While the dunk contest was once considered the driving force behind All-Star Weekend, Warriors pro Draymond Green says it has now lost its luster. He believes those who do not participate are primarily responsible for this.
Instead of the big stars, increasingly unknown players are using the competition as a platform to gain more attention. “The great people who should actually be participating haven’t done so anymore,” the 35-year-old said in his podcast.
With the upcoming All-Star Weekend, which will be held at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Green is therefore showing little anticipation: “I don’t have a dream lineup for the Dunk Contest this year. (…) People who aren’t even in the NBA are participating, which is crazy.” Green was, of course, referring to the reigning and three-time Dunk Contest winner Mac McClung, who has been keeping his head above water for years with two-way contracts between the G-League and the NBA.
“I worked very hard to become an All-Star. At the same time, you can just participate in the Dunk Contest and not even have an NBA contract. So yes—I’m not very excited about it right now.”
In previous years and decades, the Dunk Contest was still considered a highlight of the NBA season. Greats such as Vince Carter, Michael Jordan, and Dwight Howard took part in it. The epic duel between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon is also unforgettable. However, those days seem to be long gone. Green makes it clear: “I think [the Dunk Contest] is over.”
