The All-Star weekend has ended with Kesha Johnson winning the 2026 Slam Dunk contest. While this win might have been a source of confidence for the athlete, the famous American TV personality Stephen A. Smith appears unenthusiastic. After another LeBron James absence from the contest, Stephen’s recent comments seem to expose a star power drought.
From backing James amid Jeanie Buss’s controversy, Smith has now called the athlete out due to his zero absences from the Slam Dunk contest. As reported by Fox News, Stephen appears to argue that star appearances are important for the event, as it has been a tradition.
He said, “I’m going to blame LeBron James,” and added, “Now, I’ve sat here for months and I’ve applauded his greatness and all the things he had done and he has meant to the NBA, but I’ve said it and I’m going to be very consistent…The person who really is the provocateur to ruin the slam dunk contest is him.” With these words, Stephen seems frustrated, as the contest used to feature notable players such as Jordan but now lacks stars.
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Smith Might Have A Point, As James Holds Several All-Star Selections But Zero Slam Dunk Appearances
His claim of LeBron ruining the contest might be out of frustration, as there is no evidence backing it, but he could be making a point, judging by the athlete’s participation. James has a total of 22 All-Star selections, playing in 20. He missed this years’ as he missed starter votes and was dealing with an injury.
Coming back to Smith’s claims, the athlete has never made a Slam Dunk appearance. To participate in these, players have to voluntarily get themselves in, as there is no selection process, but throughout his career, the four-time champion has never been a part of the Slam Dunk contest. This might have sparked Stephen’s disappointment.
It’s not like he wasn’t satisfied with Kesha Johnson’s win, as he did congratulate him as well. But, according to him, the absence of big stars like James is causing a decline in the contest’s legacy as junior athletes have to put on a show instead. In the past, stars like Larry Nance, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and other notable athletes have participated, giving the audience highlight moments that will be remembered for years to come.
With James, who won’t be having a retirement tour, and several key absences, this might not be the case anymore, especially for people like Stephen.
Published: Feb 17, 2026 10:11 am