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Anybody else curious as to why the NBA decided to change the rules and let him in the dunk contest? Is he a great dunker? Most definitely but throughout the years there have been far better G league dunkers who haven't been asked to compete.Is the NBA simply trying to capitalize off his viral popularity and also why did this change have to be implemented in Utah? Another question would be did the NBA make the Sixers sign him to justify their decision? Finally did the G league team that competed actually feature the absolute best players?

It is good it adds diversity to the dunk contest and gives an opportunity to someone who otherwise wouldn't see any time in the league.

EDIT: Diversity as in NBA and GLeague not white/black

The pickings are slim for the dunk contest these days. They take who they can get.

The contest has been legitimately depressing the last few years and established players don't want to bother with that. The most likely outcome is people will make fun of you and talk for years about how bad it was.

The Sixers probably weren't forced to sign him. They probably did it to get their Jersey into the dunk contest.

The Dunk League dunkers would be the best options, but it's much harder to justify their addition when they aren't really basketball players.

Why don't you just come out and say it? He's a white dunker and there are very few of them in NBA history. I do find his dunks visually appealing and he's an internet sensation. I don't know if he deserves a slot but people will probably tune in to see him vs. some random dude like Jericho Sims.

They probably couldn’t get any other nba players of note to do it. Guys just don’t want to participate.

Dunk contest has gone downhill since 2016.

At this point they should get rid of it and do one for amateur dunkers. Those guys are actually creative and that would be way more fun

bisme37 wrote:The pickings are slim for the dunk contest these days. They take who they can get.

The contest has been legitimately depressing the last few years and established players don't want to bother with that. The most likely outcome is people will make fun of you and talk for years about how bad it was.

I think the only way they will be able to drum up interest with star players is to offer something like $10m to the winner. I don't know if that's economically feasible. No star is doing the dunk contest for $1M when they're making $35M+ a year. It's just not worth it.

He's on a two-way contract so why not?

Also has a pretty cool name.

Yes they made sure a white guy was in the dunk contest because it’s in Utah… It’s not like only Utah is going to watch the Dunk contest or they were going to struggle to sell out the all star weekend in Utah.

They got Mac because he’s the closest thing they can get to a big name to be in it. Mac went viral in high school because of his dunks.

What the NBA needs to do is just get rid of this. Come up with like 5-6 skill challenges to choose from (dunk contest can be one of them) and have actual all stars select like 3 contests to do. The top 3 most picked challenges overall would be the challenges they do that year. So some years we may have a dunk contest, some years we won’t. But get actual all stars to do these things.

great dunker, can probably be an nba player if he keeps working. and hes pretty viral, so yeah, why not? if nobody else wanna dunk,let the guy who actually wanna dunk.

also, no pro dunkers, its too easy since they dont deal with the wear and tear of hoopers.

He's been on NBA teams on 10 day, 2-way, non-guaranteed contracts. He doesn't seem out of place for a end of bench guy. I think it's fine to include guys who are on NBA teams even if they're not on 4 year contracts and just on the edges.

azcatz11 wrote:Why don't you just come out and say it? He's a white dunker and there are very few of them in NBA history. I do find his dunks visually appealing and he's an internet sensation. I don't know if he deserves a slot but people will probably tune in to see him vs. some random dude like Jericho Sims.

I mean its the obvious thing and that's why I find it strange they suddenly introduced this concept. There have been fantastic dunkers in the G league that could have saved quite a few dunk contests years ago. Honestly I question Sims being there as well because the overwhelming favorite pulled out for selfish reasons apparently.

kodo wrote:He's been on NBA teams on 10 day, 2-way, non-guaranteed contracts. He doesn't seem out of place for a end of bench guy. I think it's fine to include guys who are on NBA teams even if they're not on 4 year contracts and just on the edges.

What about Scoot Henderson who's a pretty good dunker himself? Or should the contest be reserved for people with NBA experience while the rising stars is fair game for everyone?

Priest24 wrote:

kodo wrote:He's been on NBA teams on 10 day, 2-way, non-guaranteed contracts. He doesn't seem out of place for a end of bench guy. I think it's fine to include guys who are on NBA teams even if they're not on 4 year contracts and just on the edges.

What about Scoot Henderson who's a pretty good dunker himself? Or should the contest be reserved for people with NBA experience while the rising stars is fair game for everyone?

I feel like the Ignite guys would be all over joining

Because he's a viral sensation and every other dunker in this contest is meh. In other words....ratings and ad money.

-Luke- wrote:Also has a pretty cool name.

He could be a Marvel character...

Richard4444 wrote:

-Luke- wrote:Also has a pretty cool name.

He could be a Marvel character...

He’s got the alliterative name. So he’s already on his way.

Priest24 wrote:

kodo wrote:He's been on NBA teams on 10 day, 2-way, non-guaranteed contracts. He doesn't seem out of place for a end of bench guy. I think it's fine to include guys who are on NBA teams even if they're not on 4 year contracts and just on the edges.

What about Scoot Henderson who's a pretty good dunker himself? Or should the contest be reserved for people with NBA experience while the rising stars is fair game for everyone?

Scoot will get his chance to reject the invitation to this when he's in the league next year.

Like others have pointed out, this is a desperate move to buoy interest in this event by recruiting a viral sensation. If either Jake or Logan Paul could dunk, they'd be in this too.

NBA had to start thinking outside the box since they went from established stars rejecting them to now even rookies passing on it.

Duke4life831 wrote:Yes they made sure a white guy was in the dunk contest because it’s in Utah… It’s not like only Utah is going to watch the Dunk contest or they were going to struggle to sell out the all star weekend in Utah.

They got Mac because he’s the closest thing they can get to a big name to be in it. Mac went viral in high school because of his dunks.

What the NBA needs to do is just get rid of this. Come up with like 5-6 skill challenges to choose from (dunk contest can be one of them) and have actual all stars select like 3 contests to do. The top 3 most picked challenges overall would be the challenges they do that year. So some years we may have a dunk contest, some years we won’t. But get actual all stars to do these things.

You live in Salt Lake City, right Duke? Are you going to the All-Star weekend in person?