Stephen A. Smith believes the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest has become a certified disaster and completely unwatchable in recent years, particularly the 2024 iteration in Indianapolis.
Fans and sports pundits alike have lamented yesteryear when the NBA’s marquee talent eagerly participated in the competition — which was arguably the most eagerly anticipated of the phalanx of events during the weekend. Juxtapose that with the 2024 snore-fest that featured two G-League stars — who aren’t even good enough to get promoted to the NBA — and an NBA rookie, Jamie Jaquez, that very few people ever heard of.
Smith says James let NBA fans down
While discussing the precipitous demise of the dunk contest on ESPN’s “First Take,” the normally high-decibel Smith turned the volume up even higher as he looked co-host Shannon Sharpe in the face.
“LeBron James is directly responsible for ruining the slam dunk contest,” Smith said as Sharpe, an ardent James fan, closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair while letting out a sigh.
“I’m not laughing. And I am so serious,” the wide-eyed Smith added.
“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. [Michael] Jordan twice, [Dominique] Wilkins twice, and Kobe [Bryant] once. Michael Jordan participated in the contest three times. Dominique 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 believes others followed James’ lead and avoided the dunk contest
James has gotten backlash over the years for never participating in the contest. Smith says that the influential James decision has reverberated down the NBA ranks as other big-name stars have subsequently opted out of the contest as well, thereby ruining the once coveted, must-see event.
“And from that point forward, the stars that followed did not feel compelled to prioritize a slam dunk contest,” Smith continued. “The tradition that was set by other proceeding LeBron James. You know what he did, Shannon, to rub it in? He did it [in] 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.”
“I’m blaming LeBron for inflation and the reason why my 401K is not performing well,” Sharpe retorted, with sarcasm dripping from his words, as a response to the blame James often gets when anything in the sport is not going well.
