HoopsHype.com Rumors

Alex Kennedy: From what I'm told, DeAndre Jordan was asked to participate in the dunk contest. He said no. They tried to convince him. He said no again. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Los Angeles Clippers, DeAndre Jordan, All Star Game 

Darnell Mayberry: I'm hearing Russell Westbrook will not be among the participants in this year's slam dunk contest. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook, All Star Game 

Darnell Mayberry: Westbrook recently expressed interest in joining the contest "before it's too late" but called his participation this year "up in the air." Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook, All Star Game 

Marc Berman: League source says #Knicks swingman James White already has been informed he's in the Slam-Dunk competition. Won't be official until 7 p.m. Twitter @NYPost_Berman

New York Knicks, James White, All Star Game 

Spurs forward Matt Bonner might have added an unlikely ally in his bid to score an invitation to his first All-Star weekend 3-point shootout Feb. 16 in Houston. As part of a new format for this year’s festivities, Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul has been appointed the Western Conference captain for All-Star Saturday night. After tonight’s announcement of the league-approved field for the contest, Paul is allowed to choose one more name to add to the list. And Paul just so happens to be close with Spurs point guard Tony Parker, one of the more vocal proponents of Bonner’s candidacy. San Antonio Express-News

Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Matt Bonner, All Star Game 

If Bonner is not selected as part of the original contingent, Parker vows to put the screws to his Clippers counterpart. “I’ll definitely call Chris and tell him, ‘You have to put Matt Bonner in,’” Parker said. The pitch Parker will make Paul is the same one he has been making for years. “I think Matt Bonner would have a great chance to win it,” Parker said before Wednesday’s 104-94 win over Minnesota. “He’s a machine. You should see him at practice. It’s unbelievable.” San Antonio Express-News

Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Matt Bonner, All Star Game 

Alicia Keys, who wowed a Super Bowl crowd on Sunday with the national anthem, will be the halftime entertainer at the NBA All-Star Game Feb. 17 at Toyota Center. Nine-time Grammy winner John Legend will perform the national anthem. Keys and Legend will be joined at the All-Star Game by singer/songwriter Ne-Yo, who will perform during the All-Star introductions, and Gloria Reuben, who will sing the Canadian national anthem. The game will be televised live at 7 p.m. on TNT. Houston Chronicle

All Star Game, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo 

Lance Fresh: You've been passing more lately. Is that gonna continue at the All Star Weekend? Kobe Bryant: Nah. I'm seeing single coverage there, I'm shooting that sh--. YouTube

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, All Star Game 

An NBA All-Star Game could deliver $16 million more in direct visitor spending than a Final Four. Visit Indy and CIB officials seem to be at a loss for why this event hasn’t been pursued more aggressively. Pacers President Jim Morris said the Pacers would love to host it, but Bankers Life Fieldhouse’s schedule is simply packed. Really? Too crowded for an event with this type of economic impact? Apparently, it’s not just the Fieldhouse schedule that’s crowded. “Sometimes, even when we might be available, hotel rooms might not be available” because of sporting events or conventions held elsewhere downtown," said Rick Fuson, the Pacers chief operating officer. Indianapolis Business Journal

Indiana Pacers, Indiana, All Star Game 

Despite competition from other cities, if Indianapolis throws its hat in the ring, it surely will be able to work its way into the hosting schedule, said David Morton, president of locally based Sunrise Sports Group. He sees Lucas Oil Stadium, which proved its mettle as a basketball venue when it staged the 2010 NCAA men’s Final Four, as the ideal location. The NBA has gone both big and small with past venues. The 2010 game was in Cowboys Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, while this year’s game is at Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets. There’s one consideration Pacers officials aren’t likely to address publicly. In recent years, some NBA all-star games have been marred by violence and other mayhem. So the security costs would be considerable. But this seems surmountable for a city that has become known as one of the most creative nationwide for hosting sporting events. Indianapolis Business Journal

