{"id":606936,"date":"2026-02-16T21:20:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T21:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/606936\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T21:20:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T21:20:17","slug":"stephen-a-smith-blames-lebron-james-for-terrible-nba-dunk-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/606936\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen A. Smith blames LeBron James for ‘terrible’ NBA dunk contest"},"content":{"rendered":"

It looks like Stephen A. Smith<\/a> is coming after LeBron James<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And this time, it\u2019s for something that has nothing to do with The King. <\/p>\n

Following the abysmal showing from the contestants at the Slam Dunk Contest during NBA All-Star Saturday night, which was won by Heat forward Keshad Johnson, the ESPN personality let loose on James<\/a> during his Monday morning segment on First Take.<\/p>\n

\"NBAFeb 14, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson (16) dunks over rapper E-40 in the slam dunk contest during the 2026 NBA All Star Saturday Night at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

When asked about the contest, Smith didn\u2019t hesitate to talk about how unengaged he was. <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think about the contest,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to applaud Keshad Johnson for winning. Pat Riley standing up and applauding him\u2026 but we all know it was terrible because there were no star power. The reality is that we are going to bring it home to where the GOATS can get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith then took a turn and blamed James for how far the contest has fallen in recent years, despite James never once competing. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to blame LeBron James, Smith spouted. \u201cNow I\u2019ve sat here for months and I\u2019ve applauded his greatness and all the things he had done and he has meant to the NBA, but I\u2019ve said it and I\u2019m going to be very consistent\u2026 the person who really is the provocateur to ruin the slam dunk contest is him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"StephenStephen A. Smith at SiriusXM on Radio Row at Super Bowl LX on February 06, 2026 in San Francisco. Getty Images for SiriusXM<\/p>\n

It\u2019s clear that Smith has no actual evidence as to why James is to blame and this is simply one person\u2019s opinion, but blaming James because he never competed is an atrocious take.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a superstar who put on a dunk contest every night in the layup line, particularly when he knew there was momentum swelling for him to participate, and he never did. He even teased that he was going to participate one year.\u201d<\/p>\n

After having done so much for growing the game of basketball and being one of the top two players to ever suit up, it\u2019s not James\u2019 responsibility to save the dunk contest.<\/p>\n

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