The NBA All-Star Weekend just wrapped up, evoking a blend of emotions among basketball fans. While there were highlights like the Stephen vs. Sabrina challenge and the three-point contest, overall, the sentiment leans towards disappointment.
From the NBA Skills Challenge to the Slam Dunk Contest and culminating in the All-Star Game, fans were left unsatisfied. The apparent lack of effort from NBA stars didn’t go unnoticed, stirring criticism from analysts like Shannon Sharpe.
Shannon Sharpe criticized the Slam Dunk contest, noting a shift from big-name stars to relatively unknown contestants like Jaylen Brown and Mac McClung. He criticized Brown for dunking over a shorter person, Kai Cenat, instead of taller players like Shaquille O’Neal. Sharpe found it embarrassing that Cenat was seated during the dunk and believed Brown’s performance deserved a low score, contrasting sharply with the judges’ decision.
ESPN’s First Take analysts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe expressed profound disappointment with the performance of the league’s top players. They specifically discussed the underwhelming nature of the Slam Dunk Contest, which has failed to meet expectations for quite some time. Shannon Sharpe, in particular, had strong opinions on the matter.
Aaron Gordon jumped over Tacko Fall. Mac McClung jumped over Shaq. Jaylen Brown jumped over Kai Cenat. What am I supposed to do with that Stephen A? They should have gave him a 2 across the board… [Brown] got 40+ points. The man’s already 3 foot tall, you put him in a chair, now he 1’5″!
While Sharpe did acknowledge Mac McClung’s impressive performance by giving him credit for putting on a show, even McClung couldn’t salvage the event. The decline of the dunk contest has been evident for some time, leaving fans longing for the NBA to take action to restore it to its former glory. With the All-Star weekend losing its excitement, the NBA faces a challenging task ahead to revitalize the event and keep fans engaged.
Fans react to Shannon Sharpe roasting Jaylen Brown’s Slam Dunk performance
Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown had a night to forget at the just concluded 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. His performance drew the ire of fans and listeners who mostly felt that the impact of the Dunk Contest has lost its appeal and value when compared to previous years.
Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe (image via Shannon Sharpe/X)Sports analyst Shannon Sharpe led the attack when he first criticized the Celtics star on live television. And in doing so, popular YouTube streamer, Kai Cenat, appeared to catch a stray, something which caught the attention of fans, who then joined in on the popular social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), to express their opinions. A couple of reactions are below:
Why is Kai always getting cooked 😭😭
— Rashford.szn 🐐 (@ESUTD_) February 19, 2024
kai cenat being seated is like jumping over a water bottle
— 𝐬𝐞a✰ (@destroynectar) February 19, 2024
Bro did NOT have to do him so dirty 🤣
— Rich October ✧✯ (@richwontmiss) February 19, 2024
While some may argue that the criticisms are overly harsh, it’s evident that the decline of the dunk contest has been ongoing. Fans are eager for the NBA to take action to restore it to its former glory.
