There is a noticeable lack of star talent in the 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. While there are some high-flyers in the field, including back-to-back reigning dunk contest champion Mac McClung as well as Andre Jackson Jr. and rookies Stephon Castle and Matas Buzelis, the lack of a big name in the pool is a bit disappointing—albeit not too surprising.
There have been a handful of superstar participants and legendary performances over the last few decades, including Blake Griffin's unforgettable run in 2011, Vince Carter's iconic showing in 2000, and more recently, the head-to-head bout between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon in 2016. Unfortunately, efforts to recapture those fabled moments have come up short in recent years, as the dunk contest has become stale.
