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The NBA All-Star weekend drew mixed reviews from fans on social media, with many decrying the lack of entertainment at Saturday night’s dunk contest.
It’s no secret that the signature event of the pre-All-Star 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 the four contestants did not surprise the crowd or those on social media.
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Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James still have some issues heading into the 2025-26 NBA season. (IMAGE)
In turn, debate over the event reached ESPN’s “First Take,” where personality Stephen A. Smith actually placed some of the blame on a non-participant: Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.
“I’m going to blame LeBron James,” Smith told the panel. “Now, I’ve sat here for months and applauded his greatness and all the things he’s done and meant to the NBA, but I’ve said it and I’m going to be very consistent… The person who really is the provocateur that ruins the dunk contest is him.”
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While Smith didn’t have any evidence as to why James ruined the contest, he simply says that the fact that all-time greats never compete in the event is bad for him in general.
“He was a superstar who put on a dunk contest every night at the layup line, especially when he knew there was a push to participate, and he never did. He even joked that he was going to participate one year.”
USA Stripes forward LeBron James (23) answers questions before the NBA All-Star basketball game on Sunday, February 15, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Perhaps Smith is hinting that James’ lack of participation has led other NBA superstars to stay away from the event. Gone are the days when fans were treated to 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 big draw in recent seasons considering his spectacular dunks that blew away the rest of the competition. He won three consecutive contests between 2023 and 2025.
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 show.
“I didn’t think about the contest,” he said. “I want to applaud Keshad Johnson for winning. Pat Riley stood up and applauded him… but we all know it was terrible because there was no star power. The reality is, we’re going to take it home where the GOATS can get it.”
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James appears 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 a big star to the event. But what was once the event where Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Dwight Howard and many others had to compete has become one where lower-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 was playing for the Utah Jazz in 2018 when he took home the victory.
