NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
NBA All-Star Weekend drew mixed reviews from fans on social media, with many calling out the lack of entertainment during Saturday night’s Slam Dunk Contest.
It’s no secret that the flagship event of the festivities preceding the All-Star Game is no longer what it used to be, and the latest version, Saturday night at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, was more of the same.
Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson won the event, but the performance of the four competitors failed to wow the crowd and social media.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James still have beef ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. (IMAGINE)
In turn, debate over the event took place on ESPN’s “First Take,” where personality Stephen A. Smith actually pointed the finger at a non-participant — Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.
“I’m going to blame LeBron James,” Smith told the panel. “Now, I’ve been sitting here for months and applauding his greatness and everything he’s done and meant to the NBA, but I’ve said it and I’m going to be very consistent…The person who is really the provocateur that ruined the slam dunk contest is him.”
MEHDI HASAN RIPS LEBRON JAMES ON ISRAEL COMMENTS AT NBA ALL-STAR GAME
Although Smith has no proof as to why James ruined the contest, he simply says that the all-time great who never competed in the event is bad for him in general.
“He was a superstar who had a dunk contest every night in the layup line, especially when he knew there was momentum for him to participate, and he never did. He even teased that he was going to participate one year.”
USA Stripes forward LeBron James (23) answers questions before the NBA All-Star basketball game on Sunday, February 15, 2026, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Perhaps Smith is implying that James’ lack of participation led other NBA superstars to avoid the event. Gone are the days when fans witnessed iconic dunk battles with players like Zach Levine and Aaron Gordon.
Mac McClung, who is currently on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, has been a big draw in recent seasons given his mind-blowing dunks that have blown away the rest of the competition. He won three consecutive competitions from 2023 to 2025.
But Saturday’s event, which also featured James’ Lakers teammate Jaxson Hayes, Carter Bryant of the San Antonio Spurs and Jase Richardson of the Orland Magic, the son of two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion Jason Richardson, was a tough watch.
“I didn’t think about the competition,” he said. “I want to congratulate Keshad Johnson on his win. Pat Riley stood up and applauded him…but we all know it was terrible because there was no star power. The reality is we’re going to take it home where the GOATS can get it.”
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James appears during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on February 10, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, file)
Of course, James isn’t the only one who could bring major star power to the event. But what was once the event where Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Dwight Howard and many others were expected to compete, has become an event where players of lesser status in the league attempt to make a name for themselves.
The last notable NBA All-Star to win the event was Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who was playing for the Utah Jazz in 2018 when he won.
