NBA Looks to WWE to Revive Slam Dunk Contest

Adding narrative and spectacle could breathe new life into the struggling event

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The NBA All-Star Weekend's Slam Dunk Contest has struggled in recent years to capture the attention of fans, with a lack of star power and a sense that the event has run its course. The author proposes that the league should take a cue from the WWE, adding narrative elements and character archetypes to the competition to create more excitement and engagement around the event.

Why it matters

The Slam Dunk Contest has been a centerpiece of NBA All-Star Weekend since 1984, but its decline in popularity threatens to undermine the overall appeal of the league's marquee annual event. Reviving the Dunk Contest could help restore excitement and interest around All-Star Weekend.

The details

The author suggests several ways the NBA could "WWE-ify" the Slam Dunk Contest, such as introducing a surprise entrant like Shaedon Sharpe, who would be presented as a dominant "villain" against the other, lesser-known participants. This would establish clear narrative arcs and character identities for the competitors, rather than just focusing on the athletic feats themselves. The goal would be to create a sense of spectacle and story that engages the audience beyond just the dunking.

  • The 2026 Slam Dunk Contest took place during NBA All-Star Weekend.

The players

Keshad Johnson

One of the four participants in the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest.

Carter Bryant

One of the four participants in the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest.

Jaxson Hayes

One of the four participants in the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest.

Jase Richardson

One of the four participants in the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest.

Shaedon Sharpe

A hypothetical surprise entrant in the Slam Dunk Contest, presented as a dominant "villain" against the other competitors.

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What they’re saying

“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul...Heyman. You probably know me better from Wrestlemania (tickets available now for Las Vegas, April 18th and 19th) but I am here today to disrupt this little shindig. You see with all due respect to our fine participants, I have brought along with me today the man who is going to WIN this contest. He is the High Flyer, the Rim Destroyer, the most Game-Ending, Fatal-Finishing, Slam-Dunking specimen this league has seen in its ENTIRE HISTORY. And his name is...Shaedon Sharpe!”

— Paul Heyman (Hypothetical)

What’s next

If Shaedon Sharpe were to win the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest, the NBA could bring him back the following year to face off against a star player looking to put the young upstart in his place, as well as an emerging contender looking to unseat the reigning champion.

The takeaway

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest needs to evolve beyond just showcasing athletic feats, and instead focus on creating engaging narratives and character archetypes that will capture the audience's imagination. Borrowing from the WWE's approach to building spectacle and drama could breathe new life into the struggling event.