The Slam Dunk Contest remains a highlight of NBA All-Star Weekend, generating lively discussions on the best dunks. This year, taking place next Saturday, fans will have a voice through the league’s NBAID program. Historically, the winners of the Slam Dunk Contest, which began as an ABA event in 1976 and became part of NBA All-Star Weekend in 1984, were decided by judges, though from 2008 to 2014, fans influenced the final decision via text voting.
This year, while the NBA isn’t returning to a full fan vote, they are allowing fans to cast one of five votes, with the remaining four being decided by former NBA players serving as judges (a format that has been in play since 2015). Voting will now be conducted in real-time through the league’s free NBA ID membership program, available via the NBA app or at slamdunkvote.nba.com. Content creator Jesser, who has worked with the league in the past, will join celebrated former players Baron Davis, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, and Jason Richardson on the judges’ panel, serving as the inaugural NBA ID Member representative. Jesser will relay the average score from the fan vote, contributing to one of the five judges’ votes.
Integrating fan voting can be a double-edged sword; it enhances engagement but may also lead to questionable outcomes. Instances of fan-driven trolling, such as John Scott’s All-Star captaincy, illustrate the potential pitfalls of this approach. However, voting can yield strange results even in scenarios without fan input. By linking voting to the NBA ID program, a level of commitment is required, which may help mitigate trolling and raise awareness of the program. Allowing fans a singular vote out of five is a balanced approach, ensuring fan input while distributing decision-making across judges—a refreshing return of fan involvement after over a decade.
This year’s Slam Dunk Contest is set for All-Star Saturday Night on February 15, aired on TNT and truTV. Two-time reigning champion Mac McClung will compete against Matas Buzelis, Andre Jackson Jr., and Stephon Castle, with fans participating in determining the winner.
