If the NBA wants to revive All-Star Weekend, the Dunk Contest is the place to start. G-Leaguer Mac McClung has won the contest three years in a row and deserves to defend his belt, but the NBA has to get high-profile dunkers to get eyes on the contest. Having a G-League player no longer moves the needle, but these guys will.
McClung deserves to defend his belt. Despite not playing in the NBA, he has won three straight NBA Dunk Contests. He’s the first player to ever win three consecutive contests. Michael Jordan, Jason Richardson, Nate Robinson, and Zach LaVine all won two straight but none of them did what McClung is doing.
Anthony Edwards has emerged as one of the NBA’s brightest young stars. He’s evolved into one of the game’s best in-game dunkers already but has never tried his hand in the contest. At 23 years old, Edwards is a human highlight reel and one of the most athletic players in the sport. He’s ultra-competitive and is a great candidate to participate in a dunk contest.
Like Edwards, Zion Williamson is another young star with unlimited athleticism. Unfortunately, Williamson is constantly battling injuries. When he is healthy, the guy can fly. He’s been a high flyer since his days at Duke where he captivated the nation with his above-the-rim game. If the Pelicans and his body would allow him, Williamson could win the whole thing and help save the ratings.
Aaron Gordon swore that he would never do another NBA dunk contest but if the league is getting the Monstars together, Gordon deserves the invitation. He finished second in 2016 and 2017 when he had a case to win both contests. His performance in the 2016 dunk contest in Toronto was one of the best of all time but he has nothing to show for it. 2026 could be his chance at revenge, ten years later.
Zach LaVine won the dunk contest in 2015 and 2016, including the legendary showdown with Gordon in 2016 – the best in recent memory. LaVine will be 30 years old by next year’s contest, but he could dust off the bunnies one last time. He won the contest as a rookie in 2015 and would be a great fit if the NBA wants to get a perfect cast together for All-Star Weekend in 2026.
Basketball fans have wanted to see Ja Morant in the dunk contest since he entered the league. After watching McClung take his third championship in 2025, Morant took to X to proclaim his interest in the dunk contest. Morant’s hang time is unreal. If anyone can lead the charge to revive the dunk contest, it’s Ja Morant.
If the NBA can get three of these guys, ratings for NBA All-Star Weekend will skyrocket. Give the people real NBA dunkers and they’ll tune in. Enough with the oddball judges, too. Bring legendary dunkers back to judge the contest. Guys like Vince Carter, Blake Griffin, Dominique Wilkins, Clyde Drexler, and Michael Jordan. Make NBA All-Star Weekend great again.
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