Lakers Star LeBron James Finally Reveals Reason Why He Avoids the NBA Dunk Contest

LeBron James - Boston Celtics v Los Angeles Lakers

(Photo : Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - LeBron James (#6) of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks during a 122-118 loss to the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena on December 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Lakers superstar LeBron James finally revealed why he has not participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

LeBron explains why he's never done a dunk contest 👀

(via @ScoopB) pic.twitter.com/URWfYWKdW5
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 12, 2023

The league's all-time leading scorer mentioned in an interview with Bally Sports that coming into the league, the Slam Dunk Contest was not something he wanted to accomplish in his career.

LeBron James told @BallySports why he never wanted to participate in the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest:

FULL QUOTE:

"I don’t think it was something I wanted to accomplish in my career; it’s not a goal of mine and it never was coming into the NBA to be a part of the Dunk Contest, you… pic.twitter.com/dFJDKoPEsh
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) June 12, 2023

The four-time NBA champion was focused on much bigger goals, such as making the NBA All-Star Team, being the league MVP, winning Defensive Player of the Year, and winning NBA Championships.

"The NBA Dunk Contest was NEVER a goal of mine so, it wasn't something that I had too much passion for," the 38-year-old said.

LeBron James Promises To Do The Slam Dunk Contest One Time

Back in the 2009 edition of the contest, James was watching Nate Robinson, Dwight Howard, JR Smith, and Rudy Fernandez battling out for the Slam Dunk crown.

During a break, he was interviewed by the TNT crew, and he said that he was enjoying the battle between Howard and Robinson.

James was then asked if he was to compete in next year's edition of the contest; the then 25-year-old said that he was "preliminarily" joining the competition.

"Right now I'm preliminarily putting my name in the 2010 Dunk Contest Saturday night. LeBron James is saying, in 2010 in Dallas Stadium, I'm putting my name [preliminarily] in the dunk contest," James said to the excitement of the TNT crew.

However, the then-Cavaliers star was not able to fulfill his promise of participating in the 2010 edition of the Slam Dunk Contest, as well as the years after.

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