The Slam Dunk Contest used to have huge names in the NBA competing to showcase their elite athleticism. Whether it’s Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Vince Carter, Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard, or Kobe Bryant, Basketball Hall of Famers (or potential future ones) were also Slam Dunk Contest winners.
2025 Slam Dunk Contest Is Just Another With Little Star Power
Recent Years Have Had Little Star Power With Winners
Not including Donovan Mitchell in 2018 (who had nowhere near the star power in 2018 that he does today), take a look at the six most recent winners. Mac McClung has won the last two. Then, we have Obi Toppin (2022), Anfernee Simons (2021), Derrick Jones Jr. (2020), Hamidou Diallo (2019), and Glenn Robinson III (2017).
Yes, Simons averaged more than 20 points for Portland in 2022-23 and 2023-24 (on bad Trail Blazers teams). Jones Jr. was a starter for a Dallas Mavericks team that reached the NBA Finals last season. Neither of them are intriguing casual fans to tune in though.
McClung (looking to three-peat this year) has nearly as many Slam Dunk Contest wins as NBA games played. Toppin is a former player of the year in college, but that came at a less-heralded school in Dayton. He’s mostly been used as a reserve, first with the New York Knicks and now with the Indiana Pacers. Diallo, just 26 years old, appeared in just two NBA games last season and none in 2024-25. Robinson III is the son of a former first overall pick, but the younger Robinson hasn’t played in the league since 2021.
That’s to say, these players aren’t going to bring casual fans in to watch, nor are they going to provide headlines for same fans to want to see what occurred after the event occurs.
2025
The four-man group of players competing in the 2025 Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend has been announced. It’s safe to say that none of the four are names that will force people on the fence as to whether they want to watch to tune in.
The two-time defending Slam Dunk Contest winner will be looking to win his third-straight title. That is the aforementioned McClung. While McClung has certainly performed some eye-dropping slams the past two years, he isn’t exactly a known name. Since going undrafted in 2021, the 26-year-old has only appeared in five NBA regular season outings.
Next, we have Stephon Castle, the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The 20-year-old has started 25 games for the San Antonio Spurs and will likely find his way on an All-Rookie team at the end of the year. It’s been well-documented though how this rookie class has been uninspiring, and Castle has shot the ball poorly.
While the Chicago Bulls probably should be in a rebuilding stage, they aren’t yet. The 11th overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft, Matas Buzelis is playing just 12.6 minutes per game. He’s averaging 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 38.6% from the field.
Now in his second season, Andre Jackson Jr. has often been utilized as a starter for the Milwaukee Bucks (34 starts). Clearly the fifth option on offense while on the court, the 23-year-old is averaging just 3.7 points and 3.2 rebounds on the season.
The Slam Dunk Contest has been losing steam for years. Don’t expect that to change in a few weeks.
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