When is a slam dunk not exciting? When it occurs in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, apparently.
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest was once the highlight of All-Star Weekend, a showcase of the league’s most electrifying athletes competing to prove who had the best aerial artistry.
Legends Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, and Vince Carter turned the event into a must-watch spectacle.
But in recent years, the contest has lost its prestige, and one major reason is that many of the NBA’s top dunkers refuse to participate.
Making matters worse, the event is now routinely won by players who aren’t even playing in the league.
The Mac McClung Era: A Non-NBA Player Dominates
One of the biggest stories surrounding the dunk contest in recent years has been Mac McClung, an otherwise unspectacular player who has won three straight competitions yet has only played ten games in the NBA.
While McClung’s dunks are undeniably impressive, his dominance of the event highlights a glaring issue—the NBA’s premier dunk contest is being won by someone who isn’t even an NBA regular.
This situation raises an important question: should the Slam Dunk Contest be exclusive to actual NBA players?
After all, the event is part of NBA All-Star Weekend, not an open competition for G-League players and other outsiders.
Fans tune in to see their favorite NBA stars perform, not a player they’ve never seen in an actual NBA game. Not a player who can’t compete at the highest level.
Should the winner of the NBA Slam Dunk contest be a one-trick pony? How boring is that?
A Stale Contest with a Fading Reputation
The Slam Dunk Contest has been on a downward trajectory for years. Many of the best dunkers in the NBA—such as Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, and Anthony Edwards—refuse to participate.
Their absence has made the event less appealing, leading to a reliance on lesser-known players to fill the contest.
The iconic player of this era, LeBron James, has never competed in the contest
This is a far cry from the event’s golden era when household names Jordan, Wilkins, and Carter competed to cement their dunking legacies. Even Dwight Howard and Nate Robinson gave fans memorable performances.
There was a time when Kenny “Sky” Walker and the unassuming Kenny Smith were stars of the dunk event
Even Spud Webb did amazing things during the contest. Now, the contest feels like an afterthought, a sideshow rather than a marquee event.
There was even a time when the NBA canceled the dunk contest entirely due to its lack of appeal.
The event was scrapped from 1998 to 1999, and with its current state, it feels like we could be heading toward another cancellation if things don’t change.
Gimmicks Have Made the Dunk Contest Predictable
Another issue plaguing the contest is its over-reliance on gimmicks. Jumping over cars, dunking over people, and wearing tribute jerseys have become routine.
What once seemed innovative now feels repetitive and uninspired. The essence of the dunk contest—raw athleticism and creativity—has been overshadowed by unnecessary props and theatrics.
Part of what made Vince Carter’s 2000 performance so legendary was that he didn’t rely on gimmicks
His dunks were so creative and powerful that they spoke for themselves.
In contrast, recent contests have felt more like a circus act, with contestants trying too hard to outdo previous gimmicks rather than focusing on executing truly great dunks.
All-Star Weekend Has Become Underwhelming
The dunk contest isn’t the only aspect of NBA All-Star Weekend that has suffered. The entire weekend has become stale and uninspiring.
The All-Star Game itself has devolved into a glorified pickup game with no defense. The three-point contest remains popular, but even that lacks the drama of years past.
The weekend as a whole lacks the excitement and stakes that once made it must-watch television
Revamping the Slam Dunk Contest to include only actual NBA players would be a step in the right direction. Fans want to see the league’s biggest names compete, not players who are barely clinging to an NBA roster spot.
Having real NBA stars in the contest would restore legitimacy to the event and bring back the excitement that has been missing for years.
Can the NBA Slam Dunk Contest be Interesting Again?
To restore the dunk contest to its former glory, the NBA must enforce stricter entry requirements. The competition should be reserved for actual NBA players, preferably those with meaningful roles on their teams.
Encouraging top-tier dunkers to participate—whether through increased incentives or more enticing competition formats—would also help restore interest.
At the end of the day, the NBA Slam Dunk Contest should be a showcase of the best dunkers in the league
Allowing fringe players to dominate the event only diminishes its prestige and makes it less appealing for fans.
It’s time for the NBA to reclaim the contest as a legitimate, must-watch event featuring its best athletes, not a platform for unknowns.
By making the Slam Dunk Contest an exclusive showcase for NBA players and eliminating gimmicky theatrics, the league can revitalize what was once the crown jewel of All-Star Weekend.
