The NBA Dunk Contest that took place over the weekend was quite disappointing, and it continued to be so throughout the All-Star Saturday event. If the entertainment value is going to remain this low, the Dunk Contest might have to take a backseat and let the three-point contest finish out the events.
Jaylen Brown, a player for the Boston Celtics, was one of only two active NBA players who participated in the dunk contest. The other NBA player was Jamie Jaquez, a rookie for the Miami Heat who has not been known for his highlight dunks so far in his tenure in the league. The two other players who participated were Jacob Toppin and last year’s champion Mac McClung, both of whom were G-League affiliate players. Toppin, who is the brother of Obi Toppin, a forward for the Indiana Pacers, won the contest in 2022.
The dunks throughout the night have not captured the news cycles due to the lack of creativity and no real flare within the competition. Stephen A Smith, Kendrick Perkins, and Shannon Sharpe discussed the disappointing event on First Take this morning. Smith says the player that we have to blame for the Dunk contest being what it is now is no other than LeBron James.
“The one thing Shannon, Shannon I’m so serious about this I’ll shut up about the GOAT debate if you hear me out,” Smith told Shannon Sharpe that couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “The slam dunk contest, I got the stat here Shannon. When we are talking about the slam dunk contest, from 1985 to 1997 five of the slam dunk contests were won by future hall of famers. (Micheal) Jordan twice, (Domonique) Wilkins twice, and Kobe (Bryant) once. Michael Jordan participated in the contest three times. Domonique Wilkins five times. Every high jumper, every Sky Walker, every above-the-rim talent salivated for the opportunity to compete in the slam dunk contest, it stopped when LeBron James said ‘I’m not doing it.'”
Smith’s point is valid. If we look at the level of excitement behind the competition, from 2010 to 2013 it was still entertaining but was losing its sizzle. Zach Lavine and Aaron Gordon changed that in 2014 and 2015; they put on a show with some of the best dunks in the last decade. After that, the dunk contest almost became unwatchable to some degree.
“And from that point forward, the starts that followed did not feel compelled to prioritize a slam dunk contest. The tradition that was set by other proceeding LeBron James. You know what he did Shannon to rub it in, he did it before layup lines before the game. He did it on purpose, so when we look at the demise of the slam dunk contest from a historical perspective, there is no one who knows basketball who would refute what I’m saying. There is no one that would do it, LeBron James refusing to participate in the dunk contest was the beginning and the spark plug of its demise, period. There is no one that could dispute that.”
The full weekend needs a reset, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has to figure out what needs to happen to ensure this event in San Fransisco next year and in Los Angeles, the following year is even worth the trip for NBA Fans. Check out the clip of Stephen A. Smith from this morning below.
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