Accompanying Smith is teammate Sonny Weems, a player who won last year's collegiate dunk contest.  However, what the duo could potentially have in store was kept top secret on Friday in Phoenix.

"I can't tell nobody, man," Smith said with a chuckle.  "It's a secret."

To beat defending champion Dwight Howard that secret will have to be pretty special.

"I don't know what to expect," said Smith.  "(Howard) might come from the rafters or throw on a different suit.  You never know."

While Smith didn't want to tip his hand with regard to what he might be planning, he feels confident about his chances to compete with Howard.

"We've got a few things up our sleeves," said Smith.

Hopefully, for Smith's sake, those "things" include some kind of costume and plenty of showmanship given what the Slam Dunk Contest has now become.

"I don't think it's a dunking contest anymore," Smith explained.  "It's about what you do before and after the dunk.  You've just to be a great thinker with it."

Smith has competed in two other dunk contests earlier in his career -- once in the NBA and once in high school.  When he was a member of the New Orleans Hornets, Smith had arguably the best dunk in the contest during All-Star Weekend in 2005 in Denver.

Despite his amazing athletic ability, though, Smith has yet to win a dunk contest.

"My motivation is to win," said Smith.  "I lost my rookie year.  I lost to a girl in high school.  I'm in a bad slump right now, man."

In case you're wondering, that "girl" Smith referenced happens to be Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks.  Smith finished second behind her in a 2004 dunk contest during his senior year of high school.

While the ultimate goal is to win, Smith is also soaking up all the NBA's biggest weekend has to offer.

"Just to be out here with all of the great players and coaches and former players it's just a pleasure to be around them," said Smith.

You can check out Smith along with Howard, Rudy Fernandez and Nate Robinson as they do battle Saturday night for the right to call themselves the NBA's best dunker.

Stay tuned to HOOPSWORLD for all of the latest from All-Star Weekend.