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Most of the festivities had been up for dialogue following the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, with none extra talked about than the slam dunk contest. Former dunk champion and present TNT NBA analyst, Vince Carter, appeared on “Run it Again” on Fanduel TV and confirmed a legendary rumor. Carter stated he was approached by the league concerning a $1 million dunk contest, which might have included 4 of the very best dunkers of their period. Would one thing comparable assist persuade as we speak’s high stars to hitch the dunk contest?
“It was Kobe, T-Mac, LeBron…However guys didn’t need to do it,” Vince Carter stated.
After all, as soon as Carter let this info out, the hypothesis started on who stated no to this proposition by the NBA. Three of the aforementioned names — together with Vinsanity — had already competed within the dunk contest. Carter received in 2000 competing towards McGrady, and Bryant received in ’97. On the time, solely James had not taken half — and nonetheless hasn’t. By the point Bron completed his run in Miami, his becoming a member of the dunk contest was nothing greater than a pipe dream.
Fantasy reserving
The $1 million carrot is one thing that might doubtlessly entice as we speak’s largest stars to hitch the competition. The NBA would possible have to up the cash, but it surely’s one thing to contemplate. Think about the ’25 slam dunk contest that includes Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Anthony Edwards, and Mac McClung. If we’re being sensible, you’ve bought to embrace McClung because the reigning back-to-back champ.
Even with out McClung defending his title, Morant, Williamson, and Edwards have sufficient younger star energy to a minimum of enhance anticipation. Possibly the affiliation may discuss Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon into becoming a member of the fray one final time to tackle the youngins. Whereas LaVine is simply 28 years outdated, he’d be the senior on this group, because the others are all beneath 25. He’s additionally a former back-to-back winner dominating the competitors in ’15 & ‘16. Gordon misplaced to LaVine in ’16.
Clearly, that is all fantasy reserving, particularly for gamers like LaVine and Gordon, who’re approaching 30 and have extra put on and tear on their our bodies. It’s most unlikely they’d settle for the invite and, in all honesty, it’s onerous to see Ja or Zion accepting both.
“I’m not doing the dunk contest,” Morant stated final 12 months.
So Morant is on file saying he received’t do it and Williamson’s had such a tough time staying on the court docket his first few years within the league it’s virtually assured he wouldn’t do it. However let’s give credit score the place it’s due, Zion has performed in 46 of New Orleans’ 57 video games this season — by far the healthiest he’s been to date. In February of ’23, Williamson did an interview with Advanced the place he said that if he was going to do the dunk contest, it could be subsequent 12 months. Effectively, that point has come and gone so appears we’ve missed that window of alternative.
So many stars, so little curiosity. That’s the story of the NBA’s slam dunk contest on this period.
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