NBA Slam Dunk Contest 2019: Actual Start Time, TV Channel, Players For Saturday's All-Star Event

The highlight of NBA All-Star Weekend is usually the Slam Dunk Contest, and that could very well be the case again this season. The competition will conclude Saturday night’s slate of events before the game itself is played Sunday night.

All-Star Saturday Night 2019 begins at 8 p.m. EST in Charlotte. The Skills Challenge and the Three-Point Contest will precede the Slam Dunk Contest, which won’t actually start until probably sometime between 9:40 p.m. EST and 10 p.m. EST. The first dunk of last year’s competition came at 9:47 p.m. EST.

Donovan Mitchell won the event a year ago, but he won’t be back to defend his crown. Dennis Smith Jr. is the only returning participant, and he’s the heavy favorite to finish in first place.

The rest of the field is made up of first-time participants. John Collins, Miles Bridges and Hamidou Diallo will all compete in the Slam Dunk Contest. None of those players have been in the NBA for more than two seasons.

Five All-Stars will be in the Three-Point Contest. There are no All-Stars in the 2019 Slam Dunk Contest.