The big stars need to step up to the plate!! Jordan did it, Dr. J. did it Dominuqe did it. Those were some of the greats of all time and they didn't let thier worry of losing endorsements, looking bad or any other factor stop them. They actually ENJOYED giving the people that pay thier salaries something extra other than seeing them on game nite. Too many so called stars now are not in the NBA for the love of the game they are there for the love of the money. Let's not forget who REALLY pay your salary

Lebron should cause he opened his big fat mouth... but Kobe, Vince, etc.. they have already done it... all the great All Stars - MJ, Dominick, etc... have all done it. Why does Lebrick think he's above competting... IS he scared to lose to Shannon Brown? Yep, he is.... always worried about that "image" of his... He's so full of crap.... get out there and dunk... we all know you only have 2 dunks....... 1 Handed power dunk....... and the 2 handed power dunk....... BOOOOOOOO

If they want to be the best, then the should enter ANT contest to prove they are. Make the rest of the league show they have more skills.

They wont be in it because they have no originality. NO ONE CAN BE LIKE MIKE

I really wish ALL these questions contained an "I don't care" response. That's not just about this question. All of them.

Why should half the money go to the winner? Do any of these guys really NEED the money? In fact, why are these multi-gajillionaires even staging a contest...they could simply donate $2 million each and it wouldn't even dent their fortunes.

It'd be nice to see a real dunk contest. Hey, maybe Dr. J, Wilkins and MJ (hey is Darrell Dawkins still around?) would come out. I know they'd be a bit slower but they'd still be great to watch. They could show these youngsters a thing or two about showmanship!!

I'd have to agree w/PhilA1818....these guys don't NEED the money, the people of Haiti do. Why not have a 'contest' for bragging rights and give the ticket money to Haiti?

btw-does anybody know if the Shaq vs. series is avail. on dvd? It was hilarious !!

It'd be nice to see a real dunk contest. Hey, maybe Dr. J, Wilkins and MJ (hey is Darrell Dawkins still around?) would come out. I know they'd be a bit slower but they'd still be great to watch. They could show these youngsters a thing or two about showmanship!!

I'd have to agree w/PhilA1818....these guys don't NEED the money, the people of Haiti do. Why not have a 'contest' for bragging rights and give the ticket money to Haiti?

btw-does anybody know if the Shaq vs. series is avail. on dvd? It was hilarious !!

Thease over-paid, over-rated NBA stars could do this. Lebron , Kobe, MJ, 'nique, and some of the upcoming stars (not many) and put "it's all 'bout me routine in the closet for a night. and, help people who really need the help. And, I'm willing to bet Cuban, J. Jones (playing n Jerry's world) and other owners would either match the money or do something. But, that's just me.

I donated what I could even though it wasn't much. So, please help if you can.

Thank you.

The All-star game is a farce with little effort by the players who are trying to keep healthy. There is little to no defense played. Why should the Dunk contest be different. Let's say Kobe injures his finger or back worse and misses the playoffs. Or Lebron breaks his hand. Nice job by the league. The All-star game is a joke and so is the dunk contest. Leave them that way. Might as well bring back Donaghy to ref it. Better yet, have the three convicted felon refs still in the league that Stern rehired in 2000, Ken Mauer, Bennett Salavatore and Joey Crawford ref the All-star game. It would be very fitting!!!

Easiest answer ever: Yes, at least to Lebron.

Great idea, Shaq! Better yet, line up a couple of big sponsors for this dunk contest and send all the proceeds to Haitian relief.

Stupid idea Shaq. Yet again, leading with a "what's in it for me" mentality. Like other posters have said, why not give EVERYTHING to the people of Haiti? "My client... if...", "I'll do this... if..." Always conditional. Shows your true colors. Your character is revealed by what you do when NO ONE is watching, not when the cameras are rolling Shaq. Your act is growing old. Glad you went to Cleveland. You couldn't keep up the pace of the "run-'an-gun" western conference...

shannon brown is gonna win this things hands down, and make all other former dunks a thing of the past. have u seen this kid jump? im sure he could get past the 13 or 14 feet height mark if thats the case. he should do a 14 foot high dunk just to smother howards' antics.

The idea here is not to showcase the basketball stars, but to get people to come watch and BRING MONEY, since it is designed to raise money for relief in Haiti. I wouldn't care if they invited Gary Coleman to compete as long as lots of folks came and donated to help the relief efforts!

The truth is its not about the stars themselves really. there are 2 very good reasons to do it. First, there is the publicity and the money that the big stars will genrate for the Haitian cause. Secondly, the big stars will undoudbtedly improve the waning popularity of the slam dunk contest. Some of the stars may be little past it in terms of atleticism, but like I said its not really about them.

does anyone really care?

That contest obviously means something to some fans, but I find it boring and unnecessary.  It's outdated.  Even Jordan and Webb, incredible feats their flying acts were, did not illicit any excitement from me.  So if it were to disappear, I wouldn't even notice.  As a matter of fact, that whole weekend is really kind of tiresome.  And this is coming from someone who loves to watch the game, regular season and playoffs.

Who in the hell cares?

LeBron should be in the slamdunk contest.

LeBron is the best of the best.