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Why is the NBA dunk contest such a disappointing air ball now?

2 months ago

Advertisement Andre Jackson Jr, Milwaukee Bucks: Second-year player | 36th pick in 2023 draft | tied for 145th in dunks with 14 Andre Jackson Jr, Milwaukee Bucks: Second-year player | 36th pick in 2023 draft | tied for 145th in dunks with 14 Andre Jackson Jr, Milwaukee Bucks: Second-year player | 36th pick in 2023 draft | tied […]

Andre Jackson Jr, Milwaukee Bucks: Second-year player | 36th pick in 2023 draft | tied for 145th in dunks with 14

(Top photo of Mac McClung: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)McClung does a lot of the same dunks, pushing off a taller person as he takes the ball out of their hands and then tries to do something cool in the space between the prop person and the rim itself. Sometimes, it works. Other times, it doesn’t. But it’s sadly gotten old. I don’t doubt that it’s an incredibly difficult dunk to do, but it doesn’t sell well on TV or in the arena anymore. And that’s part of the dunk contest. Dunks can be simple, as long as you have high-flyers, energy and absurd athleticism compared to the freak athletes of the NBA.In next week’s Super Bowl, we’re going to see Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs attempt to three-peat (Pat Riley, don’t sue me) for the first time in the Super Bowl era. It’s legitimately gripping sports television because it’s the Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles are really good, Saquon Barkley is such a thrilling player and history is on the line. You know what’s not gripping? (And I mean this with no offense.) McClung three-peating for the first time in NBA dunk contest history. Nate Robinson won the contest three times (2006, 2009, 2010), but it wasn’t three in a row. Not to mention, I’m not sure he should have won any of them.

Can you imagine Anthony Edwards in the dunk contest? (Brett Davis / Imagn Images)

Until it’s solved, I’m curious what the league plans to do about this, because trotting out Mac McClung as the dunk contest mascot isn’t fair to him or the fans.McClung is not an NBA player. He’s a G League player, which … is fine? There’s no shame in that, but the reason he’s being trotted out again is because they can’t get the meaningful, exciting dunkers to do this contest. McClung has a chance to earn some real money by winning this thing. We know those G League deals aren’t great income in comparison to other professional basketball players, and I’m always in favor of people cashing out when they can. But this McClung angle is already a big groan for so many of us.• Ja Morant is one of the most electrifying players in the world with absurd athleticism even compared to the elite of the elite leapers. He should also be in it.The NBA dunk contest requires certain things. It needs personality, flare, anticipation and athleticism. You know what else it should have? Some dunkers whom NBA fans care about. I am a big fan of Castle and Jackson as NBA players. I think they can contribute to good teams now. Buzelis is more of a project, but there are plenty of smart people around the league who are excited about his future. And you should typically listen to the smart people around the league.I am pro-NBA dunk contest. Even in 2025. I understand the criticism of it. I understand that we want stars to be in it. I understand that, at times, it feels like the best dunks have been done and we’re now just in terrible reboots, like when they tried to remake “Point Break.” I’m with you when you are upset that the dunk contest doesn’t have the same gravitas and energy it once did. You’re not necessarily wrong in those assessments, even if I’d push back on some of it. I still very much believe in the dunk contest.We don’t have anything official from the league just yet, but these are the reported dunk contest participants in San Francisco on Feb. 16: