It really is a shame what the NBA’s annual dunk contest has become, slowly evolving into its current form. Sure, two-time reigning champ Mac McClung is back this year, but that’s the extent of the name recognition from this year’s field.
No offense to the Spurs’ Stephon Castle, the Bucks’ Andre Jackson Jr. or the Bulls’ Matas Buzelis. But part of what makes the dunk contest fun is the hype leading up to it, and there just hasn’t been much of that ahead of this weekend’s All-Star festivities in San Francisco. I guess the McClung addition is … fun? He’s recognizable at least, though I’m not sure what he can deliver for the third time on this stage.
To NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s credit, he’s willing to try new ideas. Look no further than the All-Star game format this year. Lots of people are going to tune in to find out it’s now a four-team tourney and not the usual exhibition games. Silver didn’t like the All-Stars playing zero defense, so he changed up the whole thing.
So, how could the NBA fix the dunk contest? Here are three ideas that may or may not make sense, but we’re putting them down for the fun of it. Some of them might not really make sense or be feasible. But we are suspending belief since the NBA is, after all, a lucrative league and for some reason Silver is going all out here in this world.
Let random people try out, then make a whole reality TV show? What?
This one is pretty simple: Host a big nationwide search for some of the best dunkers in the country. It’s a lot of work, but on the flip side, it’s a good content machine if the NBA wants it. Host some regional dunk contests across the country then have them come together for a national event. Then the winner gets to be a part of All-Star weekend.
People might not care about the lead-up, but maybe you get a few jaw-dropping dunks that you can build hype and narratives around some random person. Or an undersized dunker who has a bit of an underdog story. Like “Last Chance U” but with dunkers? Make it a whole show. Why not? (Other than reality.) The key is to try building up some characters for the dunk contest. Get some background of folks here and get the public on their side. Fans love a good story, so try to find one.
In another wrinkle, make these guys off the street go against the NBA guys. Not sure if the pros want to sign up to potentially lose, but it’s not like the current cast of dunkers are headliners across the league. A lot of barriers, but we’re just shooting ideas out there.
Change the entire format
Like the All-Star game, Silver decides this system is old. Having dunk contest judges has been fun, but why not change it up entirely? Still have dunks, but if people are complaining everything’s been done, then pivot away.
The H.O.R.S.E. style idea is fun and that’s been thrown around. Could do a format where players are judged on how perfectly they do a series of dunks — think windmills, between-the-legs and so on, though that could be tiring. The key is to keep fans engaged and don’t have the contest drag on at the end of a long night.
Get the college kids to join
This one doesn’t make much logistical sense. College kids have games and they can’t just take a night off to go compete in the dunk contest. Plus, this already happens with the “College Slam” that features a 3-point and dunk contest. But the NBA stage highlights it a lot more and these college kids are going to care way more about it.
Plenty of schools across the country have the “he isn’t a great basketball player … but he can really dunk it.” And I’m sure a low-major Division I school wouldn’t mind the boost in publicity to their guy if he can be part of the showcase game. Again, lot of barriers here. But we’re just here to dream a little. I do like the idea of having these non-NBA players go head-to-head with NBA players.
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