The 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest crowned a new champion in Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson, whose athleticism and flair earned him the title on All-Star Saturday night. But instead of the spotlight staying on Johnson’s performance, the conversation quickly veered into familiar territory - the long-standing debate over the dunk contest’s decline and, more specifically, LeBron James’ role in it.
On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back.
While giving credit to Johnson and the rest of the participants, Smith argued that the contest’s lack of star power has stripped it of the prestige it once carried. And in his view, there’s one man who set that precedent: LeBron James.
“I wanna applaud Keshad Johnson for winning… I wanna applaud the participants… But we all know it was terrible because there was no star power,” Smith said. “The person who really is the provocateur to ruin the Slam Dunk contest was him (LeBron).”
That’s a bold claim, but Smith’s argument is rooted in history. Back in LeBron’s prime, the public was practically begging him to enter the dunk contest.
He flirted with the idea a few times - dropping hints during All-Star Weekend interviews and even throwing down highlight-reel dunks in warmups - but he never officially entered. According to Smith, that decision sent a message to future stars: the dunk contest isn’t worth the risk or the effort.
“He was a superstar who put on a dunk contest every night in the layup line… and he never did it,” Smith added.
It’s a fair point to consider. LeBron has always been one of the NBA’s most electrifying in-game dunkers.
His combination of power, finesse, and creativity made him a natural fit for the contest. And had he entered during his peak, there’s little doubt it would’ve been a ratings bonanza - a moment fans would remember for decades.
Instead, his absence may have helped open the door for a new culture around the event: one where top-tier stars sit it out, and up-and-comers or fringe players take center stage.
Still, not everyone is buying Smith’s take.
Former NBA guard Gilbert Arenas pushed back on the idea that James is solely responsible for the dunk contest’s decline. He pointed to earlier trends, noting that the event started losing steam in the late '90s and early 2000s - long before LeBron ever had a chance to participate.
Arenas brought up Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter as examples. Both were young stars who won the contest in spectacular fashion - Bryant in 1997, Carter in 2000 - but neither returned to defend their crown.
“It lost its luster in the 1990s, early 2000s… I know everybody like Stephen A. Smith want to blame LeBron,” Arenas said. “But they’re not going to hold anybody else accountable for not participating and not going back.”
Arenas’ point highlights a broader issue: the dunk contest has struggled to retain its star power over time. While the early years featured legends like Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins going head-to-head, the modern era has often lacked that same firepower. When stars treat the contest as a one-and-done - or skip it altogether - it becomes harder to maintain its status as a marquee event.
That said, LeBron’s absence still looms large. He’s not just any star - he’s the star of his generation.
At 41 years old and in his 23rd NBA season, he’s still putting up 22.0 points per game for the Lakers and remains one of the most iconic figures in basketball history. With four championships, four Finals MVPs, and three All-Star Game MVPs, his résumé is bulletproof.
But his decision to never enter the dunk contest remains one of the few “what ifs” in an otherwise legendary career.
Meanwhile, the league continues to search for ways to reignite the contest’s magic. Players like Keshad Johnson are doing their part, bringing energy and creativity to the stage. But without the presence of household names, it’s tough to recapture the buzz of past decades.
The dunk contest isn’t dead - far from it. But the debate over how to bring it back to prominence rages on.
Whether you side with Stephen A. Smith or Gilbert Arenas, one thing’s clear: the event needs its stars.
And until they return, conversations like this one aren’t going anywhere.