LAKERS REPORTS: LeBron James has been officially suspended from…….

“From 1985 to 1997, five of the thirteen Slam Dunk contests were won by future Hall Of Famers,” Smith said, referring to Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, and Kobe Bryant. He continued his rant by focusing on how many times each man participated in the contest: Jordan three times and Wilkins five times. “Every high jumper, every sky walker, every above-the-rim talent salivated for the opportunity to compete in the Slam Dunk contest. It stopped when LeBron James said ‘I’m not doing it.’”

Smith said that James’s refusal to participate was a catalyst for future stars to not see it as a necessity either. “From that point forward, the stars that followed didn’t feel compelled to prioritize a Slam Dunk contest,” he exclaimed. “The tradition that was set by others preceding LeBron James!” Smith even felt like King James purposely chose to do elaborate dunks during his pre-game layup lines to “rub it in.”

He believed that there was “no one who knows basketball” who would disagree with his stance when assessing the quality of the dunk contest from a historical perspective. “LeBron James refusing to participate was the beginning and the spark plug of its demise. Period!” he yelled.

Smith said that James’s refusal to participate was a catalyst for future stars to not see it as a necessity either. “From that point forward, the stars that followed didn’t feel compelled to prioritize a Slam Dunk contest,” he exclaimed. “The tradition that was set by others preceding LeBron James!” Smith even felt like King James purposely chose to do elaborate dunks during his pre-game layup lines to “rub it in.”

He believed that there was “no one who knows basketball” who would disagree with his stance when assessing the quality of the dunk contest from a historical perspective. “LeBron James refusing to participate was the beginning and the spark plug of its demise. Period!” he yelled.