CLEVELAND, Ohio — Remember when the NBA Slam Dunk Contest was the marquee event of All-Star Weekend? Those days are long gone, and the latest episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast digs into why the league’s biggest stars now avoid the competition like it’s a defensive assignment.
The 2024 dunk contest lineup features Carter Bryant, Jaxson Hayes, Keshad Johnson, and Jace Richardson — all making their debut at All-Star Weekend, with two being rookies. Meanwhile, the 3-point contest is packed with household names like Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, and the Cavs’ own Donovan Mitchell.
This stark contrast sparked a heated discussion on the podcast between cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins and Cavs beat reporter Chris Fedor.
“It’s interesting and confusing to me that the 3-point contest has become the headliner main event that all the stars want to participate in as opposed to the dunk contest. When the dunk contest is and always has been objectively so much cooler if you can crush it,” Watkins said.
So what’s driving this shift?
Fedor offered a compelling theory: ego protection.
“If you’re a high-profile player that has done something at the NBA level and you’re in a dunk contest against like guy number 400 in the NBA or guy number three 95 in the NBA and you lose that dunk contest to that guy, the jokes write themselves,” Fedor explained. “I’m not going to say you never live that down, but that is a stain that follows you for a long time.”
The fear of losing to a relatively unknown player creates a risk-reward calculation that many stars simply aren’t willing to make.
Why put yourself in a position to be potentially embarrassed when your brand and reputation are worth millions?
Watkins wasn’t having any of these excuses, calling out what he sees as a lack of competitive fire among today’s stars.
“If you’re really that worried about what other people think about you in a dunk contest, then you’re not as big and tough as you say you are in the first place, man,” Watkins argued.
The conversation highlighted how the dunk contest has shifted from a showcase of the league’s elite talent to a platform for lesser-known players trying to make a name for themselves. Mac McClung, who has barely played in the NBA, has become “dunk guy” by winning the contest multiple times.
Fedor suggested that the solution might be getting multiple stars to commit together: “What would need to happen to me is like four prolific players all get together and say we need to do this at the same time. So it’s not like a huge deal if I lose the dunk contest to you.”
This approach would distribute the risk and potentially restore the event to its former glory. The podcast hosts even suggested specific players who could revitalize the competition, with Watkins directly challenging current NBA stars: “Call your friends, call up Ja \[Morant\], call up Zion \[Williamson\].”
The discussion also touched on how the NBA is trying different formats for All-Star Weekend to generate interest, including the new US vs. World structure for the main game. However, the dunk contest’s fall from prominence remains one of the most noticeable shifts in the league’s midseason showcase.
Want to hear more fiery takes about the NBA All-Star Weekend and who should step up to restore the dunk contest to its former glory? Listen to the full episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast for an unfiltered conversation about the state of the league’s showcase events.
Here’s the podcast for this week: