The Usual Suspect
For years, critics have pointed at LeBron as the reason stars avoid the Dunk Contest. The argument: by never participating, the four-time MVP set a precedent that other superstars followed.
Arenas hears that argument and raises a different culprit: Michael Jordan.
The MJ Standard
Back in the 1980s, All-Star Weekend was a battleground. The best players competed not just for show, but to win. Jordan entered the Slam Dunk Contest multiple times, winning in 1987 and 1988.
He did all this while already an MVP, already a scoring champion, already established as the game’s best player.
The Context
Arenas pointed out that Jordan’s 1988 season was legendary: scoring champ, MVP, All-Star MVP, and Dunk Contest champion all in one year.
“He did everything. That was the year he swept. We haven’t had those people since.”
The Real Culprit
Arenas also pointed to the voting system introduced in 1988 as a contributing factor.
“What really ruined the Dunk Contest is voting on dunks which happened in the 1988 All-Star.”
Subjectivity breeds controversy. Controversy breeds reluctance. Reluctance breeds decline.
The Bottom Line
LeBron James has never entered the Dunk Contest. He could have in his younger, more explosive years. He didn’t.
But according to Gilbert Arenas, blaming him for the contest’s decline misses the point. The damage was done decades ago, by a man in a red Bulls jersey who made dunking look like art and left everyone else chasing a standard that can’t be reached.
Michael Jordan didn’t mean to ruin the Dunk Contest. He just happened to be too good at it.