The upcoming edition of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest is scheduled to take place on Saturday. The participants are Carter Bryant, Jaxon Hayes, Keshad Johnson, and Jase Richardson. Reigning Slam Dunk Contest champion Mac McClung will not be defending his title.
While there are sure to be memorable dunks, the NBA has received criticism in recent years for being unable to assemble a high-caliber lineup. Neither of the four participants has earned an All-Star selection.
In a prior season, the NBA once pitched a dunk contest between Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant. In a conversation with McGrady via The Cousins Podcast, Carter recalled that the four superstars were offered $1 million to compete.
"Do you remember the million-dollar phone call? They wanted me, you, Kob, and Bron for $1 million, and I said, ‘I'm in if everybody else is in.'"
With James starting his career in 2003 and McGrady retiring in 2013, the league likely made the offer around the mid-2000s.
Carter is known as one of the greatest dunkers in the Slam Dunk Contest's history, definitively defeating then-teammate McGrady and Steve Francis in 2000. The eight-time All-Star had three perfect 50 dunks en route to winning the title.
Like Carter, McGrady's lone dunk contest appearance came in 2000. The seven-time All-Star finished Round 1 with a near-perfect 99 score, though he dipped down to a 77 score in the Finals.
Bryant won the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest at 18 years old. He is one of five players to have won an NBA championship and a Slam Dunk Contest championship.
James has never participated in the annual event. The 22-time All-Star once committed to performing in the 2010 Slam Dunk Contest, though he later withdrew that interest when the time came around.
Considering the storied careers of Carter, McGrady, Bryant, and James, a dunk contest between the four stars would've been a guaranteed must-watch event. While the hypothetical is no longer in reach, the 41-year-old James will continue his campaign for a fifth NBA championship.
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