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NBA All-Star Weekend drew mixed reviews from fans on social media, with many calling out the lack of entertainment in Saturday night’s Slam Dunk Contest.
It’s no secret that the signature event of pre-All-Star-Game festivities hasn’t been what it used to be, and the latest version Saturday night at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles was more of the same.
Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson won the event, but the performance of all four contestants failed to impress the audience and those on social media.
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Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James still have some beef heading into the 2025-26 NBA season. (IMAGIN)
In turn, the debate about the event came to ESPN’s “First Take,” where personality Stephen A. Smith actually pointed some blame in the direction of a non-participant — Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.
“I want to blame LeBron James,” Smith told the panel. “Now I’ve been sitting here for months and I’ve applauded his greatness and all the things he’s done and he’s meant to the NBA, but I’ve said it and I’m going to be very consistent. … The person who’s really the provocateur to destroy the slam dunk contest is him.”
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Although Smith had no evidence as to why James ruined the competition, he simply says that the all-time great who never competes in the event is bad for it in general.
“He was a superstar who made a dunk contest every night in the layup line, especially when he knew there was momentum for him to participate, and he never did. He even teased that he would participate one year.”
USA Stripes forward LeBron James (23) answers questions before the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Perhaps Smith is suggesting that James’ lack of attendance has caused other NBA superstars to steer clear of the event. Gone are the days of fans getting iconic dunk battles with players like Zach Levine and Aaron Gordon.
Mac McClung, who is currently on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, has been a huge draw in recent seasons given his show-stopping dunks that blew away the rest of the competition. He won three competitions in a row from 2023-25.
But Saturday’s event, which also featured James’ Lakers teammate Jaxson Hayes, the San Antonio Spurs’ Carter Bryant and the Orland Magic’s Jase Richardson, son of two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion Jason Richardson, was a tough watch.
“I wasn’t thinking about the competition,” he said. “I want to applaud Keshad Johnson for the win. Pat Riley got up and applauded him…but we all know it was terrible because there was no star power. The reality is we want to bring it home where the GOATS can get it.”
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Of course, it’s not just James who could bring some major star power to the event. But what was once the event where Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Dwight Howard and many others would compete has turned into one where lesser-status players in the league try to make a name for themselves.
The last notable NBA All-Star to win the event was Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who played for the Utah Jazz in 2018, when he took home the win.
