Stephen A Smith blames LeBron James for NBA Slam Dunk Contest's entertainment decline

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NBA All-Star Weekend drew mixed reviews from fans on social media, with many calling out the lack of entertainment in the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night.

It’s no secret the signature event of the pre-All-Star-Game festivities hasn’t been what it used to be, and the latest version on Saturday night at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles was more of the same.

Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson won the event, but the showing by all four contestants didn’t wow the crowd and those on social media.

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Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James still have some beef heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.   (IMAGN)

In turn, the debate about the event came to ESPN’s "First Take" where personality Stephen A. Smith actually pointed some blame in the direction of a non-participant — Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.

"I’m going to blame LeBron James," Smith said to the panel. "Now, I’ve sat here for months and I’ve applauded his greatness and all the things he had done and he has meant to the NBA, but I’ve said it and I’m going to be very consistent…The person who really is the provocateur to ruin the slam dunk contest is him."

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While Smith didn’t have any evidence as to why James ruined the contest, he’s simply saying that the all-time great never competing in the event is bad for it in general.

"He was a superstar who put on a dunk contest every night in the layup