Other than the All-Star Game, the highlight of NBA All-Star Weekend has often been the Slam Dunk Contest. But this year, the exhibition was, well, anything but a slam dunk.
The contest was widely panned on social media, largely for competitors missing so many dunks. But lack of creativity and a serious lack of star power — something that’s plagued what used to be a showcase for the league — were also cited as major problems.
Simply put, when the league’s most explosive dunkers (hello, Ja Morant) aren’t participating in the contest, it’s a huge problem. The days of Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins wowing fans seem so long ago.
So it probably shouldn’t be a surprise that Stephen A. Smith would be ready to unleash on the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during Monday’s First Take. And unlike Juan Toscano-Anderson, Cole Anthony, Jalen Green, and eventual winner Obi Toppin, Stephen A. did not disappoint.
“That was the worst slam dunk contest in the history of basketball,” Smith said as Molly Qerim and Kendrick Perkins sat back in anticipation of the fury to come. “It was a national atrocity. It was awful. Somebody needs to say it, so I’m gonna say it.”
OK, plenty of people were saying it. However, they’re not Stephen A. Smith and they don’t have the national platform of ESPN’s First Take. Apologies for the interruption. Let Smith continue.
“Now I’m happy that a Knick won something. We actually had a New York Knick that won something. That was Obi Toppin,” Smith added, compelling Qerim to cover her face with her notes. “It was so bad, it’s one of the rare moments that I think we should actually hide the trophy. We should actually hide the trophy. That’s how bad it was.”
The clip above has to be watched in its entirety to get the full effect, including Smith saying he, at 54 with bad knees, could have missed as many dunks as the professionals who participated and his proposal for a national slam dunk tournament to find athletes who can put on a show.
Sure, Stephen A. could have celebrated Steph Curry’s 50-point performance in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game. And he did, calling him the face of the NBA right now over LeBron James. But greatness doesn’t work up nearly as much outrage as mediocrity or failure. And the tirade wouldn’t have been nearly as memorable. That probably wasn’t an All-Star Stephen A. rant, but it was a good one.
Ian Casselberry is a sports media columnist for BSM. He has previously written and edited for Awful Announcing, The Comeback, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation. You can find him on Twitter @iancass or reach him by email at iancass@gmail.com.
