Los Angeles Clippers Griffin Added to Slam Dunk Contest

Los Angeles Clippers “rookie” Blake Griffin has been added to the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest to be help during NBA All Star Weekend here in Los Angeles, Saturday, February 18th at the Staples Center.  Blake Griffin will be joining JaVale McGee of the Washington Wizards, sophomore sensation Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka.

Griffin will match up with TNT analyst and two-time Slam Dunk participant (1990, 1991) Kenny Smith; Jennings will practice with NBA Legend Darryl Dawkins; McGee will work with NBA TV/TNT analyst and five-time NBA All-Star Chris Webber; and Ibaka will prepare with Thunder teammate and 2009-10 NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant. Each episode also will feature a “dunk selection ceremony” where the participants will choose which dunks they want to keep and which they decide to send to “the bench.” Fans will be able to keep up with the latest development in the series, which will tip off tomorrow and will run through the week of the event, by viewing the latest weekly episodes at NBA.com/Dunk.

As part of the NBA and Sprite’s continuing efforts to bring fans closer to the Sprite Slam Dunk, each of the four participants will be featured in a special online video series that will give fans an inside look at their preparations for the event. The series, “Sprite Slam Dunk: Countdown to the Contest,” will feature each participant matched up with a dunk coach who will work with his respective player to create and practice some of the electrifying dunks that will take place during the event in Los Angeles.

To get a taste what fans have in store for them, here is a video clip depicting some of Blake Griffin’s best dunks so far in his short career. Bearing in mind that there have only been a few months to his first season, the are high hopes to see much more great things from this young talent. of course, you don’t have to wait for the All Star game to see Blake Griffin live and in action. The Los Angeles Clippers call the Staples Center here in Downtown Los Angeles there home and you can catch them whenever you are in town.
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The Kyoto Grand Hotel offers free shuttle to the Staples Center and all other LA Live venues including the Nokia Theatre and Conga Room.

For locals looking to enjoy the festivities all weekend long, take a look at our California Resident Getaway Package that includes room accommodations, high speed internet access, and discounts on parking and dining.  More information on Specials and Packages.

SPRITE 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
2003 — Jason Richardson, Golden State
2004 — Fred Jones, Indiana
2005 — Josh Smith, Atlanta
2006 — Nate Robinson, New York
2007 — Gerald Green, Boston
2008 — Dwight Howard, Orlando
2009 — Nate Robinson, New York
2010 — Nate Robinson, New York

offers free shuttle service to and from games for guests.

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Located just blocks from the main LA attractions in downtown Los Angeles, the Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens offers contemporary elegance with sophisticated Asian-fusion décor. Each of our 434 guestrooms including 20 suites features deluxe bedding, a spacious floor plan, and modern amenities including WiFi and premium television channels. Picture windows offer beautiful views of the Los Angeles skyline. Guests of our Los Angeles hotel can enjoy the convenience of our free shuttle service that stops at popular attractions and sites within a three-mile radius of the hotel including the Staples Center, LA Convention Center and the LA Live entertainment complex.