I had no idea.  This must be fixed, to save the contest.  From ESPN LA:

How can the NBA entice superstar players to compete in the slam dunk contest?

Maybe all they need to do is simply ease up on all the league-mandated requirements currently attached to it, said Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin.

“It’s an all-day deal Friday and its most of the day on Saturday and you’re there all night,” Griffin said. “You have to leave the hotel 3-4 hours before and you’re taking pictures and doing all this stuff and guys just want and need a break. It would be great if you could just go out there and [dunk] but that’s not the case. You don’t see all the behind the scenes stuff.”

Griffin said he would be open to competing in the slam dunk contest next year and in the future if that was the only requirement attached to the event so he could also enjoy the rest of the all-star break with his family and friends.

“I would suggest not making it so demanding,” Griffin said. “People think it’s just the dunk contest and you just go out there and dunk but that’s not the case. You have to do the practice Thursday night and Friday and all this stuff.”

Griffin actually said he might have competed in the slam dunk contest had it not been for a condensed schedule and the fact that he was also playing in Friday night’s Rising Stars Challenge.

Do the right thing, Commissioner Stern.

[ESPN LA]