Lackluster Dunk Contest Leaves NBA Fans Fuming, Pondering Potential Fixes

What once was a red-letter event seems to have lost its shine.

These are the facts: the NBA Slam Dunk Contest took place Saturday night in Indianapolis. Osceola Magic guard Mac McClung, a G-Leaguer, won it for the second straight year, besting Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown in the final round.

Why, then, did NBA fans walk away feeling unsatisfied?

The answer is seemingly everything: a perceived monotony of dunks, questionable judging, baffling commentary at times from TNT stalwart and former NBA guard Kenny Smith and general apathy inside Lucas Oil Stadium after electric three-point festivities.

Chris Vannini of The Athletic proposed that the slam dunk, as an art form, can no longer be improved upon.

For an event with all the bells and whistles, the dunk contest just has NO juice anymore.

Announcers don't care, crowd doesn't care, people courtside don't care, judges have no clue, the participants have no energy.

I think we've run out of dunks. There's nothing left to do.

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) February 18, 2024

Some fans called for the order of the three-point contest and slam dunk contest to be switched, an idea that has gained currency in recent years.

Move the 3-point contest to the last event of the night.

— Mason Williams (@mvsonwilliams) February 18, 2024

Many were impressed by McClung’s performance, but broadly underwhelmed by the panel of judges.

Mac McClung won but the worst Dunk Contest judges of all time pic.twitter.com/2WW7l1ApIC

— Kofie (@Kofie) February 18, 2024

This might be the worst slam dunk contest judges ever and there was a year when DJ Khaled was a judge

— Kofie (@Kofie) February 18, 2024

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid suggested he would be a better option were he healthy.

I’m a professional hater but I’m not hating when I say I could win the dunk contest with these scores but not sure the knees would allow it lmao

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) February 18, 2024

Brown, who became a crowd heel after a gimmicky dunk over Twitch celebrity Kai Cenat and Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, wound up being booed for much of the competition.

If there's one thing I know about the dunk contest, it's that you definitely want boos showering down https://t.co/ckdWEGFksZ

— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) February 18, 2024

Still, Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal’s presence provided levity.

Shaq being used as a prop every dunk contest pic.twitter.com/AYleOGcrTx

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 18, 2024

The general consensus: the three-pointer is now the glamor play in professional basketball, and has been for a long time.

Dunk contest vs 3-point contest in 2024 pic.twitter.com/zsbnq8Yfuq

— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) February 18, 2024