Annually following NBA All-Star weekend, we focus on the slam dunk contest for a minimum of two to 3 weeks afterward. Whether or not it’s good, dangerous or someplace within the center, the dialog surrounding it blazes on for a while. Now we get Zion Williamson fanning the flames dunk contest banter, together with his pretend “ultimatum/gesture” towards the Association saying he’ll be part of the dunk contest if he’s an All-Star.
“If I’m within the All-Star Recreation, I’ll do the dunk contest,” he mentioned. “But when I’m not, I’m not doing it.” – Zion Williamson
It sounds good, however we all know the famous person of at the moment would reasonably get together and revel in all of the festivities concerned with All-Star Weekend than participate within the dunk contest. It’s at all times humorous how the youthful technology of gamers get upset when the “outdated heads” accuse them of not eager to compete then flip round and run from the dunk contest.
Now you’ve Williamson giving this ultimatum that he is aware of he isn’t going to ship on. Moreover that, he’s already a two-time All-Star choice. He might be upset as a result of he didn’t make it this season when he’s been primarily wholesome, having suited up for 51 of the Pelicans’ 62 video games. That’s excellent for a man who’s performed greater than 60 video games simply as soon as in his profession.
Williamson smiled as he mentioned this, nevertheless it got here off as disingenuous. It’s additionally attainable he’s merely aggravated on the query as a result of he hears it so typically, particularly round this time of 12 months. However having already been round for just a few years and having the chance, it appears much less seemingly that the percentages of him doing the dunk contest will enhance as he ages. At solely 23, Williamson’s dunk contest window of alternative needs to be extensive open. However given his harm historical past compiled early in his profession, this will at all times be a pipe dream.
That is nothing greater than Williamson dangling a carrot in entrance of us so we shut up. Is sensible as a result of that is one thing he’s ceaselessly requested about. However simply because one understands doesn’t imply they’ve to love his reply. There was an argument for him to be an All-Star this 12 months. This implies it’ll in all probability occur subsequent 12 months, and we’ll get some excuse as to why he’s nonetheless not within the dunk contest.
Most star gamers of this technology don’t have any actual curiosity in doing the slam dunk contest. LeBron James by no means participated, Ja Morant says he received’t and it’s extremely unlikely that Williamson ever will both. In fact, we’ll proceed to chatter and complain about it like most issues. It’s simply one thing we’ll want to simply accept eventually.
