LOS ANGELES — He was nicknamed “Flight White’’ and “Flight 75’’ in college because of his leaping and dunking ability. Now that he’s back in the NBA after an Italian League hiatus, Knicks reserve swingman James White is being nominated by the Players Association for the All-Star Slam-Dunk competition February in Houston.

White was approached by union officials last week about the dunk competition. The union has more influence in the Saturday night skill competitions in the new format in which the conferences compete against each other. A team captain will be chosen for the East and West and make the final call on participants. A league source said the Knicks’ Steve Novak is expected to compete in the 3-point competition.

White, whose biggest contribution on the Knicks is his defense after he helped hold down LeBron James in Miami, said he no longer practices acrobatic dunks during warmups.

White, who played at Cincinnati and Florida, won slam-dunk competitions in Italy, Turkey and finished second to David Lee in the McDonald’s high school Slam Dunk competition in 2002.