Stephen A. Smith Blames LeBron James for Dunk Contest Decline

ESPN commentator says LeBron's refusal to participate led to the event's downfall.

Feb. 17, 2026 at 11:39pm

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ESPN's Stephen A. Smith criticized LeBron James for never participating in the NBA Dunk Contest, despite being one of the league's biggest stars for over a decade. Smith believes LeBron's decision to skip the event contributed to its decline in popularity and viewership over the years.

Why it matters

The NBA Dunk Contest was once a marquee event during All-Star Weekend, drawing huge TV ratings and featuring the league's top stars. However, in recent years the contest has struggled to attract big names and maintain audience interest. As one of the NBA's most recognizable players, LeBron's participation could have reinvigorated the event.

The details

Smith said LeBron was a "superstar who put on a dunk contest every night in the layup line" but never actually entered the official competition, even though he "teased" that he would do so one year. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwight Howard all participated in and won the Dunk Contest during their careers, helping drive high TV ratings for the event. But since 2014, no reigning NBA MVP has entered the contest, and viewership has steadily declined to around 5 million in recent years.

  • LeBron James reached 8 straight NBA Finals from 2011 through 2018, during his prime years.
  • The NBA Dunk Contest broadcast regularly topped 8 million viewers in the mid-2000s, peaking above 9 million in 2003.
  • By the mid-2010s, Dunk Contest audiences had fallen to around 6 million viewers.
  • In recent years, the Dunk Contest has hovered around or below 5 million viewers.

The players

LeBron James

A 4-time NBA MVP and one of the league's biggest stars for over a decade, who never participated in the NBA Dunk Contest despite being able to put on a show.

Stephen A. Smith

An ESPN commentator who criticized LeBron James for not participating in the Dunk Contest, which he believes led to the event's decline in popularity and viewership.

Michael Jordan

A 5-time NBA champion who entered the Dunk Contest twice and won it twice, helping drive high TV ratings for the event in the past.

Kobe Bryant

A former NBA star who won the Dunk Contest at age 19, also contributing to high viewership for the event.

Dwight Howard

An NBA player whose 2008 Dunk Contest performance pushed All-Star Saturday ratings back above 8 million viewers.

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What they’re saying

“I'm going to blame LeBron James. Now, I've sat here for months and I've applauded his greatness and all the things he had done and he has meant to the NBA, but I've said it and I'm going to be very consistent … The person who really is the provocateur to ruin the slam dunk contest is him.”

— Stephen A. Smith, ESPN Commentator

“He was a superstar who put on a dunk contest every night in the layup line, particularly when he knew there was momentum swelling for him to participate, and he never did. He even teased that he was going to participate one year.”

— Stephen A. Smith, ESPN Commentator

The takeaway

LeBron James' decision not to participate in the NBA Dunk Contest, despite being one of the league's biggest stars for over a decade, is seen as a major factor in the event's decline in popularity and viewership over the years. His star power and dunking ability could have reinvigorated the contest, but he chose to preserve his energy rather than compete.