This is part of the Sameer Jhaveri NBA Special – a column that will bring you the latest news and highlights of the NBA season. This edition focuses on an offer of one million dollars from Magic Johnson to Lebron James to compete in the 2014 NBA Sprite Dunk Contest.
By Sameer Jhaveri ’15
If you have ever watched the Miami Heat’s pregame warm up, you have basically watched what the greatest player on earth is capable of doing in the most thrilling event at all-star weekend.
Former Los Angeles Lakers’ point guard, Magic Johnson offered LeBron James 1 million dollars to take his camera catching warm-up dunks to the 2014 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. LeBron has a chance to put one of his idols, as a child, in utter amazement, as if he already hasn’t thus far in his career.
Although this is an outrageous amount of money to be paying someone to participate in a one-time event, this is just a portion of what Lebron will make when signing up. The amount of money that sponsors and private companies will give LeBron makes Magic Johnson’s offer look like dimes and pennies off the floor.
Magic is certainly not alone in his desire to see LeBron take part in the dunk contest. A poll on ESPN.com shows that 80% of the world is in favor of LeBron taking up Magic’s request. Both ESPN analyst Michael Wilbon and Olympic teammate Kevin Durant have both pitched $1,000 each. ESPN analyst Bill Simmons threw in an additional $200 towards the fund as well.
LeBron is aware of the offer, and informed ESPN’s Lisa Salters that he thinks about participating every year, but he doesn’t have a response for him [Magic Johnson] yet, and he’ll get back to him.
Magic stated in an interview that he wants not just LeBron but also stars like Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant to participate as well, and he’s not alone. ESPN analyst Jalen Rose called for more elite players to take part in the contest as well.
LeBron responded to Magic’s request and said that he was very close to participating last year in Houston, but backed out. “For me, I’ve always been an in-game dunker, man. When you’ve got to be in the dunk contest, you’ve got to be creative, figure out ways to do something that no one has done in the dunk contest. I couldn’t figure that out.”
The excuses for LeBron not to sign up are getting slimmer each day, with more and more viewers of the most sought after event begging for his presence in uniform. LeBron will hopefully run out of options and follow the motto of his highest paying endorsement, Nike, and “Just do it.”
As much as LeBron probably wants to take part, he also wants to keep his eye on the prize of multiple championships, and to prevent injury. The four days of rest he is given in this all-star weekend is the perfect relaxation period for his overworked body. As fortunate as we are to even see him in the All-Star game every year, let’s keep our fingers crossed to see LeBron in New Orleans for two events next year.
