LeBron: Why Can’t You Just Dunk For Us?

Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Eastern Conference forward LeBron James (6) of the Miami Heat before the 2014 NBA All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James said that he came into the NBA to be one of the greatest players of all time, not to be in the dunk contest like every single NBA fan is asking him to do.

I completely see his logic in that, and understand his decision to not be in the dunk contest, but rather than sitting here and “hailing to the King,” why not provide him with a solid counter-argument? Let’s start out with this video:

Widely considered the Greatest Player of All Time, Michael Jordan is also one of the greatest dunkers in the history of the NBA. LeBron can still be the GOAT, but does that mean he can’t participate in the dunk contest? Those two things aren’t even related: NBA fans just want to see him fly like he does in regular season games.

So what? Because you’re trying to reach your goal of being the GOAT, you cannot participate in the dunk contest? It may be pointless and prove nothing, but it’s always a lot of fun to see the most athletic and highest-flying players in the world on one stage, going head-to-head with dunks. If anything, LeBron would surely win the contest and have yet another thing to add to his legacy.

Kobe Bryant, who currently has a bigger legacy than LeBron, has participated in the dunk contest and won, adding to his legacy and showing that he’s a more versatile player. Those who are watching the NBA right now obviously know that he can high-rise, but the next generations will look at all his achievements and never see that he won the dunk contest. The reason that those born in the ’90s know how good Jordan was is because they’ve seen his achievements and accolades.

OK fine, winning the dunk contest isn’t going to make or break your career, but other than adding to an already-respectable resume for “King James,” he may also motivate better dunkers to actually hit “accept” to the invite and bring the contest back. Right now, with the format, the unoriginality, and the showy displays, the contest, like much of the NBA is dying. LeBron has a chance to bring it back.

He firmly and adamantly doesn’t want to participate in this event, but he could single-handedly bring back the old dunk contest, perhaps evoking change in a few other aspects of the game.

I don’t know about you, but considering the contest to be insignificant is a valid opinion, but it is pure arrogance that one does not want to participate in it despite popular demand. He would add to his legacy of a well-rounded player and maybe bring the contest back from the graveyard.

Here’s my dream dunk contest with today’s players:

LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, Gerald Green, DeAndre Jordan, DeMar DeRozan. Someone please make this happen. I believe the dunk contest should include the best dunkers, not a couple players who have thrown down a couple of high-flying jams. Those who do it with consistency.