Why? Just because last night's sucked? The last couple of years prior had people buzzing about it well after they were over
It's a shame more people haven't seen James White 'the' dunk contest. Get anybody in this thing that can dunk regardless if they're in the NBA. Hell, bring 'em from Greece if they can throw it down.
And that was only because of a larger than life personality like Dwight Howard, a once in a lifetime athlete for his frame. Lebron could have appeared and this contest would have still been buzzing if he had put on a show, he declined to do so, and therefor the dunk contest is nothing if the best won't do it. So why bother.
What about Iggy's show where he went from behind the backboard in 2006? And the cup cake man himself Gerald Green in 2008? Both of those contests were more than entertaining
Simple Solution to the problem: Let more players compete in it. Minimum 8 players. This will allow viewers to watch more dunks. Also one attempt fore each player with no time limit. Let fans vote for players. top 4 should come from fans.
A lot of fluff. If they can't get Lebron, Josh Smith and Igoudala to do it then it just isn't that interesting.
ban Nate Robinson and other no talent scrubs from joining... Seriously, curling is more interesting that this year's slam dunk contest
it just takes a few years, like Cheetah posted, 2000 was a great contest, but the previous probably 5 years before that it was weak. you had some good contests since 00, last year's was pretty good, the year jason richardson was pretty good
Why a terrible team (Nets) wouldn't have grabbed James White for the sole purpose of selling jerseys after he won the dunk contest is beyond me. White could play for the Nets. In some of those Euro contests he's been in he has at least 3-4 past the free throw dunk variations. A Lebron/ White match up would have been epic - I think Lebron backed off the idea of competing when the Rockets dropped White [/just a hunch].
I think a lot of it has to do with the attitude the players have these days. Lebron doesn't want to play because he doesn't want to lose. I think thats pretty obvious. I also think its total bull****. If you don't want to lose, then don't. Get out there and make your dunks absolutely sick. It's a contest. That's the damn point.
For the people who said "fan voting", that would also fail and I can tell by this message board. Every time someone says who should be in it they instantly name Wade, Kobe, Carter, and LeBron. Wade - Already said he wouldn't be in it Kobe - Most likely still wouldn't go if voted in Vince Carter - Probably would not go if voted it. LeBron - Only one who could put on a show for the contest but he's not going if the other stars don't go.
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Writing's on the wall. Dunks r Dun The Slam Nation tour, the And-1 tour, those were the dunk void-fillers. Slam Nation the best dunking displays ever. Discontinued in 2007 and 2008 respectively... Slam Nation doesnt even have their website up anymore (http://slamnation.net/) I'm not one to call finality on something, proclaim demise. Just at most you'd breath another 3-5 years into the NBA contest then hit the ultimate creativity brick wall. Writers block is temporary, dunkers block is permanent. Discontinue it. Save it for the kids and college guys who like to have fun with it.
