"Ja, Zion and Ant are cowards" - NBA fans abuzz over Bucks' guard joining Matas Buzelis & Stephon Castle for 2025 Slam Dunk Contest

NBA All-Star Weekend is rapidly approaching, and players are announcing their commitments to events, including the Slam Dunk Contest and 3-Point Contest. While the 3-Point Contest frequently maintains star-studded lineups, the Slam Dunk Contest has seen a significant decrease in star power over the last five years.

In fact, an NBA All-Star hasn't won the dunk contest since Donovan Mitchell in 2018. Even then, Mitchell was two years away from earning his first All-Star bid in 2019-2020 season. The last time a player was named an All-Star and won the dunk contest was John Wall in 2014, when the NBA adopted the team-based dunk contest format.

In short, the Slam Dunk Contest has rapidly gone downhill, and fans have voiced their frustrations over the lack of All-Star talent in the event since its decline. This season looks to be more of the same, as rookie guards Matas Buzelis and Stephon Castle are the first players to commit to the event.

On Thursday, NBA insider Shams Charania revealed on "The Pat McAfee Show" that Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. joined the player pool for the Slam Dunk Contest. NBA fans once again voiced their frustrations on social media.

"Another weak dunk contest (shaking my head)," a fan commented in disappointment.

"@PatMcAfeeShow has no idea who these players even are," another fan humorously pointed out.

"Who? This slam dunk contest will be very disappointing," a third fan added voicing their frustration. "Just like the last few in recent years."

Fans continued to voice their frustrations in the comments.

"Nice to see some household names entering the dunk contest this year," a fan commented sarcastically.

"Just cancel the dunk contest," another fan added. "I'm tired of this."

"(Ja Morant), (Zion Williamson) and (Anthony Edwards) are cowards man," a third fan posted.

Mac McClung looming 2025 NBA Dunk Contest

Reigning back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest winner Mac McClung has yet to commit to the event for the third consecutive season. McClung gave fans a refreshing, entertaining glimpse as he shined in the event in 2023, but there's a small problem.

McClung has appeared in just five NBA games to this point of his career, fueling fans' frustration due to a lack of All-Star talent in the event. Though McClung impressed in the 2023 event, last year's dunk contest displayed more of the same staleness that fans have grown accustomed to.

"I'm still thinking on it," McClung told the Orlando Sentinel. "I'm really just trying to get some wins lined up right now and then kind of focus on that in a couple days."

McClung hasn't turned the event down but is looking forward to stringing together some wins with Orlando's G League affiliate, the Osceola Magic.