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While it has often failed to live up to the hype the last couple of the years, the NBA Dunk Contest still remains a must-watch spectacle.
The 2023 dunk contest (around 9:30 p.m. ET start time) will be televised on TNT, but if you don’t have cable, you can watch a live stream on DirecTV Stream, which includes TNT and comes with a free trial.
That’s the best live stream option if you’re cutting cable, but there are also some other alternatives, so here’s a full guide on the different ways you can watch a live stream of the 2023 NBA Dunk Contest online:
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DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” TNT is included in every one, and you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch the 2023 NBA Dunk Contest live on the DirecTV Stream app or DirecTV Stream website.
Compatible devices for the DirecTV Stream app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of TNT and 40-plus other live TV channels via Sling TV’s “Sling Orange” or “Sling Blue” bundle. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but if you’ve used up all your free trials for other streaming services, this is the best option, as it’s the cheapest long-term streaming service with TNT, and you can get your first month for half off:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch the 2023 NBA Dunk Contest live on the Sling TV app or Sling TV website.
Compatible devices for the Sling TV app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of TNT and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which now also includes access to both ESPN+ and Disney+ at no added cost:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch the 2023 NBA Dunk Contest live on the Hulu app or Hulu website.
Compatible devices for the Hulu app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
NBA Dunk Contest 2023 Preview
The NBA all-star weekend is full of fun contests in addition to the actual game — there’s the celebrity game, the skills challenge, the 3-point contest, and of course, the dunk contest.
For 2023, the participants are Kenyon Martin Jr. from the Houston Rockets, Mac McClung from the Philadelphia 76ers, Trey Murphy III from the New Orleans Pelicans, and Jericho Sims from the New York Knicks.
The judges for the 2023 NBA dunk contest include Jamal Crawford, a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year; Lisa Leslie, an eight-time WNBA all-star; Karl Malone, an NBA legend; Harold Miner, who won two Slam Dunk contests, and Dominique Wilkins, a nine-time NBA all-star and two-time Slam Dunk champ.
The contest is set up in two rounds and each round has two dunks for each contestant. The top two scorers from the first round are the only ones who advance to the second round. The winner is the dunker with the most points from the final round, even if that contestant had the lower of the two scores from the first round.
If there is a tie in the first round, the judges will be asked to choose between two dunkers and since there are five judges, someone will advance. If there is a tie at the end of round two, a one-dunk dunk-off takes place. If they are still tied, it goes down to judges’ choice.
According to NBA.com, the rules are as follows:
• There will be five judges. For each dunk, a score from 40 to 50 will be given by each judge. The average of the five judges’ scores will be the individual dunk score.
• For each scored dunk in both rounds (Dunks #1 and #2 in the First Round and Dunks #1 and #2 in the Final Round), each dunker will be given 1:30, plus one additional try, to complete one dunk and will be limited to three attempts.
• An “attempt” is defined as the player controlling the basketball while airborne and moving it toward the rim.
• A “try” is defined as any action taken in an effort to attempt a dunk.
• A referee will judge whether a dunk is considered a made dunk or a missed dunk. Made dunks cannot be “replaced,” even if the dunker has remaining attempts.
• Use of any props or other people in any way during the Slam Dunk competition must be approved in advance of the competition by the NBA Basketball Operations department.
• At the discretion of the referee, instant replay may be utilized for rules compliance.