The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend has so far been ho-hum save for a hyper-competitive set of games in the Rising Stars. To be fair, this has mostly been the case nearly every year, largely because the highly anticipated sidelights haven’t been compelling. Against that backdrop, it should also be noted that LeBron James, arguably still one of the faces of the NBA, skipped media availability again on Sunday and will instead hold his own press conference.
James’ latest snub may have reopened something critics have claimed before: That LeBron James has “ruined” the league’s annual showcase. So, did he?
Not Competing in the Dunk Contest
The first talking point among those who believe the four-time NBA champion ruined All-Star Weekend is the fact that the “Chosen One” never competed in an NBA Dunk Contest.
In contrast, both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant not only participated in the tournament but also won a Slam Dunk title (or titles in the case of MJ).Black Jesus won twice, in 1987 and 1988, while the Black Mamba claimed the trophy in 1997, which also made history as he became the youngest Slam Dunk champion in the NBA at only 18 years old.
But as for King James, he never suited up for the prestigious competition. In recent news, former Orlando Magic forward Tracy McGrady revealed on the Cousins with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady podcast that he, Carter, Kobe, and LeBron were actually offered $1 million by the league just to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest. The only one who said yes? Vinsanity.
Prime King James not participating in the Slam Dunk Content will remain one of the big “what ifs” of NBA All-Star Weekend because who wouldn’t pay to see a hyper athletic human highlight reel compete in such a showcase?
Shying Away from the One-on-One During the 2012 All-Star Game
For Kevin Garnett, however, the issue went far beyond the dunk contest.
In his view, LeBron James disrupted the very fabric of All-Star tradition by declining to answer the late Kobe Bryant’s challenge during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game—a moment many believed could have defined an era of the league’s midseason spectacle.
“He fu—d the whole tradition up,” said Garnett.
“When Kob slapped the floor and told that ni—a, ‘Brother, let’s go one-on-one,’ and he passed it, he fu—d up the whole tradition.”
The Big Ticket even added that LeBron passed up two potential game-winners during the All-Star Game when he was defended by the 5-time Laker champion.
“Don’t nobody want to hear this. I’m one of them gatekeepers, I can say this. Everybody went at it, bro. He slap the floor on you, you supposed to nail his a– with a three, boom! Y’all supposed to go right there. Lord didn’t want none of that motion, swung that bi—h here… That’s why Mamba was like, ‘Nah, you don’t want this,’ talking crazy. I hate to get to this, but that’s what really happened. And ever since then, we’ve been off the trajectory.”
The Infamous 2025 NBA All-Star Game Disappearance
In the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, the four-time NBA regular-season MVP announced just hours before tip-off that he would not be able to play due to lingering discomfort and pain in his left foot and ankle.
Aside from that, LBJ did not even wear the NBA All-Star jersey that his team was set to wear during the event’s media photoshoot.
This, of course, created backlash across the league, with some saying that LeBron has become “entitled” or “privileged” among his peers.
So, whether or not you believe that the player who has scored the most points in league history has truly ruined NBA All-Star Weekend, one thing is very clear: LeBron James has made a lot of questionable decisions during his 23 years in the greatest basketball league in the world.
