The NBA All-Star Game will be hosted by the Phoenix Suns in 2027, and owner Matt Ishbia is working hard to get players more interested in the competition. He wants the stars to compete in the three-point and slam dunk contests like they used to. Therefore, he may promise additional prize money to the winners as a way to entice players to compete, but he may not be able to do so.
Ishbia was on the most recent episode of "The Pat McAfee Show" and committed to awarding a $1 million prize to the winners of the three-point and slam dunk contests. Then, an additional $1 million to donate to each event. While this sounds good in theory, there will be some hurdles to making it happen.
“Let’s get the best people in,” Ishbia said. "Let's make it amazing."
However, officials from the NBA league office and players union also told ESPN that such an award would not be in line with the existing bonus structure for players.
Sources said Ishbia did not consult the league office before making the offer. But he's motivated to find a way to bring more stars to the events overall, and if he can get it approved, it might work.
The last time a current All-Star won the Dunk Contest was in 2011 when Blake Griffin set the basketball world on fire and jumped over a car to win the contest.
This year, the NBA All-Star Weekend event was viewed by many as a mixed bag. Miami Heat's Keshad Johnson won the dunk contest in Los Angeles this year. Then, nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard won his third 3-point contest in the last four years despite missing a game this year due to an Achilles injury.
Jackson Hayes did a warm-up dunk in the actual contest, and it was widely condemned on social media and in the NBA world. Then, Jace Richardson almost got seriously injured while attempting a dunk. The actual competition between Keshad Johnson and Carter Bryant became interesting, but it was too late. If Ishbia can do that, it would be a huge win for the NBA and its viewers.
