2010 Dunk-Contest Field Announced; LeBron says No
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Jan 18, 2010 12:37 PM CST
in Fear My Opinion
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PrintThe NBA released the field for the 2010 Dunk Contest earlier today, but the bigger news, at least to the media, was who wasn't on the list. Defending Champ Nate Robinson will take on former Cavalier/ current Laker Shannon Brown, Gerald Wallace and the winner of a 'dunk-in' competition between Eric Gordon and DeMar DeRozan.
James had said last year he would compete this season yet once again decided against it. I wish people would understand that LeBron is not a dunker, and contests like this really don't interest him. LeBron does like to be courted, however, and like to be told how much he is wanted for something. He enjoys that attention. But he is smart enough to know that it is a no-win situation.
LeBron didn't come into the NBA as a high-flying scorer. There were no Nike commercials proclaiming "It's got to be the shoes" with LeBron dunking over Spike Lee. It was the opposite. Remember one of the early Nike spots to feature LeBron was a classic with the late-great Bernie Mac -
This is how LeBron came into the League - as a facilitator, a distributor. More Magic than Michael as the saying goes.
So then, why all the controversy surrounding LeBron and the Dunk contest? Magic was never in a Dunk contest - it wasn't his game, though he certainly could dunk the basketball.
The arguments for LeBron to participate are just silly - he's afraid of Nate Robinson, or he owe's it to the game of basketball.
First, Nate Robinson is one dimensional. He is a scorer - and he's amazing at it. He also isn't nearly as important to his team as LeBron is to the Cavaliers. Mike D'Antoni proved that by essentially giving Robinson the 'Marbury Treatment' earlier this season.
As for what LeBron 'owes' to the game, that's absurd. LeBron has done enough for the game, representing his country in the 2006 World Championships, then winning Gold in 2008 at the Olympics. Oh, and he sells out every arena in the NBA, regardless of the home team's record. Look it up, the Cavs are the #1 visiting draw in the NBA.'
You can criticize LeBron for the games he plays - saying he'll do it only to change his mind. Anything other argument for LeBron performing in a glorified exhibition are simply baseless.
LeBron James isn't Michael, he's not Magic, he's not Kobe - he's LeBron and I like him that way.
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Don’t draw attention away from a dunk contest you’re not in to say you’re going to be in the next one and then back out of it. Be a man about it and keep your word. And if you’re going to go back on it, say clearly that you are. That was my biggest issue with it. It was a call for attention as far as I’m concerned now. If he had stuck with it, at least it would have been a legitimate reason for having the attention on him, but now it just seems like he couldn’t settle for not being in the center of attention.
As a Cavs fan I have no concern about Lebron’s ‘waffling’ about the Slam Dunk Contest. His ambiguous words and behavior about his impending free agency concern me much more.
Hey, if your an opposing fan be happy about Lebron’s constant desire for attention…it gives other teams fans something to complain about…because on the court he’s virtually beyond criticism.
"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren
by johnnyphoenix on Jan 18, 2010 6:07 PM CST up reply actions
….btw, Laker fan bitching about someone ‘wanting to be the center of attention.’
Irony much?
"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren
by johnnyphoenix on Jan 18, 2010 6:11 PM CST up reply actions
I honestly don't know
why Cleveland fans think everyone is out to get their team or Lebron. More people are on your side than anything. Besides Its not about your concern as a Cavs fan, quite frankly its better for you if he doesn’t participate cuz there’s less chance of injury then. To quote the article, “I wish people would understand that LeBron is not a dunker, and contests like this really don’t interest him.” Great, then if it doesn’t interest him then why announce in the middle of a dunk contest that he’ll participate if you don’t plan to do it. Why is it ok for him to do this, while you call out my favorite team, most likely just Kobe, for being attention hogs? Deep down are you really just mad cuz Cleveland’s only other claim to fame is the Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video? lol.
But seriously, it wouldn’t matter who it was. I took it from a man’s point of view that he should always keep his word. Don’t get mad at me cuz your best player keeps giving people reason to not like his attitude. And don’t give me the no flaws on the court nonsense. You just sound like a troll instead of an actual bball fan with statements like that. Moving on back to the actual topic, if you say it mean it and if you don’t shut up and don’t waste people’s time to even think on it. Thats how I see it. Its not like he’s signing a new contract or anything.
quite frankly its better for you if he doesn’t participate cuz there’s less chance of injury then.
Exactly. The only reason why I care either way.
