Just ten years ago, on Feb. 13, 2016, a duel for the ages between Orlando Magic’s forward Aaron Gordon and Minnesota Timberwolves’ guard Zach LaVine took place. In front of an energy-packed crowd in Toronto, the powerhouse dunks from the two high-flyers got icons like Drake, Odell Bechkam Jr., and Shaquille O’Neal, along with a plethora of passionate NBA players, out of their seats. These two role players, neither of whom averaged 15 points per game that season, became superstars for one night.
Although LaVine ended up the champion, LaVine and Gordon alike nailed their dunks in at most two tries. They brought new creativity and style to the event and made the impossible look possible with wild stunts like a between-the-legs dunk from the free throw line or an under-the-legs dunk while jumping over a mascot spinning on a hoverboard. They did not just etch themselves into Dunk Contest history, but created one of the most legendary moments the sport has ever seen.
Almost exactly ten years later, on Feb. 14, the 2026 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest consisted of simple, generic dunks, a total of 15 missed dunk attempts, players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dylan Harper showing negative reactions to dunks, zero props being used, and an average of 4.65 points per game between participants Jaxson Hayes, Jase Richardson, Carter Bryant, and winner Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat. In other words,the Slam Dunk Contest felt lifeless. Many fans are less invested than ever, fellow NBA players are less involved than ever, and worst of all, star players like Anthony Edwards, Zion Williamson, and LeBron James have shown no interest in participating in the event. Whether that be due to not wanting to commit time, practice, and energy, fear of injury risk, or fear of embarrassing backlash on social media, having only 5 All-Stars in the last 43 participants seems to be a poor sign for the popularity and marketability of the contest.
Despite the fact that All-Star Weekend as a whole drew in the most viewers in the past 24 years for the NBA with the largely successful U.S.A. vs. World structure of the All-Star Game itself, it is borderline consensus at this point that the Dunk Contest is on a downward spiral. In the past, the most historic Dunk Contests have either been created by superstars like Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Dominique Wilkins, and Julius Erving, or the true best (or most unlikely) dunkers like 5’9” Nate Robinson, 5’7” Spud Webb, and role players like LaVine, Gordon, and 3-time consecutive winner Mac McClung. Even if the names highlighting the contest are not recognizable to the average person, less well-known winners have proven that in order for the Dunk Contest to grab attention, the event simply must be backed by players that are ready to put on a show.
However, when nobody knows who the winner is or what team he plays for, and the dunks themselves are not memorable or unique, there is no reason to tune in. Dunks are being repeated, which is inevitable since there are only so many new things one can do with a basketball in the contest’s 42nd year. There is no enticing way to market four players that come off the bench and contribute little to nothing on their teams unless they dunk the ball in a way the league has never seen before, which is quite rare at this point.
So, where can commissioner Adam Silver go with arguably the most iconic event in NBA All-Star history? Can we just let such a staple of the sport and the legendary memories associated with it fade into the abyss and be forgotten? Or, are there certain rules or approaches the NBA can employ to bring a new flavor or style to the Dunk Contest while still honoring the legacy of the event?
One simple idea would be to practically force star players to participate in the event. Those players could either be chosen by a fan vote, the organization as a whole, or just NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. If necessary, an extra financial benefit could also be offered, but overall, if there are bigger names headlining the Dunk Contest, that will bring in a wider audience. It will allow fans to root for their favorite players and the NBA will have far more control over how to promote the event. They could even throw in rivals, such as Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, or players that already have narratives built around them, like top 2019 draft picks Ja Morant and Zion Williamson.
However, as previously mentioned, the Dunk Contest has thrived even without superstars in the event. Thus, instead of picking rookies and other young players that come in unprepared with few practices, missing several attempts and breaking the flow of the contest, the NBA could require whoever they think the best dunkers are, regardless of talent, to commit a longer amount of time to practicing for the event.
The lack of time and organization surrounding the contest was unfortunately clearer than ever this year, as Detroit Pistons All-Star Jalen Duren withdrew from the Dunk Contest just a week before the event due to a knee injury and was replaced with Jase Richardson. However, with how common missed attempts are from the so-called best dunkers in the world, in front of millions of people watching, there must be a better way to structure player selection and training to ensure that the right players are choosing the right dunks to perform.
Regarding the event itself, the standard format of the Dunk Contest — already simple, well-known, and easy to consume — should remain intact. However, if they were to make a change, the NBA could implement a round of dunks where each player has to use a unique prop, a round where players must dunk on each other in a 1v1 style, or adjust the rules of the time limit or amount of missed dunks allowed to eliminate any chance of someone’s round ending in a disappointing finish both for the player and the viewer.
Whether the NBA decides to enforce changes regarding how they select participants and format the event or not, I strongly believe the Dunk Contest should still exist. It has become a cornerstone of basketball as a sport: kids recreate their own Dunk Contests in their driveways, many iconic moments and moves have been created by the event, and, for those great dunkers who aren’t superstars, strong performances here are their legacy. It would be unfortunate to see the Dunk Contest continue to move in the direction it is going in now. I pray that Adam Silver does whatever he can to bring stars into the competition, choose the most talented and prepared dunkers, and give the players the time they need to put on a smooth, exciting, and creative show.
