Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Sports
Sports

LeBron James Mulling Magic Johnson’s $1M Slam Dunk Offer

Posted byBy Jacobi Eaves | Published on: | Updated on March 5, 2013 CommentsComments (0)

Miami Heat small forward LeBron James is considering former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson’s $1 million offer to finally give the fans what they want by participating in the NBA’s slam dunk contest.

James said during a pregame interview on ESPN that he has not decided yet on taking Johnson’s offer.

“Tell him I’ll get back to him,” he told the network’s Lisa Salters, who interviewed James.

The 28-year-0ld James, on his way to a fourth NBA MVP, has been delighting fans during pregame warmups with an amazing aerial assault that eclipses anything the all-star weekend competition has seen in recent years. While those in attendance has marveled at James’ dunks, critics have blasted him for never participating in one of the league’s all-star weekend showcase events.

James admitted during the interview: “I think about (participating) every year,” James said.

Hall of Famers like Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins and future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant have all won slam dunk titles.

Johnson, an NBA analyst for ESPN, made the offer on Friday during a live broadcast of ESPN’s “Kia NBA Countdown.” He said that he would pay James or anyone who can beat him in the dunk contest $1 million of his own personal money.

“Please, LeBron, get in the dunk contest. I’m going to put up a million dollars,” Johnson said. “A million dollars from Magic to LeBron. Please get in the dunk contest. I go every year. I want to see you out there. A million to the winner.”

ESPN analyst Jalen Rose raised the bar by calling for more elite players to take part, as well.

“LeBron James, Blake Griffin both have to be in it,” Rose said Friday on the show, and Johnson agreed.

Griffin, the league’s premier slam-dunker, won the dunk contest in 2011.

The NBA pays $100,000 to the winner and $50,000 to the runner-up.

Independent journalism doesn't fund itself.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top