NBA All-Star Weekend: 5 Ways to Improve Dunk Competition

Feb 15, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) celebrates with Toronto Raptors guard Terrence Ross (31) and Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (24) after the 2014 NBA All Star dunk contest at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

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2. Give the players better incentives

Feb 15, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) celebrates with Toronto Raptors guard Terrence Ross (31) and Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (24) after the 2014 NBA All Star dunk contest at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Not to knock on charity and certainly not to imply these guys aren’t benevolent creatures who love helping the less fortunate, but I’m guessing none of them are losing sleep over not winning the contest. We’ve got to make the players truly care about the contest. Back in the days of Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins, there was an immense amount of personal pride involved. That’s not in the game as much anymore, so we need other incentive.

Why not do the charity stuff, plus give the players a significant purse in addition? Even better, why not allow the players to buy-in to the contest, with the winner taking all of the money? A million a piece, with the winner taking home a cool $6 million? Now that would make things interesting. I guarantee you’d get full effort the entire time.

This new rule would make our No. 5 change become amazing, life-changing and would provide some tremendous storylines.