With just some weeks left within the calendar earlier than San Francisco hosts this yr’s All-Star Weekend, there’s nonetheless comparatively little to no pleasure across the festivities’ upcoming Slam Dunk Contest.
Stephon Citadel and Matas Buzelis — rookies from the Class of 2024 — have already filed their intention to hitch the competitors. But amid information about their entry, followers seemingly didn’t bat a watch — a transparent depiction of the misplaced curiosity of many for an occasion that was as soon as extremely anticipated.
From the previous, the Slam Dunk Contest prided itself as the last word spotlight of the All-Star Weekend. From the tv and within the social media clips, we’ve seen how the likes of Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Dominique Wilkins, Nate Robinson, Zach LaVine, and Aaron Gordon have graced the hardwood and gave each single fan that thrilling expertise of witnessing thunderous jams.
However in at this time’s period, it’s unlucky to suppose that the glamour of the competition has out of the blue dimmed. Alongside the worsening notion in regards to the All-Star Sport, the Slam Dunk Contest additionally slowly grew to become irrelevant within the eyes of the bulk — primarily because of the lack of participation of a number of massive names and famend stars. Final yr was a significant snooze fest regardless of Jaylen Brown’s presence and significantly disappointing show.
For Shannon Sharpe, he’ll solely entertain the concept of watching the Slam Dunk Contest if Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards, and Zion Williamson will give it a shot.
“You inform me Ja Morant, you inform me Antman, you inform me Zion, OK signal your boy up proper there,” Sharpe exclaimed in ESPN’s First Take.
“As a matter of truth, I’m paying to get me a ticket, as a result of I need to be entrance row since you obtained a few of the nice dunkers within the NBA presently within the dunk contest.
“However with out that, it’s time to let it go.”
There’s no-brainer that Morant, Edwards, and Williamson are three of essentially the most electrifying sensations within the league at this time — succesful sufficient to leap and put crowds on their ft with their highlight-reel athleticism and finishes. However accidents — particularly for each Morant and Williamson — undoubtedly hinder them from becoming a member of the competition.
Whatever the different attainable the explanation why many different gamers have turned away from the concept of collaborating within the occasion, Stephen A. Smith in the meantime blamed LeBron James for the disinterest now for the Slam Dunk Contest
“LeBron by no means has [joined the Slam Dunk Contest]. He mentioned he had nothing to show. It ain’t about that, it was about carrying on the custom,” Smith mentioned.
“No one expects him to do now at age 40, however rattling. It took 22 years within the league that you simply had been round and by no means participated in it.”
In the long run, Adam Silver and the remainder of the NBA management can solely act urgently to save lots of the Slam Dunk Contest and restore its outdated glory.
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