Heat Legend Dwyane Wade Reveals He Was Never Asked to Join Dunk Contest

Wade holds the record for most dunks by a guard in NBA history but never got the chance to showcase his skills in the annual dunk contest.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade, who holds the record for the most dunks by a guard in NBA history, revealed that he was never asked to participate in the annual dunk contest during All-Star Weekend throughout his 16-year career. Wade expressed frustration over never getting the opportunity to showcase his elite athleticism and dunking ability in the popular competition.

Why it matters

The dunk contest is one of the most anticipated events during NBA All-Star Weekend, showcasing the league's most electrifying and creative dunkers. Wade's absence from the contest is surprising given his reputation as one of the most explosive and prolific dunking guards in NBA history.

The details

Wade, who played 16 seasons in the NBA from 2003 to 2019 and won three championships with the Heat, holds the record for the most dunks by a guard with 1,098 career slams. Only Kobe Bryant (1,001) and Vince Carter (941) have more total dunks than Wade among guards. Despite his dunking prowess, Wade revealed on his podcast that he was never asked to participate in the dunk contest, expressing frustration over never getting the opportunity.

  • Dwyane Wade played in the NBA from 2003 to 2019.
  • Wade was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.

The players

Dwyane Wade

A Miami Heat legend and Hall of Fame guard who holds the NBA record for most dunks by a guard with 1,098 career slams.

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What they’re saying

“I'm going to name one person that never got in a dunk contest, is one of the greatest dunkers in the game of basketball. Flash. Myself. Most dunks by a guard in the history of the game, never got in the dunk contest.”

— Dwyane Wade (The Timeout Podcast)

The takeaway

Dwyane Wade's exclusion from the NBA's annual dunk contest, despite being one of the most prolific dunking guards in league history, is a surprising oversight that deprived fans of potentially seeing some of the most electrifying in-game dunks performed in a competitive setting.