The fall of the NBA Dunk Contest is a real shame. There was a time when this event mattered, when legends like Michael Jordan and Vince Carter turned it into must-see TV. Now? The NBA can’t even get a consistent All-Star to participate.

Instead, G League Warrior Mac McClung has won the contest three years in a row. He’s an incredible dunker and deserves credit, but let’s be honest: fans want NBA stars, not fringe rotation players and G Leaguers carrying the event. Yesterday, the first two entrants for this year’s contest were announced. Drumroll please… Carter Bryant and Jaxson Hayes.

For the last 5 years of the contest, this has been the player pool. Cassius Stanley, Obi Toppin, Anfernee Simons, Cole Anthony, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Jalen Green, Kenyon Martin Jr., Trey Murphy III, Jericho Sims, Jaylen Brown, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Jacob Toppin, Matas Buzelis, Stephon Castle, Andre Jackson Jr., and, of course, Mac McClung (three times). Respectfully, most of these are not players fans are excited to tune in for.

The Dunk Contest used to be one of the highlights of All-Star Weekend. What used to be a can’t-miss event has become an afterthought, to the point where I’m not even sure I’ll turn it on anymore. If the NBA wants to revive this event, it has to incentivize it properly. Bigger rewards, legacy incentives, something. Because the fans don’t just want dunks, they want stars. And right now, the contest is missing exactly that.

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