Image Source: TNT
[Saba Sports News] During the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics had an inventive introduction planned for his first dunk attempt, which unfortunately went unseen by the television audience. Brown’s setup included a skit with someone impersonating Dominique Wilkins, a former Atlanta Hawks player and two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion, who was also one of the event’s judges. This act was intended to humorously teach Brown the correct way to perform a windmill dunk
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However, as the TNT broadcast shifted focus to highlight the LED court from a bird’s-eye view, it failed to return to Brown in time for viewers to catch his actual dunk live. The broadcast’s oversight meant that fans could only watch the dunk afterward on replay, despite the judges giving it a high score of 48.8.
This incident underscored a growing concern with the Slam Dunk Contest, where the emphasis on elaborate gimmicks and theatrical presentations sometimes overshadows the athletic feats themselves, leading to moments like these where technical mishaps prevent key performances from being broadcasted live.
Despite the hiccup, Brown’s innovative approach was noted, although he ultimately did not win, finishing behind the previous year’s champion, Mac McClung. This event highlighted ongoing challenges in balancing entertainment value with the core athletic competition of the Dunk Contest.