The NBA Slam Dunk Contest has, at times, struggled to attract the biggest headliners in recent years. Zach LaVine may have given a hint as to why that is.
The Chicago Bulls guard, winner of back-to-back dunk contests in 2015 and 2016, said he felt his career has progressed beyond that, and has higher ambitions than competing in it once again.
LaVine on dunk contest: “I just feel like I’m past that point in my career. I don’t have the same drive for it.”
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 7, 2021
Becoming first to win both dunk and 3-point contest intrigues LaVine now. And then there's this: "I want to make All-Star games. I want to make the playoffs. I want to be an All-NBA player. That’s where my aspirations are now."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 7, 2021
You have to wonder if this mentality is pervasive among elite players. People would love to see the likes of LeBron James do the dunk contest, but for star players of that caliber, the focus is on winning championships and earning the sport’s highest individual honors. That can leave things like the dunk contest for players who aren’t quite at that level.
LaVine still likes to give tantalizing looks at what he’s capable of, but it sounds like we’ve seen the last of him in the dunk contest. That’s a shame, but his logic is understandable.
