But can he dunk? That’s the most common question on the streets when it comes to basketball. Everyone wanted to put their hands through the rim like Vince Carter but now those days are gone. Call it safety measures or even lack of bounce, the number of bonafide dunkers in the NBA has diminished over the past decade. Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant are the two of the brightest stars of today’s game who can actually relate to that age-old sentiment – “Can he dunk?” And boy they can! But just not for the NBA Dunk contest.

The heavyweights of the league have pulled down the Dunk contest to a mere pass time show rather than a war of egos. There’s no longer a bragging right for being the best dunker in the country. Now it’s mostly for upstart rookies and G League players. The latest addition to that list is the Spurs’ Stephon Castle. He became the first dunk contestant in the All-Star weekend representing the Spurs since 1988. The last person from San Antonio to do so was Cadillac Anderson, who ultimately fell to Michael Jordan.

While the Spurs community is jubilant to see one of their own in the contest, ending the 37-year wait, the rest of the NBA community weren’t too elated. When ESPN’s Shams Charania announced that “Spurs rookie Stephon Castle has committed to participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest,” it sparked a wave of excitement across the NBA community. As the buzz grew, the names that kept surfacing were Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant.

Fans await Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant’s participation in Dunk Contest

“It should be Ja vs Edwards period anything else is not it,” a fan commented on the reporter’s IG post. Given the dunking talent both stars possess, they were the obvious choices for the competition, yet neither has shown much interest in participating. This fan believes that if there’s to be any real competition between two players, it should be between Edwards and Morant, as it would be worth watching, dismissing Castle’s chances in the process.

A curious fan asked, “Has Ja tho, Sham. Has Ja?” Morant has delivered some spectacular dunks over his five-season career, showcasing the right power and leaving a lasting impact. So, many fans were eager to know if he would announce his participation, as it would take the contest to new heights.

Someone boldly claimed, “People no one rlly cares to see in the dunk contest committing. Don’t get me wrong no hate to castle but I’m still waiting on Ja, ANT and Bridges.” It has been emphasized many times that the Dunk Contest lost its charm due to the lack of star participation. So, even though the fans’ comments might sound brutal, the harsh truth is that this is why viewership for the contest has dropped over the years.

“Imagine if Ja announces next that he’s joining after all that saying he won’t dunk anymore,” another fan wrote. Due to constant injuries, the Grizzlies guard decided this season that his high-flying days are behind him. “I’m not trying to dunk at all,” he confessed. So, the fan sarcastically pointed out that since the young 20-year-old is taking part, if Morant also decides to register his name, it would be interesting to see how the situation turns out.

Meanwhile, one fan commented, “If Ja isn’t there we riot.” That might be a bit of an exaggeration. It’s likely Ja will stick to his word and not participate. He has already missed 18 games. So, he doesn’t want to risk it now that the Grizzlies have a solid chance of being championship contenders.

However, there’s no doubt that if Morant and Edwards take part, Adam Silver wouldn’t have to worry about the views, as they would be guaranteed. What do you think about the duo’s chances? Let us know your thoughts!