. ET)

TV channel: TNT

This year's NBA Dunk Contest serves as halftime entertainment during the NBA All-Star Game, as opposed to being a standalone event of years past. Expect it to start between 9:30-10 p.m. ET.

With the league opting for a single night of All-Star festivities in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dunk Contest is tucked into the All-Star Game along with the 3-point contest and skills competition.

What is the format for this year's game?

Photo: Posting and Toasting

The format for the 2021 All-Star Game will mirror that of the 2020 game. Like last year, the teams will begin each of the first three quarters at 0-0 and play for 12 minutes. The team that scores the most in that quarter wins the period. The fourth quarter will be untimed with the goal being to hit the target score, ensuring the game ends on a basket as opposed to the clock hitting zeros.

The target score is determined by adding up each team's first three scores and adding 24 -- in honor of the late Kobe Bryant's jersey number -- to the leading team's total.

NBA All-Star schedule 2021

All of the 2020-21 NBA All-Star events will be taking place on Sunday, March 7, starting with the pre-game show at 5 p.m. ET.

The first event of the night, the NBA skills competition, begins at 6:30 p.m. ET. The skills competition will be followed by the 3-point competition, with the All-Star Game set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET.

How to watch the NBA Dunk Contest

Sling TV Orange

Carries TNT

For other NBA games it also carries ESPN, but not ABC. NBA TV is available for an extra $15 per month as part of Sling's Sports Extra package, Cnet cites.

Sling's other package Blue also carries TNT, but only Orange has ESPN, which makes it the better option for basketball fans.

YouTube TV

Carries TNT

YouTube TV costs $65 a month and includes TNT for the All-Star Game, as well as all the other major NBA channels (ABC, ESPN, and NBA TV). Plug in your ZIP code on its welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area.

Hulu Plus Live TV

Carries TNT

Hulu Plus Live TV costs $65 a month and includes TNT for the All-Star Game, as well as two other major NBA channels (ABC and ESPN), but Hulu lacks NBA TV. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available where you live.

AT&T TV

Carries TNT

AT&T TV's basic Entertainment package costs $70 and carries TNT for the All-Star Game, as well two other major NBA channels (ABC and ESPN), but it lacks NBA TV.

AT&T TV's $85-a-month Choice package has all the major national channels, including NBA TV, as well as many of the regional sports networks that carry your team's local games. That makes it our top choice for NBA streaming. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels, including RSNs, are available where you live.

2021 NBA Dunk Contest Participants

Photo: BasketItaly

Obi Toppin, New York Knicks

Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers

Cassius Stanley, Indiana Pacers

This year, the Dunk Contest is down to just three participants, as opposed to four in previous seasons.

All three participants will compete in the first round, during which each player will attempt two dunks. Dunks will be graded on a scale of 6-10, making for a maximum score of 50. The two highest-scoring participants will move on to Round 2, where they will perform one dunk. In this round, judges will determine a winner by raising a card with the winner's name on it.

Last 15 Dunk Contest Winners

2020: Derrick Jones Jr. (Heat)

2019: Hamidou Diallo (Thunder)

2018: Donovan Mitchell (Jazz)

2017: Glenn Robinson III (Pacers)

2016: Zach LaVine (Timberwolves)

2015: Zach LaVine (Timberwolves)

2014: John Wall (Wizards)

2013: Terrence Ross (Raptors)

2012: Jeremy Evans (Jazz)

2011: Blake Griffin (Clippers)

2010: Nate Robinson (Knicks)

2009: Nate Robinson (Knicks)

2008: Dwight Howard (Magic)

2007: Gerald Green (Celtics)

2006: Nate Robinson (Knicks)