How To Vote In The 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 08: Iman Shumpert #21 of the New York Knicks puts up a shot in front of John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards during the first half at Verizon Center on February 8, 2012 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Starting this season, fans can vote for the dunk contest winner on Twitter, as well as on NBA.com and via SMS texting.

Fans have always been able to vote for the winner of the Slam Dunk Contest as part of NBA All-Star Saturday, but there have been some changes this year. Instead of the judges deciding on two finalists for fans to vote on, there will be no judges and all four dunkers will be subject to fan voting. There will be one round with no eliminations.

For the last four years, voting has taken place through SMS texting and NBA.com, but the league has thrown Twitter into the mix this year.

Beginning this year, only fan voting will be utilized in determining the winner and voting also will expand to social media. For the first time ever, fans will be able to cast votes on Twitter by posting a corresponding letter assigned to each dunker along with the hashtag #SpriteSlam. Since 2008, fans have determined the winner of the Sprite Slam Dunk through SMS TXT and voting on NBA.com as part of the "They Dunk. You Decide" campaign.

The addition of Twitter voting should encourage more participation. Additionally, the NBA gets a lot of people to use one of their biggest sponsors' name in a Twitter hashtag thousands of times. Marketing!

The Sprite Slam Dunk Contest will be the final event held during All-Star Saturday Night festivities, which begin 8 p.m. ET on TNT.