Will LeBron James be in Slam Dunk Contest this year?

Oct 17, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Quicken Loans Arena. After a video review by officials, the basket was taken away due to a foul before the score. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Quicken Loans Arena. After a video review by officials, the basket was taken away due to a foul before the score. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA Slam Dunk contest is tonight but the almighty question that remains is will LeBron James ever do the slam dunk contest?


Another Slam Dunk contest is set to take place tonight at the All-Star Game — this time in New York City — but there will be one familiar face not participating. LeBron James has sat out every single Slam Dunk contest in the past and it still stands as an absolute travesty to the game and to his legacy.

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LeBron James sitting out the Slam Dunk contest year after year is something that pains basketball fans everywhere as it’s something that would be the most amazing thing ever. That’s not hyperbole either — LeBron James doing the Slam Dunk contest would be something that would instantly make that given dunk contest the most watched event in All-Star history.

That’s the power of LeBron James, as he is a global draw for more than just basketball and he’s as skilled a dunker as the rest.

It would be like Stanley Kubrick releasing a film, or Motzart releasing a new album of work — LeBron James could be like Picasso with a paint gun and that’s why people want to see him in the dunk contest.

But as each dunk contest passes, and LeBron gets older each year, the likelihood that he’s going to do the dunk contest is diminishing. It’s like the Manny Pacquao and Floyd Mayweather fight that is scheduled to take place — it’s awesome that it’s happening but it would have been better five years ago.

That’s the stigma with LeBron James and the dunk contest, but it’s the format that deserves blame — not the player. If LeBron was in a dunk contest with this year’s field, he’d be the old man out but put together a true All-Star dunk contest with the likes of LeBron, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Anthony Davis and others and then we’re really talking.

But for now, the dunk contest will continue to suck because of LeBron James sitting out. He won’t do it, the dunk contest will continue to be as alright as it can be and everyone will always be wondering ‘what -if’.

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