Adam Silver and the NBA have done everything in their power to right the wrongs of the modern-day All-Star Weekend. The ceremonial week is now more of a paid vacation for the players involved rather than celebrating the vital spirit of the game — Competition. Silver even reached out to Steph Curry to bank on his ideas to make the All-Star Game better. The commissioner got a solution, albeit not tried and tested. But America already has its verdict. And now one of the most common voices of the NBA media has charged Mr. Silver “guilty”.

The discussion came up on First Take and the ever-vocal Stephen A. Smith made his stance clear on the star-studded weekend. His frustration was evident as he stated, “I called Adam Silver. I called some of his lieutenants. I’m like ‘Why are we wasting our time?’ I’m telling ESPN I get paid to cover the sport and I don’t want to go, I’m so disgusted with All-Star Weekend.” The reason? Well, because the Slam Dunk contest isn’t taken seriously. Stephen A. quickly clarified that the league wasn’t at fault. In fact, he praised Adam Silver, calling him “a great commissioner and a great dude.” But it’s the players. Not that there aren’t talented ones capable of slamming electrifying high-flying shots. However, they just don’t do it for the contest.

“Let me tell you something right now,” Stephen A. told co-host Shannon Sharpe, “If David Stern was alive and was the commissioner of the National Basketball Association, I assure you they wouldn’t pull this. They wouldn’t pull us. And Adam Silver is guilty for being nice and caring about the players and caring about appeasing them. Because he wants them happy and he wants to be a great partner, and they’ve basically given him the proverbial finger, and that’s the whole All-Star Weekend.”

Stephen A. turned his attention to the contest and with passion, shouted, “Where’s your pride? A G-Leaguer is back-to-back champions of a Slam Dunk Contest for the NBA.” For the past two years, Mac McClung from the Magic’s G League affiliate, the Osceola Magic, has taken home the win. So, Smith asked the NBA players why aren’t any of them stepping up to participate. Since nothing seemed to be convincing NBA players to participate, Stephen A. shared a proposal that could potentially be concerning for Silver and the league.

Stephen A. Smith unveils bold proposal that could raise concerns for Adam Silver

After giving up on the hope that something would make a difference, Smith decided to take matters into his own hands, teaming up with former player-turned-analyst Kendrick Perkins. “I propose this on the air with Kendrick Perkins, you know, a couple of times,” the 57-year-old said. “I’m going give it to you again right now, what I have proposed Shannon, myself, people like you and others, we should sponsor a national Slam Dunk Contest, city to city, throughout this nation.”

And Stephen A. was not taking it lightly. He was very serious about it and even provided an insight into the plan as well. “Get advertisers and sponsors to get to buy in and we should find go nationwide city to city and find the best 10 slam dunkers,” he mentioned. There were also plans in the works for Silver’s league players to be involved as well. “Use the All-Star to sponsor who they think is their favorite and let them participate as spectators,” Stephen A. added.

He assured that there would be a variety of dunk styles on display from the athletes they bring in. Smith further highlighted, “If you get cats off the streets throughout America, a million dollar prize for the winner a $500,000 prize for the run around $100,000 prize for third place, it don’t mean nothing to these guys but it would mean everything to catch off the streets I can get.”

There’s no denying that the seven-figure prize money might not lure NBA players, as most of them earn millions and wouldn’t want to take the risk for that amount. However, the dunkers Stephen A. would potentially bring in would be eager to make the most of the opportunity and go all out for that prize.

That would be the last thing Adam Silver would want. The Slam Dunk Contest is already struggling with viewership, and this new rival contest would only make matters worse. Before it reaches that point, the league must come up with a more compelling plan.