Stephen A. Smith criticized the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, blaming LeBron James for the lack of star power in the contests.
Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix; Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest crowned Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson as its winner, but not everyone was impressed with the event.
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Veteran analyst Stephen A. Smith took aim at the lack of star power and called out LeBron James for what he believes is the real reason the contest lost its luster.
"I wanna applaud Keshad Johnson for winning, Pat Riley standing up and applauding him. I wanna applaud the participants, the Jaxon Hayes, the Jace Richardsons of the world, you know, I get it. But we all know it was terrible because there was no star power. And the reality is that we gonna bring it home where the goats can get it. I'm gonna blame LeBron James," he said during ESPN's First Take.
"Now, I've sat here for months, and I've applauded his greatness and all the things that he has done, and he has meant to the NBA. But I have said it, and I'm gonna be very, very consistent. The person who really is the provocateur to ruin the Slam Dunk contest was him (LeBron) because he was a superstar who put on a dunk contest every night in the layup line, particularly when he knew that there was momentum swelling for him to participate. And he never did. He even teased that he was going to participate one year."
Despite the criticism, Johnson delivered an impressive performance in the finals, defeating San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant.
He posted a 97.4 overall score, starting strong with a quick, through-the-legs reverse dunk that earned a near-perfect 49.6.
He followed it up with a long-range slam from just beyond the free-throw line, receiving a 47.8 from the judges.
With the win, Johnson joins a short list of Miami Heat players who have claimed the Dunk Contest, alongside Harold Miner (1993, 1995) and Derrick Jones Jr. (2020).
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