Kendrick Perkins denounces an « embarrassing » dunk contest and calls for NBA stars
Kendrick Perkins harshly criticizes the 2026 NBA dunk contest and calls on superstars like Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant to participate to save this iconic All-Star Weekend event.
June 8, 2018; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Kendrick Perkins (21) during the second quarter in game four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 108-85 to complete a four-game sweep. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Photo Credit : © Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
The NBA dunk contest continues to exist, but its relevance is being debated. Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat won the 2026 edition this weekend, joining the long list of substitutes and unknown players who have claimed this title in recent years. The era when Michael Jordan faced Dominique Wilkins now belongs to the past.
Very harsh words from the ESPN analyst
Kendrick Perkins, an ESPN analyst known for not mincing words, was particularly critical of the 2026 dunk contest edition during Monday’s First Take show.
« It was embarrassing, » Perkins stated. « If there was one thing that stood out as an embarrassing moment from All-Star Weekend, it was that horrible dunk contest. And I wouldn’t say that… and I’m going to sit here today and say the dunk contest doesn’t need to go away, but it needs to be fixed. And the only way to fix it is to have the big players, the big names, Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant. Damn, I’d even like to see Wemby at 7’6″ participate. »
The former NBA player continued by drawing a comparison with the 3-point contest: « The difference between the dunk contest and the 3-point contest is that superstars and stars participate in the 3-point contest. We’ve seen Dame Lillard… we need those big names, whatever Adam Silver and the NBA have to do to get these guys to commit and participate, damn it, do it. It might cost some money, but make sure to do it. The dunk contest means too much to the NBA and All-Star Weekend. »
A recurring problem with no obvious solution
The critique isn’t new. Stephen A. Smith has voiced similar frustration on ESPN, and fans have been asking for years — decades, really — for the league’s biggest names to show up in the dunk contest. Every so often, a star bites. Most of the time, though, the risk-reward equation doesn’t make sense. There’s little upside in staking your reputation on an event that feels creatively maxed out and increasingly hard to surprise with.
Perkins isn’t calling for the contest to disappear, but the fixes he’s hinting at are easier said than done. That’s what leaves the dunk contest in its current limbo — too iconic to scrap, too star-light to feel essential, stuck somewhere between tradition and diminishing appeal.
OMG THE DUNK CONTEST IS OFFICIALLY DEAD 😭😭😭
JAXSON HAYES WTF WAS THAT 💀
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) February 15, 2026
With a background in sports management, Nicolas Flamecourt covers NBA news with a particular passion for the North American league, which he has been following for several years. He also covers the NCAA, including news and scouting of future prospects, and regularly conducts interviews with French players as well as players competing in Europe.
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