The marquee event of NBA All-Star Saturday used to be the dunk contest. It was the one event that would wow the players and fans in attendance in the arena and millions more watching from home. But, in recent years, the event has gotten a little stale.
There are a few things that have factored into viewer fatigue. Despite players getting more and more athletic, the creativity of the dunks has waned at times. The flair has dissipated as participants are relying more and more on props to get a rise out of viewers.
Another big reason is the lack of star power when it comes to players taking part. People have essentially begged LeBron James to do the Dunk Contest throughout his career but he never took part. Seemingly gone are the days of superstars showing off their talents at the main event of All-Star Saturday Night.
This year’s winner Mac McClung put on a wonderful performance, but he was not a household name for the casual NBA fan. The amount of time that he spent on the court for the event is more than he has played in an NBA game. Thus far in his career, he has played a grand total of 25 minutes in the NBA, spending most of his time in the G League.
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If stars would commit to the contest, the excitement would likely return to the event. Could we see one of the brightest young stars in the contest next year? Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans hinted that it could be time to throw his name into the ring.
“I’ll think about it. I’ll put heavy consideration into doing the dunk contest. I feel like if I am going to do it, I’d probably do it next year,” Williamson said.
The Pelicans star missed this year’s All-Star game after being voted in as a starter as he is dealing with a hamstring strain that he suffered a setback while recovering from. He would certainly draw a lot of attention by taking part in the event.
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One player that people would love to see him go up against is Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies. The No. 1 and 2 overall picks in the 2019 NBA Draft would be a matchup for the ages in a dunk contest. Alas, we aren’t going to see it as Morant gave a firm answer on his chances of participating. “I’m not doing the dunk contest,” he said.
While that was certainly disappointing for fans to hear, knowing there is a chance that Williamson will take part next year provides a little bit of optimism. It would be a lot of fun seeing him go up against McClung as both became viral sensations for the dunks they threw down as high schoolers.
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