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By Aman Sharma
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Stephen A. Smith blamed Philadelphia 76ers star LeBron James for wrecking the NBA Slam Dunk Contest on Nov. 11, saying James’ choice to sit out led stars to stay away.
It’s a familiar target for the ESPN host, who aimed the same charge at James last February after a dunk field short on big names drew criticism.
Smith made his latest case on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on SiriusXM, framing it as one of two marks he has against James’ playing career. James, who owns four NBA titles, hasn’t entered the event once since arriving in the NBA in 2003.
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Smith said there are two knocks on James’ playing career he can’t let go of, and the dunk contest came first.
“Two things I hold against LeBron James in his career, and I ain’t talking about us personally. Two things I hold against him as a basketball player. Number one, I hold LeBron James directly responsible for ruining the slam dunk contest,” Smith said.
His theory is that other stars took their cue from James and opted out.
“Because it started with him that stars began not participating, because they follow LeBron’s lead. He ruined the All-Star Weekend slam dunk contest, because he’s never been a participant in it,” Smith added.
Smith then ran through the high flyers who did enter, naming “Kobe, Vince, Tracy McGrady, everybody that was skywalkers.” James, by his account, was the lone holdout.
“I hold that against him,” Smith said.
Smith’s earlier take came on “First Take” after the February 2026 contest. Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson took the crown, and the shortage of marquee names in that lineup became one of the weekend’s storylines.
“We all know it was terrible because there were no star power… I’m going to blame LeBron James… the person who really is the provocateur to ruin the slam dunk contest is him,” Smith then said.
Smith has now pinned the contest’s slide on James on two separate shows in 2026. James’ entry count since 2003 still sits at zero.
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