The NBA Slam Dunk Contest has experienced a decline in both star presence and overall appeal in recent years, with the Three-Point Contest becoming the highlight of the Saturday slate of events of the All-Star Weekend over the past few years.
Multiple factors have played a role in this shift, including the absence of high-profile players in the dunk contest, concerns for player safety, and the broader evolution of the game towards emphasizing three-pointers.
However, there are still ways to revamp the contest to make it exciting again.
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3 fixes to revive NBA Slam Dunk Contest
1. Incorporate fan voting
One of the persistent issues affecting the NBA Slam Dunk Contest is the inconsistency in judging, resulting in instances where remarkable and memorable dunks receive lower scores than less impressive slams.
This discrepancy became particularly evident in crucial moments, such as the 2020 event where then Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon arguably deserved to win.
A potential solution to address this problem is the integration of real-time fan voting immediately after each dunk.
This approach would involve a 30-second window for fans to participate in a poll-like voting system, with the initial 15 seconds allocated for fans to submit their scores and the subsequent 15 seconds for the NBA's technical team to process the data.
This fan input could then contribute to 40 or 50 percent of the total score, complementing the scores the panel of judges provided.
2. Make Slam Dunk Contest a team contest
Another approach to enhance player engagement is to transform the NBA Slam Dunk Contest into a team-based competition, similar to the format seen in the Kia Skills Challenge on Saturday, February 17.
In this scenario, three teams would compete, each consisting of players such as the All-Star team (Trae Young, Tyrese Maxey, and Scottie Barnes), the 1st overall picks team (Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, and Paolo Banchero), and the Indiana Pacers team (Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, and Benedict Mathurin).
This approach would alleviate the burden on individual players, requiring each to perform only one dunk in a three-round format. The cumulative scores from these dunks would determine the overall team winner.
Additionally, a separate accolade, such as "Dunker of the Night," could be awarded to the individual who performed the most spectacular dunk-decided by fan voting.
3. Give out substantial cash prizes
Another strategy to draw top talent into the competition is offering substantial cash prizes, regardless of the players' massive multimillion-dollar earnings each season.
The idea is rooted in the belief that additional financial incentives are always enticing. These incentives could reach as high as $2 million and be sponsored by various companies.
Consider the precedent set by Los Angeles Lakers players who fiercely competed for a $500,000 individual cash prize during the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament earlier in the campaign.
Introducing a seven-figure reward for a single night could elevate the excitement and intensity of the competition even further.
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