NBA All Star Weekend 2003 home.

Golden State's Jason Richardson, who will return to defend his title, and Seattle's Desmond Mason, the 2001 champion, highlight the field in the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk to be held on NBA All-Star Saturday Night, Feb. 8 at Philips Arena in Atlanta. The Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk will feature four exciting young aerial artists in their first, second or third season in a two-round competition.

In addition to Richardson and Mason, first-timers Richard Jefferson of the New Jersey Nets and Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns will participate.

The contestants in the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk will be competing for $60,000 in prize money, with $25,000 going to the winner. Second place is worth $15,000 while third place and fourth place is worth $10,000 each.

NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by America Online, featuring Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk, 1 800 CALL ATT Shootout, 989 Sports Skills Challenge and Jeep All-Star Hoop-It-Up will also be broadcast live nationally at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio. The NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 9 will be broadcast live nationally by the same broadcast outlets from Philips Arena at 8 p.m. ET.

Attached is a list of previous winners and the lineup for the 2003 Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk:

2003 SPRITE RISING STARS
SLAM DUNK COMPETITORS Participant, Team Pos. Ht. Wt.
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix F 6-8 233
Richard Jefferson, New Jersey F 6-7 222
Jason Richardson, Golden State G 6-6 222
Desmond Mason, Seattle F 6-7 224

SPRITE RISING STARS SLAM DUNK
YEAR-BY-YEAR WINNERS
1984: Larry Nance, Phoenix
1985: Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta
1986: Spud Webb, Atlanta
1987: Michael Jordan, Chicago
1988: Michael Jordan, Chicago
1989: Kenny Walker, New York
1990: Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta
1991: Dee Brown, Boston
1992: Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix
1993: Harold Miner, Miami
1994: Isaiah Rider, Minnesota
1995: Harold Miner, Miami
1996: Brent Barry, L.A. Clippers
1997: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
2000: Vince Carter, Toronto
2001: Desmond Mason, Seattle
2002: Jason Richardson, Golden State


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