With the All-Star Game in close reach, and the majority of the participants announced, everyone’s suiting up for Dallas 2010. Everything seems to be in order with the exception of some arguable players in the All-Star game, but even putting that aside, something’s missing. At last year’s Dunk Contest, one time winner Nate “Kryptonate” Robinson leapt over Dwight “Superman” Howard on his way to a second Slam Dunk title.
Apparently the ambiance got the better of The King himself Lebron James who was watching on the sideline, telling TNT reported Cheryl Miller, "Right now, I’m preliminary putting my name in the 2010 dunk contest...Lebron James is saying in 2010 in Dallas stadium…I’m putting my name in the dunk contest.” When it was time to announce this years participants for the 2010 Slam Dunk Competition in Dallas, a few superstars passed up on it. Kevin Durant preferred to defend his HORSE title while Lebron is…no where to be found?
A week prior to releasing the names on the list, Lebron said he was 50-50, only to end up being left off the list. Was it due to the fact that Dwight Howard decided not to do it? Maybe, but more than anything else, it’s got to be the hype. If Lebron James, “The Chosen One”, “The King”, were to participate in the dunk contest, anything short of best ever would be looked at as a disappointment. There is no doubt the man could and probably would win (with no disrespect to any of the participants) considering this human highlight reel throws down a monstrous dunk at least every game. With his speed and quickness in the open floor, opposing players are nothing more than big pieces in a Lebron James pinball machine (Just ask eventual teammates Damon Jones and Delonte West).
To make things even more interesting, in their senior year in high school, Lebron James won the dunk contest against Shannon Brown, one of the four contestants chosen to perform in Dallas. Lebron’s victory was even questioned after their faceoff (make the decision for yourself, Shannon’s 360 gave me déjà vu of ‘Nique, but more on that later).
Last week, “The Big Communicator” Shaquille O’Neal half jokingly brought up the idea that would send shockwaves through All-Star Weekend in Dallas. Shaq said out loud,” As his manager, I will only allow ‘Bron to do the dunk contest if Vince Carter comes back out, if Kobe comes back out and if another big name comes back out…Tweet it. Facebook it. Email it and hopefully it gets out. Vince, we’re calling you out. Kobe, we’re calling you out.” No word from Vince, but Kobe made it clear he had no intentions of reviving the dunk contest…but, what if?
Shaq’s ludicrous statement to bring back dunkers past their prime to face Lebron is a bit farfetched, but regardless, would be nothing short of spectacular. If anyone where to ask me, “what’s the first thing that comes to your mind if I were to say 1985” (or ’88 for that matter), I would immediately say the heavyweight fight the original “Human Highlight Film” Dominique Wilkins and Michael Jordan put on for the world in their two dunk contests. Two young superstars in their prime going blow for blow, dunk for dunk, in one of the greatest dunk contests in history.
Now we can’t get greedy, Shaq’s idea is nothing more than a fantasy, but it would truly be a shame to not only the dunk contest’s legacy but also Lebron’s legacy if the King doesn’t take flight at any dunk contest.
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