The 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Contest featured 6 competitors; Darvin Ham of the Denver Nuggets, Michael Finley of the Dallas Mavericks, Chris Carr of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Ray Allen of the Milwaukee Bucks, Bob Sura of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 1997 Dunk Competition featured a final round of 3 competitors, Chris Carr, Michael Finley, and Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant stole the show with a confident between the legs dunk that registered the best score of the night and awarded him the title of the 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Champion.

First Round
Chris Carr –Score 44.0
Darvin Ham - Score 36.0
Ray Allen - Score 35.0
Kobe Bryant – Score 37.0
Bob Sura –Score 35.0
Michael Finley - Score 39

Final Round – Dunk 1
Kobe Bryant – Between the Legs Dunk - Score 49.0
Michael Finley – Missed Dunk - Score 33
Chris Carr – Windmill Dunk off the bounce - Score 42

Final Round – Dunk 2
Kobe Bryant - Missed Dunk - Score 35.5
Michael Finley – Missed Dunk - Score 30.5
Chris Carr –360 Dunk off the bounce – Score 45.8

Champion – Kobe Bryant