TIME! Here is the start time for the NBA All Star Slam Dunk Contest. The NBA All Star Slam Dunk contest start time actually starts tonight, just with a different name.

LALATE has been … slamming … the confusion all week long. While All Star fans know the Slam Dunk contest is always on the Saturday night of the NBA All Star Game Weekend each year, this year there is a new twist.

On Friday, during the Rookie Challenge halftime, a one-on-one event between DeMar DeRozan vs Eric Gordon will decide which of them get into Saturday’s Slam Dunk Contest.

Tonight’s Friday slam dunk eliminator event during the Rookie Challenge Halftime is called the NBA Slam Dunk-In! This year is it’s first year.

Their challenge will be a single round two dunk event. Their winner joins Saturday’s Slam Dunk contest.

Nate Robinson will defend his title in his quest to become the first three time winner. The event is NBA All-Star Saturday Night, Feb. 13, from the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Joining the pack are Bobcats’ Gerald Wallace and the winner of DeRozan vs Gordon.

Your 2010 Slam Dunk Contest Participants includes Shannon Brown after an exhaustive “Let Shannon Dunk” campaign was launched by the Lakers, profiled weeks ago here on LALATE.

Friday: T Mobile Rookie Challenge (Slam Dunk Contest Part 1)
Start Time: 9 PM EST 6 PM PST
TV Broadcast: TNT

Saturday: H.O.R.S.E (Slam Dunk Contest Part II)
Start Time: 7 PM ET 4 PM PST
TV Broadcast: TNT

For continuing coverage of the 2010 NBA All Star weekends on LALATE click here:

http://news.lalate.com/category/all-star-game.