It seems there is no end to blaming LeBron James for the decline of the All-Star Weekend’s Dunk Contests. There used to be a time when the Dunk Contests in the NBA featured players like Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and more, all of whom participated despite their superstar status. But then, King James broke a tradition of sorts, which seems to have damaged the event’s popularity. The most recent one to point this out is a former Boston Celtics star.

Kevin Garnett opened up on his opinion of the Dunk Contests. “I do not understand when I don’t see Zion into the dunk contest or why we never saw LeBron,” he said. There’s no denying that having the biggest active star of the league take part in the Dunk Contest would surely raise the appeal factor. So why don’t they just do it?

Well, according to Garnett, it comes down to one thing: fear. Not fear of dunking, obviously, but fear of embarrassment. “Anything when you have to perform is and can be considered, or have a real element of embarrassment to it,” KG explained. “I think they’re very conscious about limiting risk and the things they do to lessen that embarrassment.”

It makes sense. The Dunk Contest isn’t just about throwing down flashy slams. It’s about being innovative, creative, and, most importantly, delivering under pressure. And if you miss? Well, social media is ruthless. “When certain players don’t sign up for it, it just says that – I don’t think they have the confidence to do it,” Garnett continued. “Although they look good in games, when they have in-game dunks and stuff, maybe they don’t have the confidence to be able to step on the stage like that and perform.” Now, before anyone calls out Garnett for never competing himself, he’s already ahead of you.

When asked if he ever considered entering, he didn’t sugarcoat it. “I don’t have the aerial. I don’t have the creativity and I didn’t have any confidence in having different dunks that I thought could be successful, that people would want to see,” he admitted. “Didn’t think that I could entertain people with the dunks that I could do.”

Well, fair enough. Garnett’s 35-inch vertical does put him at a disadvantage in making his dunks feel gravity-defying. Moreover, his question still stands. Why would Zion Williamson, with his 45-inch vertical, or LeBron James, with his 44-inch vertical, not take part in Dunk Contests? Especially when the event could benefit from their popularity.

LeBron James on never getting himself involved in the Slam Dunk Contest

Hard to believe, right? LeBron James—one of the most electrifying dunkers in NBA history—never once competed in the Slam Dunk Contest. With 21 seasons under his belt, fans have spent years wondering why he never took flight on the All-Star Saturday night like so many other greats before him.

Well, LeBron finally addressed the long-standing debate during one of his interviews. “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 the answer fans were hoping for, but it’s as straightforward as it gets. Unlike others who dreamed of showcasing their hops under the bright lights, LeBron James never really saw the appeal.

Instead, his focus was on the bigger picture—racking up All-Star appearances, chasing MVPs, winning championships, and even striving for 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.”

Fair enough. But let’s be real—fans weren’t just hoping for LeBron James’ participation for his sake, but for the spectacle. Legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dominique Wilkins all took part, cementing not just their legacies but helping the Slam Dunk Contest retain its popularity. Something that seems, could’ve been aided by Bron.