The Slam Dunk contest has gotten so bad in recent years, that Hall of Famer Magic Johnson is willing to pay LeBron James $1 million to compete in the event, which would definitely benefit from having its best player in the competition.
James clearly doesn’t need the money, but before Sunday’s 99-93 win over the Knicks, he told an ESPN reporter that he is considering the offer.
“I don’t have a response yet,” James said. “Tell [Magic] I’ll get back to him.”
This year’s dunk contest featured no big names, and winner Terrance Ross is far from a household name.
“Please, LeBron, get in the dunk contest. I’m going to put up a million dollars. A million dollars from Magic to LeBron. Please get in the dunk contest. I go every year. I want to see you out there. A million to the winner,” Johnson said on Friday during ESPN’s “NBA Countdown.”
James has won three MVPs, two All-Star game MVPs, and was named the MVP of the finals in 2012.
As recently as December, he said he would never enter the contest because he is too old, but now appears to at least entertain the idea. During his rookie season, he refused because he was upset at having to play in the rising stars game, dunk contest and All-Star game all in one weekend. He also said he didn’t want to risk injury a few other times when he was asked.