The NBA Slam Dunk Contest Was a Joke

Watching “supreme” athletes make a dunk after failing multiple times is like watching a bad magician mess up his trick the first few times before finally completing it.

In the end, the trick is impressive, but the magic is gone.

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest this year had four contestants: Suns guard Derrick Jones Jr., Pacers guard Glenn Robinson III, Clippers big man DeAndre Jordan, and Magic forward Aaron Gordon.

Glenn Robinson III ended up winning the contest with an impressive behind the head dunk while jumping over Paul George, a mascot, and a cheerleader all in a line.

Robinson III was the lone bright spot in the competition, completing a mix of challenging and elegant dunks all night. However, even he could not save this night from being anything other than a failure.

As the so-called “dunk contestants” attempted to complete their magic tricks, it was almost as if they had not practiced them.

Derrick Jones Jr., who was supposedly the best dunker in the competition, had one instance in the finals where he could not make the dunk after three tries. To keep it interesting, the judges gave him a pity score of 37 out of a possible 50.

Aaron Gordon, who won the contest last year, was physically present for the event, but that was about it. He missed countless dunks that he usually makes in these competitions.

DeAndre Jordan was anything but exciting. Watching the 6 ft., 11 inch Center lumber down the court to complete a couple of mediocre dunks did not make any viewer flinch. No, but probably cringe.

The NBA Slam Dunk contest used to be a night to look forward to.

The first dunk contest I watched live on television was in 2008. The event consisted of players who had the drama, creativity, and athletic ability.

One was Dwight Howard, who is a 6 ft. 11 athletic beast. Howard took over the crowd with his memorable “Superman dunk.”

Before the dunk, Howard walked into a phone booth. The crowd watched in curiosity until Howard walked out of the booth in a superman cape. The crowd watched in awe, as the theme song from the Superman movie played in the arena. Howard then performed an incredible leap, and flew through the air from just in front of the free-throw line, before slamming the ball through the rim.

The arena was electric.

Another contestant in the 2008 competition, in stark contrast to Howard, was tiny 5 ft. 9 Nate Robinson. Robinson showed off his incredible jumping ability by leaping over a player who could probably eat him. 

In later years, I watched Blake Griffin jump over a car and Gerald Green blow out a cupcake on the rim while dunking.

The Slam Dunk contest used to be a night filled with innovative ideas, performed with a certain flair and performance. The crowd at the arena was always rocking. The announcers were excited. There was always a certain form of tension, gamesmanship, and pressure at the end.

Although there have always been new young players in the dunk contest, there have also usually been some stars to join them in the event.

That is the problem nowadays with the Slam Dunk Contest. Gone are the days where Michael Jordan, Blake Griffin, Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, and other stars take the center stage. Now, what we have to look forward to is Glenn Robinson III.

Yikes.

If the NBA wants its viewers to continue to watch the NBA Slam Dunk contest, the superstars will have to rejoin the contest. I am talking to you, Lebron James. I am talking to you, Russell Westbrook, or you, Kevin Durant.

There are many stars in the NBA who have the personality, creativity, and skill combined with the athleticism to put on a good show that the fans deserve and expect.

Until this happens, people won't turn on the television to watch the first magic trick, let alone the fourth.