By: Aarav Sapra
Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans recently announced that he will partake in the dunk contest if he makes it to next year’s All-Star team. This was brought up during the New Orleans Pelicans and Toronto Raptors game, where Zion scored 16 points in 26 minutes in a 138-98 win over the Raptors. After the game, a reporter asked if he could see himself participating in the dunk contest. Zion responded, “If I’m in the All-Star Game, I’ll do the dunk contest,” he said. “But if I’m not, I’m not doing it.” Zion has been an All-Star twice (2021, 2023) since the Pelican drafted him in 2019. Yet, he didn’t dunk during either of those weekends (excluding the fact that he got injured during 2023 and could not participate). Nonetheless, his 2024 season looks to be going quite well; he is healthier in the 2023-2024 season, having played 51 of his team’s 62 games.
Regardless, if Zion were to compete in a prospective dunk contest, he would potentially only have a competition with two NBA players this season: Jaylen Brown and Heat’s rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. In the 2024 dunk contest, Jaquez was the first player eliminated, while Brown was booed after nearly every dunk in an evident sign from fans that they felt his scores were too high for the dunks he performed, especially when compared to the reigning two-time dunk contest champion Mac McClung. Yet, this can further imply that there may be a possibility that neither may want to participate after the dunk contest this year, if NBA players Jaylen Brown and Jaime Jaquez felt that they didn’t enjoy their experience in the dunk contest. In addition, Mac McClung never confirmed if he wanted to do a third dunk contest and is hesitant to do so, so the future of the dunk contest is still being determined.
Yet, some people believe Zion might forget about it and continue his NBA career, as it isn’t guaranteed. For instance, Lebron James declared he would participate in the 2009 All-Star weekend dunk contest, only to change his mind later. However, the fact that he states he would like to participate could mean that he feels thrilled and optimistic about his NBA career. Considering some of his plays, being a big man around the court while also dominating the paint, and considering the Pelicans have a chance in the playoffs. Overall, the Pelicans and Zion have done much work to get where they are today, and the future of the dunk contest would be much more enjoyable if Zion partakes in the event.