Don’t get mad at me cuz your best player keeps giving people reason to not like his attitude.
I’m not mad…I don’t like his attitude in many cases as much as any non-cavs fan. I stated that.
And don’t give me the no flaws on the court nonsense.
Compared to his peers…his play is virtually flawless. Notice the virtually: meaning “Almost but not quite; nearly.” You disagree with this? I don’t see how that is anything groundbreaking.
Deep down are you really just mad cuz Cleveland’s only other claim to fame is the Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video? lol.
Really?
No…Really?
You feel the need to drop a ‘Cleveland sucks’ routine at this point? Jesus Christ, man. You know, the river caught fire 40 years ago, too. Also, Lebron travels. You can call him LeCrab or LeTravel to great comedic effect when you run out of actual discussion points. Oh, also…the Cavs haven’t won a championship, the Lakers have won a lot. You can use that one too however you want, even.
"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren
by johnnyphoenix on Jan 19, 2010 12:55 AM CST up reply actions
Never said any of those.
Just put that in there for humor honestly. Every other person I know from Cleveland laughs about it, so I thought why not put it in there. Thats why following that I put but seriously. Oh and I’ve never used a rings argument for anything against a team or person. Nor do I use stupid nicknames like LeCrab or LeTravel or anything like that. Every player in the NBA travels or carries or does something against the rules for the most part. I explained to you my argument of why I think it has become a big deal him not staying in the dunk contest and you took 4 sentences out of it and decided to answer to those. And I disagree with virtually, because they’re obvious parts of his game that are missing not subtle things.
Just put that in there for humor honestly.
Well, yeah. I get that.
But again, to be fair I do understand what you’re saying, and let me reiterate there are about just as many things about Lebron’s behavior that bother me as you. I am certainly not an ‘apologist’ in that regard. I suppose as a Cavs fan I just kind of roll my eyes at it and remind myself that regardless I’m still damn happy he’s on my team.
"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren
by johnnyphoenix on Jan 19, 2010 9:08 PM CST up reply actions
It’s kind of disappointing since it would’ve been fun to watch him. But oh well. As far as a “controversy” over this… people are making a bigger deal about it than it has to be.
as happens with LeBron in everything that can be made into a negative by jealous “fans” of other teams
by cavslandrocks on Jan 18, 2010 8:34 PM CST up reply actions
Except
I’ve seen more Lebron fans actually saying that he should’ve stuck to his word and done it. but whatever you want to think.
Actually, it's their offense that's winning the game for them.
The Mavs shot 80% in the 4th quarter. Against the Celtics. Teams don’t shoot 80% against the Celtics.
LeBron is competing in the slam-dunk contest...
…he competes in one 82 times a season.
He always wins, too.
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by Jeff at the BBC on Jan 18, 2010 9:10 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Wow that commercial is great. What a long time ago that seems like it was…
However, Lebron’s image in the NBA has changed. I think when he came into the league nobody thought he’d be the 30ppg type of guy. They thought he would get 18-23 with high assists…like Magic. They were right about the assists, but he scores waay more. And so he is put into the convo with other guys like MJ, Kobe who all did the dunk contest at least once.
I don’t care if he does or doesn’t. It is of no importance to me. For the record, I don’t think he has the array of dunks to win it(just my theory)…and if he did win it, it would likely be on name recognition alone where his dunks get higher scores cuz its him doing it & not demarr derozan(sp). But that is beside the point. I don’t care if he is in it…I just wish he wouldn’t have said he was going to….as a huge lebron fan and cavs fan…it was kind of a mistep. but whatever…people have done worse.
Hey... Cleveland happens.
I think Phil Jackson should coach Lebron 3 to 5 years from now
In Cleveland, of course
"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson
Thursday works better for me
"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson
by Gils_Keloids on Jan 20, 2010 4:42 PM CST up reply actions
Come on LeBron!! We want a show!
Hey LeBron, show good sportsmanship and do what you promised man. Really disappointed in his choice. Maybe he doesnt have it in him to win this type of contest. LeBron is more of a posterizing in-game dunker. He should show off his skills in the All-Star Game for sure though.
Nobody would ask him to do it if he didn't steal the show from the 2009 contestants to announce he'd enter the 2010 dunk contest
That’s the issue here – not all the other stuff you described (which is true). I wouldn’t care if LeBron said no, but he said yes at first, got us all excited (yes, included me), then let us down. That’s annoying.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
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