Stephen A. Smith Blames LeBron James for ‘Erosion’ of Slam Dunk Contest — He’s Never Competed In — During Fiery Rant

Stephen A. Smith blamed Los Angeles Lakers big name LeBron James for the “erosion” of the Slam Dunk Contest in a heated rant about NBA All-megaStar Weekend.

With the conclusion of the revamped NBA All-Star Recreation on Sunday, the NBA finished up what many thought to be to be some other disappointing All-Celebrity Weekend. All-megaStar Saturday Evening included the Talents Challenge, the Three-Point Contest, and the Slam Dunk Contest, all of which have been largely uneventful. If truth be told, arguably the most mentioned event from Saturday night time was when San Antonio Spurs stars Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul have been disqualified from the Talents Challenge for seeking to make the most a loophole.

This 12 months, the All-Big name Game obtained but another new structure. Instead of two groups competing against one another, 4 groups had been competing in games to forty. It used to be essentially a choose-up basketball event which include teams drafted by means of Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and WNBA legend Candace Parker. The fourth workforce used to be the winner of Friday’s Rising Stars Problem.

Unfortunately for the NBA, Sunday’s video games received off to an unlucky begin. Earlier than play even commenced, James — once a year one of the league’s highest vote-getters for the game — announced that he was once a late scratch and would now not be competing as a result of an damage.

On Monday’s episode of First Take, Smith went off on James for ready except the closing minute to take a seat out of the game when any other player will have taken his location. He additionally reiterated his stance that James ruined the Dunk Contest by means of never competing in it.

“You’re rattling proper LeBron was once egocentric!” Smith stated to Shannon Sharpe. “You’re damn proper he used to be! I mean, there’s no means around this! You recognize, you’re gonna take a seat up there and announce prior to the sport, the place [NBA commissioner] Adam Silver doesn’t even have time to give a substitute — and again, giving props to Draymond [Green], Jalen Rose, Vince Carter. All three of them pointed that out.” He delivered:

They mentioned the identical exact thing the minute it used to be discovered that LeBron James had introduced that he wouldn’t be on hand. Yo, you might want to have let people recognize prior. There would had been time for a roster spot to be filled. There’s some deserving all-stars; and I really like the fact, Shannon, that you brought up Norman Powell as a result of that might have been my choice. That brother has been balling for the Clippers all 12 months lengthy. What a unique, special season he has had.

You’re LeBron James. And pay attention, like I mentioned ahead of, we all know how nice he is. We know he’s on the Mount Rushmore. We all know the championships, the MVPs, you recognize, the fact that he never cheats the game, that he answers the decision; but this brings up a few things that he has performed that has cheated the sport.

I for my part hang LeBron James accountable for messing up the Slam Dunk Contest, and we’ll get into that later. He is directly liable for the erosion of the Slam Dunk Contest over the past several years. There’s no way round it! And I don’t supply a rattling, I don’t care who says otherwise. In case you’re being fair and also you’re being honest, that’s on him.

All through his physical top, James frequently did spotlight-beneficial dunks in games. Naturally, enthusiasts puzzled if he’d ever put his talents to the check in the Slam Dunk Contest. Despite the fact that he teased doing it prior to now, that ship has reputedly sailed for the 40-year-previous. Smith believes that call has led to other high-profile stars selecting not to participate.

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