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Most NBA fans seem to agree the Slam Dunk Contest needs a major revamp, and there’s little doubt it would attract renewed interest if it featured some more marketable names. Zion Williamson would certainly fit the bill, and it sounds like he’s down to participate if one box is checked.
Last month, Mac McClung got the chance to escape the G League and head to NBA All-Star Weekend for the second consecutive year for a successful attempt to defend his Dunk Contest title.
The largely unknown guard had injected some much-needed life into the competition in 2023, but that magic was largely absent during a showdown that led to plenty of people eulogizing an event that many are convinced has run its course.
One of the biggest issues with the Dunk Contest over the past couple of decades has been the glaring lack of superstars who’ve agreed to participate. Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter each won a trophy prior to the turn of the millennium, but since then, the presence of high-profile players with high-flying talent has been few and far between.
Why is that the case? You could argue some of the biggest names in the league don’t want to risk unnecessary strain or injury, although plenty of fans would tell you the likes of LeBron James and Ja Morant are afraid of the hit their ego (and Personal Brand) would take if they didn’t walk away with the trophy.
Zion Williamson obviously hasn’t seen his time in the NBA pan out like he’d hoped, but it’s impossible to deny he’s not an absolutely electric player when things are clicking on all cylinders. The big man is no stranger to monster dunks, and it’s safe to assume plenty of people would tune in if he had the chance to use the court as his playground for a few rounds.
On Tuesday, Williamson got the chance to address that possibility during a postgame press conference where he promised to take part in the Dunk Contest under the condition he’s selected to an All-Star Game roster, saying, “I gotta do my part.”
"I gotta do my part and make the All-Star game. If I'm in the All-Star game, Ill do the dunk contest"
— Zion Williamson on participating in the Dunk Contest pic.twitter.com/0nmMmjB9iL
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) March 6, 2024
Williamson is already a two-time All-Star, and while he’s suffered a number of setbacks due to the injuries that have hampered his career, it’s not a huge stretch to think he’ll be able to punch his ticket yet again at some point in the future.
Here’s to hoping he lives up to his word if that ends up being the case.