Square One, Again

For those living in under a rock in the basketball world, All-Star Saturday Night was last night and all in all, it was a pretty good event.

Besides the main event, the biggest reason why most fans come out to watch the event, the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.

John Wall in 2013, credit to:
Wikipedia

Uh... honestly, the dunks themselves were pretty good, but, of course there is a but, the new format of the event overshadowed a decent dunk contest.  Technically they did not name a "true" Slam Dunk Champion, Team East won the contest and then the fans voted John Wall as the "Dunker of the Night."

Is the dunk contest even worth it now?  Seriously, any more I just yawn at it, do not get me wrong, some dunks have been impressive, but the way the NBA keeps on changing the format of the dunk contest does not help the players nor the contest out when it comes to the popularity of the Sprite Slam Dunk.  It is old now, and the game's top players are not participating in it, granted non of them are tremendous dunkers.

Vince Carter in 2000, credit to:
NBA

In the 1980's at the height of the contest, you would have guys like Jordan, Wilkins, Drexler, and Dr. J in the contest nearly every other year.  Then you had Vince Carter and Jason Richardson, whom both were big enough names to draw a television audience come the early 2000's.  Both VC and J-Rich threw down some of the most spectacular dunks the game has ever seen.  I will come out and say that Blake Griffin's was nice, but his car dunk was beyond overrated.  Blake has really only been the lone "hype" since Richardson or even Carter.  I would put Gerald Green in the mix, but Gerald Green is not an All-Star nor is putting up huge enough numbers to where everyone knows who he is.

In that case, you could say James White should be in the contest again.

Jordan in 1987 - credit to: sneakerheadwill.blogspot.com

So Adam Silver, what are you going to do for next year's dunk contest?  Revamp the format yet again or go back to what got the contest so popular in the first place?

You know, sometimes the most simple things are often the best things.  Maybe having five judges scoring the dunks with 1-10 scores each for a total of 5-50 might be the best, or maybe I am wrong, maybe there is a format or system out there that could save the dunk contest and take the whole thing to new heights that would have never been imagined.

For old time's sake though, how about we kick back and start Throwback Thursday a little early with these dunks from year's past.

Credit: UniqueVideos777