Defying gravity

Richardson goes between the legs to defend dunk title

Jason Richardson earned a perfect 50 on three of his four dunk attempts. AP

ATLANTA (AP) -- Jason Richardson won his second straight All-Star slam dunk contest Saturday night, using a soaring between-the-legs approach on his final attempt to score a perfect 50 and beat Desmond Mason.

"I knew if I got the last dunk, I could win the contest," said Richardson, a budding star for the Golden State Warriors.

"You do all the dunks you don't have time to do in a game. You can be creative and take your time."

The 6-foot-6 Richardson received a 50 on three of his four attempts to defeat Mason of the Seattle SuperSonics, who won the competition in 2001. The score for the final round was 96-93.

The 6-5 Mason applied the pressure starting off the second round. He drove for the basket, took the ball between his legs and then dunked left-handed to get his first perfect score of 50 from the five judges.

Richardson answered with a 46 when he caught the ball off the floor, went under the basket and double clutched before slamming it home.

SI.com On Site SI.com's Marty Burns Insider: The wide-open Rookie Challenge suited slumping Bulls point guard Jay Williams perfectly. Closer Look: Peja Stojakovic's second consecutive 3-point Shootout title was marred by controversy. SI.com's John Hollinger Notebook: Gilbert Arenas wasn't happy about being a second-round pick, so he took out some of his frustration in the Rookie Challenge. Video Select a link to launch a video clip Jason Richardson says the key to dunking well is not to over-think things. Visit Video Plus Slam Dunk Winners 2003 -- J. Richardson, Golden State 2002 -- J. Richardson, Golden State 2001 -- Desmond Mason, Seattle 2000 -- Vince Carter, Toronto 1999 -- No competition 1998 -- No competition 1997 -- Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 1996 -- Brent Barry, L.A. Clippers 1995 -- Harold Miner, Miami 1994 -- Isaiah Rider, Minnesota 1993 -- Harold Miner, Miami 1992 -- Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix 1991 -- Dee Brown, Boston 1990 -- Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta 1989 -- Kenny Walker, New York 1988 -- Michael Jordan, Chicago 1987 -- Michael Jordan, Chicago 1986 -- Spud Webb, Atlanta 1985 -- Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta 1984 -- Larry Nance, Phoenix  Slam Dunk Results First round Jason Richardson   50-50--100 Desmond Mason   46-44--90 Amare Stoudemire   49-30--79 Richard Jefferson   37-37--74 Championship round Richardson   46-50--96 Mason   50-43--93

Mason missed on his next attempt, but under the rules he was allowed another try. He took off along the baseline and double clutched before slamming it home for a score of 43.

"I put my best dunk out there and missed it, so I had to go more conservative to make sure I made the second one," Mason said. "It was not a 50, but not a 43 either. When I saw 43, I was a little disappointed. It was still a difficult dunk."

That gave Mason a two-dunk total of 93 and meant Richardson needed at least a 48 to retain the title.

He got it. And more.

"I knew he would come up with something. He kind of had been talking about having something special," Mason said.

Richardson bounced the ball in front of him, caught it as it rose off the floor and, just as he reached the basket, took the ball between his legs and slammed it home left-handed.

When he landed, he raised his arms in triumph as five "10s" went up from the panel of judges.

"I knew I had a winner when I threw it. I think it was a pretty good dunk," said Richardson, who joined Michael Jordan as the only back-to-back winner of the dunk contest.

"It's getting hard to create dunks," he said. "The last dunk was something that J.R. Rider started and I reversed it. It was a little different and the crowd loved it."

Rookie Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns and Richard Jefferson of the New Jersey Nets were eliminated after the first round with respective scores of 79 and 74. Richardson had 100 in the first round and Mason 90.

Each player was allowed two dunks in each round, with a maximum score of 100 and a minimum of 60 per round. Players could replace one missed dunk each round, and Stoudemire missed twice in the first round.

Judges were all former dunk champions -- Dominique Wilkins, Jordan, Spud Webb, Julius Erving and Dee Brown.

Richardson won $25,000 and Mason $15,000.

 

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