“LeBron James RUINED the Dunk Contest!”: Stephen a Smith Blamed ‘Scoring King’ for Lowered Quality of All-Star Festivities

Nithin Joseph | 21/02/2023
"LeBron James RUINED Dunk Contest!": Stephen A Smith blamed 'Scoring King' for lowered quality of All-Star festivities

LeBron James is a bonafide superstar, one of the biggest the NBA has ever seen. As a professional, The King has done it all and achieved everything the league has to offer.

Championships, MVPs, All-NBA teams, All-Defensive teams, All-Star teams, there is almost nothing left for him to achieve. He even broke the scoring record recently, cementing him as one of the greatest athletes of all time.

That being said, there is one thing that LeBron does not have. Although he has never actively chased after it, King James has never won nor participated in the Dunk Contest. This is something that First Take analyst, Stephen A Smith, believes has been the key reason behind it’s downfall.

Also Read: “I Wouldn’t Draft Myself Either”: Nikola Jokic on Being Picked 7th by LeBron James From the All-Star Starters Pool

Stephen A Smith delivers hot take, claims that LeBron James has ruined the Dunk Contest

The All-Star break is something that fans and players alike look forward to, mainly due to all the festivities on display. One in particular that catches everybody’s eye is the Slam Dunk Contest.

Given last year’s dry performance, expectations were not high for this season. However, the contestants did not disappoint, as they all put on exceptional performances, with the 76ers’ Mac McClung coming out on top.

That being said, one person was left unsatisfied. First Take’s Stephen A Smith has always had an issue with the spectacle. Why? Because he believes it has been ruined since 2003, simply by LeBron James refusing to participate in the event.

“Let’s understand that when we think about the absence of the stars participating in the Slam Dunk Contest, LeBron James is the one responsible for that. He’s given us everything else…everything else! But when it comes to the All-Star Slam Dunk competition, he never showed up. And, it’s because of him that others felt it was okay to follow. And that is why the Slam Dunk Contest is not what it used to be and what it once was!”

A bit much from Stephen A. After all, every player has a right to decide what they wish to participate in. Although, one cannot deny that LeBron in the Dunk Contest would be a treat to watch.

LeBron did not participate in the Dunk Contest because it did not align with his brand

There can be no denying LeBron James is one of the best in-game dunkers of all time. However, fans are not satisfied at just this stage. They have been hoping and begging for The King to try his hand at the Dunk Contest. Unfortunately, that will never happen, as he admits it does not work well with his brand.

It’s a shame, really. Watching LeBron would have been a dream come true. Too bad The King has his own agenda, and the Dunk Contest is nowhere on it.

Also Read: The Undertaker Felt Humbled After LeBron James Paid a Unique Homage to Him

Post Edited By: Raahib Singh
LeBron James Stephen A Smith

About the author

Nithin Joseph

Nithin is a content writer at The SportsRush. Like his favorite athlete Kobe Bryant, the company has helped Nithin elevate his writing skills to a whole new level, especially as an NBA content writer. With over 1500 articles to his name, Nithin's love for the sport knows no bounds. And, as he continues to watch the sport on a daily basis, he hopes his fascination with the NBA, especially the Miami Heat will inspire more and more readers to give the sport a chance. Perhaps, one day making basketball in India as big as it is in the United States.

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