When did we lose the phase where dunk contests involved legends like Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins and Michael Jordan? Yep, these were the names that once graced the NBA All-Star dunk contests. Then came Vince Carter’s jaw-dropping era. And later, the likes of Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, and Donovan Mitchell, who made dunking feel like an art form. But let’s face it—those glory days feel long gone. The Dunk Contests barely make a ripple now. But guess who’s stepping up to change that? None other than Superman himself—Dwight Howard.

In a video shared on Instagram, the former LA Lakers star appeared alongside YouTuber Jesse Riedel, who hyped up an upcoming dunk contest featuring 11 competitors.

“… All gonna get one attempt at a dunk to impress me,” Jesse teased. “And the other team captain? None other than NBA champion. Most dunks in NBA history. It’s Dwight Howard.” That’s right—the man who gave us the 2008 Superman dunk will now be judging. Could this be the spark we’ve been waiting for?

It is rather evident that the Dunk Contest has lost its magic. Remember the 2022 embarrassment? Jalen Green, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, tried to get the crowd going by donning a flashy chain promoting NBA Top Shot, the league’s NFT brand. The hype was real—until he missed. Then he missed again. And again. The crowd’s excitement vanished soon. This incident, however, highlighted a major underlying issue with dunk contests.

The issue that’s hindering the return of Dunk Contests

The problem is that today’s contests feel like they’re more about theatrics than actual dunking – props, gimmicks, social media hype. Washington Post’s NBA reporter Ben Golliver highlighted that when he told Insider, “It feels like the guys are doing it for the ‘gram rather than trying to do it for the Dunk Contest.”

So why don’t today’s stars show up? Well, fear plays a big role. Miss a dunk and the social media gets to you. As Golliver puts it, “It takes a lifetime to build your reputation. It takes a moment to lose it.”

But there’s a way to fix this. ESPN’s J.A. Adande had an interesting take on this in the Insider article. What if winning the Dunk Contest actually mattered to a player’s legacy? Like Stephen Curry hopping on the 3-point contest.

To put it simply, the fear of failure and embarrassment has to be replaced with the challenge of proving that you’re the best. And who better to lead the charge than D12? As we all know, Dwight Howard’s Superman cape didn’t come with fear. Back in 2008, he took risks and reminded us why we love this contest in the first place. And maybe, his involvement can inspire a new generation to talk more about Dunk Contests.