The slam dunk contest is for players who are trying to make a name for themselves so.

[sportsfan76]

why the hell would Lebron James be involved in it? Even when he came in the NBA in 2003 he was already Big time so he didn't need to be in a dunk contest to become more popular. Jordan and Kobe were not that popular when they first entered the NBA so that's why they were in the slam dunk contest. If you remember Lebron's first NBA game was aired on ESPN so that right there lets you know he never needed to be in the slam dunk contest


He was big time from day 1

[Showtime80']

Really!?! An what was Michael Jordan in 1987 and 1988 when he won the contest back to back? Only the leading vote getter in the All-Star game and league MVP! The star players now are just not as competitive as they were back then. If there would've been a 1 on 1 competition back in those days you can bet your bottom dollar that A LARGE PERCENTAGE of the top 20 players in the league would've participated, now they're afraid to enter a stupid dunk contest

[SugarHill]

Really!?! An what was Michael Jordan in 1987 and 1988 when he won the contest back to back? Only the leading vote getter in the All-Star game and league MVP! The star players now are just not as competitive as they were back then. If there would've been a 1 on 1 competition back in those days you can bet your bottom dollar that A LARGE PERCENTAGE of the top 20 players in the league would've participated, now they're afraid to enter a stupid dunk contest

Durant and Curry both showed interest in a 1on1 tournament, actually.

[sportsfan76]

Really!?! An what was Michael Jordan in 1987 and 1988 when he won the contest back to back? Only the leading vote getter in the All-Star game and league MVP! The star players now are just not as competitive as they were back then. If there would've been a 1 on 1 competition back in those days you can bet your bottom dollar that A LARGE PERCENTAGE of the top 20 players in the league would've participated, now they're afraid to enter a stupid dunk contest


when jordan first came into the NBA he was not as popular as lebron

[SugarHill]

when jordan first came into the NBA he was not as popular as lebron
Why is this relevant? LeBron himself kept hinting for years that he'd join the contest. No one was holding him hostage forcing him to do anything. He just bitched out.

[sportsfan76]

Why is this relevant? LeBron himself kept hinting for years that he'd join the contest. No one was holding him hostage forcing him to do anything. He just bitched out.


It's relevant because the slam dunk contest are not for well known players

[SugarHill]

It's relevant because the slam dunk contest are not for well known players

Is the dunk contest of lesser importance, value or recognition than the 3point contest because the last one had a shit ton of well known players, to say the least.

[sportsfan76]

Is the dunk contest of lesser importance, value or recognition than the 3point contest because the last one had a shit ton of well known players, to say the least.


wasn't the 3 pt contest purposely set up that way for the fans this year?

[Dro]

why the hell would Lebron James be involved in it? Even when he came in the NBA in 2003 he was already Big time so he didn't need to be in a dunk contest to become more popular. Jordan and Kobe were not that popular when they first entered the NBA so that's why they were in the slam dunk contest. If you remember Lebron's first NBA game was aired on ESPN so that right there lets you know he never needed to be in the slam dunk contest


He was big time from day 1
:coleman:

[sportsfan76]

:coleman:


Lebron...1st pick
Jordan.....3rd pick
Kobe.......13th pick

[Showtime80']

Jordan 1988- NBA MVP, DPOY, Nike icon, All-Star leading vote getter and MVP, lead a one man gang to the second round of the playoffs against the Bad Boy Pistons.

Still competed in the dunk contest. What's Lebron's excuse again?

[Demon Lizard]

The real reason stars did it back then was money. They got a bit more money in their wallets, which was more necessary because they didn't make the giant numbers players make today. Increase the paycheck in the dunk contest now, and stars would come back.

[L.Kizzle]

when jordan first came into the NBA he was not as popular as lebron
Magic, Moses Malone, Isiah Thomas and Ralph Sampson were the only players with more votes than Michael his rookie season. He had more votes than Bird, Kareem and Dr. J.

[Showtime80']

Money?!? Now that's a laugh. Yeah I'm sure Clyde, Dominique and Michael needed that extra 10 to 15k in their pockets!

How much did Magic pay the superstars to come to his summer charity game where they also had dunk contests?!?

Face it, those guys were the last of a breed that died a long time ago, the era of "pathological competitors". Lebron is not one of those

[theoneneo]

Yea, that's the reason :rolleyes:

[tomtucker]

OP is correct........Lebron has indeed made a name for himself.......the name is "fukking bitchmade".......:bowdown:

[AirFederer]

MJ took part because he saw the challenge, to prove himself, he wanted to win. The other one saw it as a risk of losing...and sat out.

Different mentalities :cheers:

[Showtime80']

Domique's brand sure as hell didn't suffer from the contest loses, he put Reebok on the map with those fugly "Pump" shoes that were second in popularity only to the Air Jordan's

[HurricaneKid]

There is no reason, given the income they get over the AS weekend in TV, tix, TV, etc that they can't have a sizeable cash prize.

Right now the risk of damaging a brand like the LeBron brand is simply not worth competing for 15k. Miss a few dunks and do real harm to your ability to make millions. Now make it $1M and watch all the best dunkers get on board.

[L.Kizzle]

There is no reason, given the income they get over the AS weekend in TV, tix, TV, etc that they can't have a sizeable cash prize.

Right now the risk of damaging a brand like the LeBron brand is simply not worth competing for 15k. Miss a few dunks and do real harm to your ability to make millions. Now make it $1M and watch all the best dunkers get on board.
If switching from team to team every and putting up sub-par Final showings didn't damage his brand, missing a dunk surely wont. Only thing missing dunk would damage, is his ego.

[kshutts1]

Really!?! An what was Michael Jordan in 1987 and 1988 when he won the contest back to back? Only the leading vote getter in the All-Star game and league MVP! The star players now are just not as competitive as they were back then. If there would've been a 1 on 1 competition back in those days you can bet your bottom dollar that A LARGE PERCENTAGE of the top 20 players in the league would've participated, now they're afraid to enter a stupid dunk contest
?

I think it's all about perception. The media is everywhere, and players (rightfully) worry about how the media will portray them.
"Back then" it was not such an issue. Totally different now.

[jzek]

when jordan first came into the NBA he was not as popular as lebron

and Kobe?

[Showtime80']

Damn L.Kizzle, couldn't have said it better.

[rapker]

LOL excuses. those who worship the no hair man behave the same way as him, always looking for excuses.

he said he was gonna enter multiple times and ended up backing out of the contests year after year. man's ****ed up. own up to it and stop trying to find excuses bra.

[rapker]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sRtg5GPlM4

the last of dying breed

[sportsfan76]

and Kobe?


Yes Kobe too lol