NBA All-Star Weekend has lost some of its luster in recent years. The game itself has become an embarrassing marquee in the opinion of many, as the level of effort, especially defensively, has disappeared. This year’s game set records for number of points scored.
Even All-Star Saturday Night has lost a bit of its shine in recent years. The marquee event for years during the weekend was the NBA Slam Dunk contest, but that isn’t drawing the same kind of excitement as in years past.
A big reason for that is the lack of name power in the event. This year, NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics did what he could to breathe some life back into the event, stepping out on a limb and entering. It had been a while since an All-Star had taken part in the event, but he couldn’t change the narrative alone.
It was a tall task for Brown, who was competing against two G League players, Mac McClung and Jacob Toppin and Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. The judging was all over the place, as strong dunks weren’t rewarded with as many points as others in what has become a stale contest.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Zion Williamson, NBA All-Star Game, New Orleans Pelicans Updates
If the NBA wants its Dunk Contest to gain the notoriety it once had, it needs big-name stars to take part. One player who could save the event is Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans. He gave a glimmer of hope to participating, agreeing he would do it on one condition.
“I gotta do my part and make the All-Star Game,” Williamson said Tuesday after the Pelicans’ 138–98 win over the Toronto Raptors. “If I’m in the All-Star Game, I’ll do the dunk contest. But if not, I’m not doing it.”
Williamson has been named to the NBA All-Star Team twice in his career to this point. You can be sure that the league will do everything within its power to get Williamson into the game next year if it means his participation in the Dunk Contest.
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