Russell Westbrook explains why he won’t be in Slam Dunk Contest

Russell Westbrook likes slam dunks, but only when he’s going up on a person and not just thin air.

For years, there have been cries to get a true All-Star Slam Dunk contest going as there hasn’t been much star power in recent years when it comes to participants.

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This year is of no expected to this rule as there is no established superstar talent on the dunk roster — just some rookies and Mason Plumlee. That’s not to say there hasn’t been an effort to get more stars into the dunk contest, they’ve just refused all offers.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook gave the perfect response as to why he won’t be appearing in the Slam Dunk Contest this year or in any of the years to come.

Now, that’s a bold statement in the present tense, but who knows what the future will hold. People are still holding out hope that LeBron James will one day do the Slam Dunk Contest, but so far that hasn’t been something that has happened.

Westbrook is less of a superstar than LeBron but still too big for the dunk contest. It’s a event that many superstars avoid as it presents an unnecessary risk for injury that can derail a larger picture of a championship season.

Of course, stars have done the contest in the past but when they were up and comers. Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard stand out as players who have been stars and still dunked but that’s something only they seem comfortable with doing — and no longer seem in that conform zone of.

Westbrook and others could eventually be in the dunk contest but it’s a young man’s event and it’s not one for those who consider themselves above more than just the rim.

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