Jason Richardson, a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion and one of the most electrifying high-flyers of his era, recently voiced his disappointment over a long-standing All-Star Weekend letdown, LeBron James’ refusal to ever participate in the Slam Dunk Contest.
In an interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Richardson didn’t hold back when asked if he was let down by LeBron’s absence from the iconic event.
“I was a little bit because if you look back at the history of the Slam Dunk Contest even when I was kid, if you were a high flyer or if you were a superstar, you DID the Dunk Contest, you know?”
“Jordan did it. Dr. J did it. Dominique Wilkins did it. Some of the greatest jumpers in the history of the NBA have done it, and you want a guy like LeBron to carry on that tradition of superstars doing the Dunk Contest because the Dunk Contest is what carried All-Star Weekend… until now.”
“So it’s kind of disappointing that he never did one but I can understand why he didn’t but, as a fan of the Dunk Contest watching it since you were a kid you would want a guy like LeBron in the Dunk Contest.”
Richardson, who won the contest back-to-back in 2002 and 2003 with jaw-dropping creativity and explosive verticality, emphasized how legends embraced the challenge.
LeBron, despite being widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in NBA history and a generational dunker, has never participated in the event, a decision that has long disappointed fans, players, and even NBA legends.
For years, fans expected James to inject his athleticism and creativity into the Dunk Contest, especially during his Miami Heat years when his vertical was at its peak. But the King never stepped into the spotlight for the midseason showcase, citing reasons ranging from risk of injury to prioritizing team goals.
Richardson acknowledged that while he understands why LeBron passed on it, it was still a missed moment for fans.
When asked by Robinson if LeBron, now 41 years old and entering his 23rd NBA season, could still give it a go, Richardson laughed it off with respect.
“In the Dunk Contest? No! Because every time you leave the floor, it hurts your body and especially for a guy like LeBron, I think this is his 22nd year and if you add up all the games in the playoffs, he probably played another 5-6 years of basketball which is adding the playoff games he had in the postseason.”
“So, it’s kind of hard for him to have a guy like that go out there and compete in the Slam Dunk Contest, but it’s still amazing what he’s doing at 41, 42 years old still playing in the NBA at a high level.”
Indeed, LeBron’s longevity and workload are unprecedented. With over 1,700 total NBA games played including postseason appearances, he’s arguably logged more mileage than any player in league history.
Still, that reality doesn’t erase the what-ifs. In many ways, LeBron’s Slam Dunk Contest absence remains one of the few blemishes on an otherwise unparalleled resume.
Even so, Richardson concluded by praising LeBron’s durability and performance. A Slam Dunk Contest appearance may never happen, but LeBron’s impact — and the echo of what could’ve been- still hovers in the air.