Indiana Pacers, Indiana, All Star Game 

Chris Tomasson: I asked Spoelstra if Bosh lobbying him for All-Star start: “Not at all. I figured he’d try to bribe me last night but he didn’t at all.’’ Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, Chris Bosh, Erik Spoelstra, All Star Game 

For the past week or two, teammate DeMar DeRozan has been paying particular attention to young Ross. In Ross, DeRozan sees a second — or actually a third — chance at dunk redemption and he doesn’t want to see him come up short. If you haven’t guessed by now, this is all about the dunk contest that will be part of NBA all-star event a week Saturday and Ross’ expected involvement. Official word of the contestants doesn’t arrive until Thursday night, but there is a groundswell of support for Ross which includes Eastern Conference all-star captain Dwyane Wade, who has taken to Twitter to trumpet the inclusion of Ross. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross, All Star Game 

DeRozan readily admits he took the wrong approach to the dunk contest in his first year and regrets it to this day. “My rookie year, I was honestly nervous,” DeRozan recalls. “And my first year, I didn’t practise (at all). I didn’t do anything. I was hurt a week before (sprained ankle) and I missed something like four games (actually five) so I was like: ‘I’m not doing this.’ I wound up doing , but I didn’t work on anything. I just winged it. Now, I think about if I had worked on it and really put some thought into the dunks, I could have won it.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross, All Star Game 

And therein lies the reason he’s been getting after Ross. He doesn’t want his young teammate to make the same mistake he did and is going out of his way to make sure he doesn’t. “ I’m telling him, first of all, just because he thinks it’s any other dunk contest and you just go out and dunk, no,” DeRozan says stressing the negative at the end. “I try to let him know that millions of people are going to be watching you. You could change how people look at you from that day on. Everything is going to be different.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross, All Star Game 

Having been passed over before, the snub (my word not his) of an invite to the NBA rookie/sophomore game barely registers for Raptors guard Terrence Ross. He may yet get to Houston as a dunk contest participant, but the Eastern Conference assistant coaches who did the voting for what is now called The Rising Stars Challenge did not deem him worthy of a spot on that team. Ross shrugged it off like it barely mattered. “Not surprised,” Ross said. “I mean, I didn’t even go the McDonald’s all-American or the Jordan Classic so not being in the all-star game is not really a big deal for me.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Terrence Ross, All Star Game 

Wade, who has input on whom the NBA selects to take part in the popular events, tried to get James to re-consider his long-standing policy of saying no to the slam dunk contest, which will take place Feb. 16. "I tried to convince LeBron," Wade said Friday before the Heat took on the Indiana Pacers. "On the dunk contest?" James said when Wade asked him. "Oh no, that's out." "I told him I'd throw him a lob and we'll win," Wade said. "He turned me down; I think he got nervous." ESPN.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, All Star Game 

Wade also tried to get James to consider taking part in the 3-point shootout for the first time. James is shooting a career-high 40 percent from 3-point range this season. "I went 0-for-2," Wade said. "He said he didn't want to shoot." ESPN.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, All Star Game 

Will James White participate in the dunk contest this year? Ultimately, that's up to the NBA. The league decides who will compete for the crown. But if Iman Shumpert had a say in it, White would make the cut. "They should put him in, definitely," Shumpert said of his Knicks teammate. "He'd win it." ESPN.com

New York Knicks, James White, Iman Shumpert, All Star Game 

Li Shuangfu: Source says Tony Parker will defend his title at NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge. Steve Nash and D-Wade are the only two-time winners. Twitter @LiShuangfu

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, All Star Game 

Wade, who has input on whom the NBA selects to take part in the popular events, tried to get James to re-consider his long-standing policy of saying no to the slam dunk contest, which will take place Feb. 16. "I tried to convince LeBron," Wade said Friday before the Heat took on the Indiana Pacers. "On the dunk contest?" James said when Wade asked him. "Oh no, that's out." "I told him I'd throw him a lob and we'll win," Wade said. "He turned me down; I think he got nervous." ESPN.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, All Star Game