Kendrick Perkins called the Slam Dunk Contest an “embarrassment” on ESPN’s “First Take.” Stephen A. Smith blamed LeBron James for the event’s decline — despite James never competing in it. Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson won the 2026 contest at Intuit Dome.
Smith said LeBron is “the provocateur”
Stephen A. Smith said LeBron James is responsible for the Slam Dunk Contest’s decline. “The person who really is the provocateur to ruin the slam dunk contest is him,” Smith said. James has never participated in the event despite his athleticism. Smith’s argument is that James set a precedent — if the best player in the league doesn’t enter, other stars feel no obligation to participate either.
Perkins said the contest needs “big names”
Kendrick Perkins called this year’s contest an “embarrassment.” He cited Ja Morant and Anthony Edwards as examples of stars who didn’t participate. “The dunk contest means too much to the NBA and All-Star Weekend,” Perkins said. “We need those big-name guys…get it done.” Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat won the event. The field lacked players with significant name recognition.
The Three-Point Contest still draws stars
Damian Lillard won this year’s Three-Point Contest. The event continues to attract established players. The shooting competition carries less risk than the dunk contest — a poor performance is less likely to become a viral embarrassment. The risk-reward calculation for top players favors the Three-Point Contest over the dunk competition.
The contest lacks innovation
The Slam Dunk Contest has struggled with creativity in recent years. The dunks that defined previous eras — Vince Carter’s 2000 performance, Blake Griffin jumping over a car — haven’t been matched. This year’s contestants didn’t introduce memorable moments. The combination of missing star power and repetitive dunks has reduced the event’s appeal. The NBA changed the All-Star Game format this year and saw ratings increase 87%. The dunk contest hasn’t received a similar overhaul.