Jason Richardson believes LeBron James missed an opportunity by never entering the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
During an interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, the two-time Dunk Contest champion expressed disappointment that James, despite his elite athleticism and superstar status, chose to sit out the event throughout his career.
“I was a little bit [disappointed] because if you look back at the history of the Slam Dunk Contest even when I was a kid, if you were a high flyer or if you were a superstar, you DID the Dunk Contest,” Richardson said.
James, who will be 41 by the 2026 All-Star Weekend, has never participated in the contest since entering the league in 2003. His absence has long been a topic of debate among fans and former players alike.
“Jordan did it. Dr. J did it. Dominique Wilkins did it,” Richardson added. “You want a guy like LeBron to carry on that tradition… it’s kind of disappointing that he never did one.”
Richardson acknowledged that expectations for NBA dunkers have changed due to social media. Spectacular dunks by professional dunkers have set a higher bar that many NBA players are unfairly compared against.
“It’s kind of hard because social media has almost kind of tainted us,” Richardson said. “We’ve seen so many guys that are doing so many spectacular dunks out there.”
When asked if James could still enter the contest next year, Richardson quickly shut down the idea with a laugh. He cited James’ longevity and the physical toll the contest would take at this stage in his career.
“Every time you leave the floor, it hurts your body,” Richardson explained. “He probably played another 5-6 years of basketball if you add up all the playoff games. So, it’s kind of hard.”
