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© St. Petersburg Times, published February 8, 2003
ATLANTA -- Brent Barry plans to wear a shirt over his jersey during the 3-point shootout today, following the plan he used while winning the Slam Dunk title in 1996.
The SuperSonics guard is trying to become the first player to win both contests, held each year on All-Star weekend.
The day starts with the Rookie Challenge, a game between first-year and second-year players, and concludes with the Skills Challenge, Hoop-It-Up, 3-point shootout and dunk contest. The Skills Challenge is a new event, featuring four players competing against the clock while shooting, passing and dribbling through various stations on the court.
When Barry won the dunk title, he donned his pregame warmup for all his attempts, even though he says it was an accident.
"Eight years ago, I was just so nervous I forgot to take the thing off," Barry said. "This time around, I'll probably leave my shooting shirt on over my jersey, because that's what I'm used to shooting in."
The Kings' Peja Stojakovic is back to defend his title in the shootout, joining Barry, the Magic's Pat Garrity, the Grizzlies' Wesley Person, the Hornets' David Wesley and the Celtics' Antoine Walker.
To get ready, Barry practiced on the court at his house, working with a rack of balls to get the feel of how much time he'll have.
"Winning the dunk contest was like a joke, I was like the sentimental favorite," he said. "This time around, I have the skills to do it. Whoever gets hot is going to win, and I just hope I can get hot."
Golden State's Jason Richardson, the defending champ in the dunk contest, is back, along with 2001 winner Desmond Mason of Seattle. Rookie Amare Stoudemire of Phoenix and Richard Jefferson of New Jersey are the other competitors.
The 21-year-old Stoudemire joined the NBA out high school and earned a starting spot with the Suns 10 games into the season. The 6-foot-10 forward is averaging 12.8 points and figures to be Richardson's main competition.
"The guy has great physical skills," Richardson said of Stoudemire. "He can just get after it on the court, and I expect great things from him."
Richardson said he has come up with a couple of new dunks, but Stoudemire said he didn't practice specifically for the contest.
"I practiced in the first half of the season," he said. "That's all the practice I need."
The dunk contest judges named Friday are Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins, Dee Brown and Spud Webb; all but Erving are past champions, and he won the inaugural contest as part of the American Basketball Association All-Star festivities in 1976.
The skills challenge starts and ends with a layup at the same basket, with players dribbling, passing and shooting in between. The participants are all guards: Gary Payton of Seattle, Jason Kidd of New Jersey, Stephon Marbury of Phoenix and Tony Parker of San Antonio.