The NBA Slam Dunk Contest has always been a staple of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend. Nothing generates more excitement than seeing the league’s best high flyers dazzling the crowd with their aerial skills.
We’ve seen iconic performances in the 40 year history of the event. Freeze-frame jumps from little guys like Spud Webb and Nate Robinson. Athletic rivals taking competition to the next level. Dominique Wilkins vs Michael Jordan. Dwight Howard vs Nate Robinson. Zach LaVine vs Aaron Gordon.
And unforgettable dunks that will live forever in history. Jordan’s free throw dunk. Vince Carter’s 360 windmill. Aaron Gordon sitting in the air over the Magic mascot.
But it seems as the more time passes, the more the aura around the dunk contest seems to disappear. What was once a spectacle is now dominated by players that aren’t even in the pros yet.
And so, once again, we’ve reached a point where the NBA dunk contest needs saving. And here’s some ways for the magic to come back.
Bring Back the Stars
The participants in the 2024 NBA Dunk Contest are defending champion Mac McClung, Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez, Boston Celtics all-star forward Jaylen Brown, and New York Knicks two-way rookie Jacob Toppin.
Brown is the first all-star to compete in the contest since Victor Oladipo in 2018. And the last all-star to win the contest was Blake Griffin in 2011 (even though technically John Wall took home “Dunker of the Night” in the modified team-version of the dunk contest in 2014).
Simply put, the stars are ducking the dunk contest. Looking at the all-star pool from the last three seasons, who wouldn’t have loved to see guys like Donovan Mitchell, Paolo Banchero, Anthony Edwards, or Ja Morant compete in the contest.
Hall of Famer and dunk contest icon Julius Erving said on Shaquille O’Neal’s podcast last week that egos are what’s keeping the stars out of the dunk contest today.
“It’s about the brand right now, they don’t want to do anything to diminish the brand,” Erving said.
And while personal branding is important, participating and winning in a dunk contest as a superstar can only enhance your legacy rather than tear it down.
With the other three dunkers in the 2024 field being rookies or G-League players (or both in Jacob Toppin’s case), seeing some household names back in the competition would spark a fire that’s been missing the past few seasons.
Stop Gifting 50s
In the past four dunk contests, a total of 12 dunks have been given a 50. Aaron Gordon has the most 50s in NBA dunk contest history with 8, and didn’t win a single contest. For comparison, Nate Robinson has won three dunk contests and didn’t get a single 50-point dunk.
Ever since Gordon’s battle with Zach LaVine in 2016, judges have been fairly lenient on what is a perfect dunk contest dunk. Since the 50 has been devalued, there’s dunks that are forgettable in history that have higher scores than some of the most iconic dunks ever.
There’s no shame in giving a good dunk an 8 or a 9. Not every dunk is a 10 and that’s okay.
Fully Commit by Bringing in Pro Dunkers
We’ve seen the NBA test out different ways to spice up the dunk contests in the past. Whether it was allowing a freestyle portion in the contest, introducing a tournament format or the aforementioned team-style dunk contest.
One way I think could generate the most excitement and get more of the game’s best leapers involved would be to do a “Pros vs Pro Dunkers” contest, bringing in some of the most iconic professional dunkers to show off on a grand stage.
Some dunkers like Jordan Kilganon and Guy Dupuy are already household names, and seeing them impress at NBA All-Star Weekend would create a viral moment that would be etched in history.
I’m not asking for this to be a trend, but if the NBA is already leaning into relying on G-Leaguers to carry the contest, it could be fun to bring in stiffer, more experienced dunking competition for a special event.
What changes would you like to see made to the dunk contest? Who’s your pick to win this year?
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