Shaquille O'Neal strongly criticized the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest, calling it the worst in history and saying the event has lost its edge.
Shaquille O'Neal did not sugarcoat his opinion about the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest. During the latest episode of The Big Podcast, the NBA legend delivered strong criticism of the event and the overall direction of All-Star Weekend.
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Position: C
Age: 53
Height: 216 cm
Weight: 147 kg
Birth place: United States of America
"This generation is just a little bit too cool for me," he said. "It really is. And I hate to say this is why the All-Star Game has been sucky for the last six, seven, eight years. Like, this is the worst Dunk Contest in Dunk Contest history. We had a show, 'Dunkman,' and the dunkers on that show are better than our NBA professional dunkers."
O'Neal made it clear that for him, the issue is not just about one bad night. He believes the lack of intensity and star power has been a problem for years. In his view, the Dunk Contest used to be the crown jewel of the weekend, not just another side event.
"I remember growing up, forget the All-Star Game. When I was growing up, the highlight of the weekend was the Dunk Contest. Jordan versus Dominique," added O'Neal.
This year, the contest did not feature a marquee superstar or the three-time defending champion Mac McClung.
The spotlight instead went to Keshad Johnson, Carter Bryant, Jaxson Hayes, and Jase Richardson, with Johnson winning it all.
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