Has LeBron James played a role in the downfall of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest? It’s a debate that has come up time and time again. But this time, the criticism isn’t coming from just anyone—it’s coming from one of his closest friends. Carmelo Anthony recently sparked the discussion on his 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, admitting that his generation may have played a big part in diminishing the dunk contest’s significance. And when the conversation shifted toward Bron’s role, Melo didn’t hold back.

“Our generation ruined the dunk contest. Because we had some high flyers in our generation. Bron never did the dunk contest…That was supposed to keep it going,” he said. Think about it—NBA legends like Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, and Jason Richardson made sure to show up and put on a show. It was almost a rite of passage for star players. But LeBron James? He never stepped up to that stage, and Melo believes that decision had consequences.

“Our generation, the stars started to do more like, nah, we ain’t doing that… Like ‘I just want to chill All-Star weekend. We need a week off at All-Star,'” Melo said on his podcast.

And the numbers don’t lie. From 2000 to 2024, only 16 All-Stars have participated in the dunk contest. That’s it. And from 2019 to 2023? Not a single All-Star stepped up. No wonder the contest has lost its magic.

The lack of star power in the event isn’t just a small issue—it’s affecting the NBA’s bottom line. In 2023, All-Star Saturday, which includes the dunk contest, drew its lowest TV ratings in over 20 years, averaging just 3.4 million viewers on TNT.

And let’s be real—this isn’t the first time someone has pointed fingers at LeBron for this. Even outside the basketball world, people have taken notice. “Bron messed the Dunk Contest up,” rapper Ma$e had bluntly said on his show It Is What It Is.

More recently, even Stephen A. Smith called out King James for skipping the contest, arguing that his absence hurt its appeal. The dunk contest was once the stage for icons like Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Vince Carter. Smith believes Bron not continuing the tradition of these legends hurt the dunk contest’s appeal.

What did LeBron James say about never being a part of the Slamdunk Contest?

Can you believe that after 21 seasons in the NBA, King James never even gave the Slam Dunk Contest a shot? It’s wild to think about, especially considering his insane in-game dunks over the years. Fans have always wondered why he never took center stage during All-Star Weekend’s most electrifying event. Well, LeBron himself cleared that up in an interview.

“I don’t think it was something I wanted to accomplish in my career; it’s not a goal of mine and it never was coming into the NBA to be a part of the Dunk Contest…” he explained. That might not be what fans wanted to hear, but for LeBron, it was never on his bucket list.

Instead, he had his sights set on bigger things—making All-Star teams, winning MVPs, collecting championships, and even locking in a Defensive Player of the Year award. “Those were some goals of mine. The NBA Dunk Contest was never a goal of mine. So, it wasn’t something that I had too much passion for,” he admitted.

Well, there is no doubt LeBron James achieved most things he aimed for. But the expectations of him to be a part of the Slam Dunk Contest were about the league and not just his ambitions and goals. Something that other greats like Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant did.