Suns Owner Offers $1 Million Prize For All-Star Weekend Contest Winners

Other than for Mac McClung’s three-peat performances, the NBA Dunk Contest has been on life support since Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon went head-to-head in 2016.  The last time an actual All-Star won the event was Blake Griffin in 2011. Since then, it's basically been a showcase for G-League and role players putting on a show while the league's biggest names watch from the sidelines. Not exactly must-see TV. 

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia wants to change that, and he believes he has the right plan to attract the bigger names in the league to compete. 

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show at the NFL combine this week, Ishbia announced he will personally put up $1 million to the winner of the 2027 Slam Dunk Contest and another $1 million to the winner of the 3-Point Contest, when Phoenix hosts All-Star Weekend. He'd also match each prize with a $1 million donation to the winner's charity of choice. In a league of millionaires, money still talks. 

"Let's get the best guys in," Ishbia said. "Let's make it awesome."

The idea is simple. While the three-point contest remains relatively competitive and exciting, the dunk contest has struggled to draw household names. With high flyers such as Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards, Shaedon Sharpe, and Zion Williamson all capable of putting on a memorable event, a trophy, and $105,000 isn’t going to entice them to compete. 

Despite Ishbia’s eagerness, there is just one problem: it's against NBA rules. The league's collective bargaining agreement prohibits individual owners from offering outside compensation to players beyond what's already structured and sanctioned by the league. As an owner, one would have thought Ishbia would have consulted the NBA front office before going on national TV to announce his intentions. League officials and the players’ union were quick to put a stop to an idea that makes sense in theory. Just look at the NBA Cup, which awards winning players $530,000 each, a significant amount that entices players to compete. 

As for whether or not the idea comes to be, either by the league itself or through some other means, one has to give Ishbia credit for his passion to try and breathe life back into what was once the highlight of All-Star Weekend.