Stephen A. Smith is once again holding LeBron James responsible for the decline of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. The ESPN personality has never hidden his frustration with the Philadelphia 76ers star’s decision not to participate in the competition during his career.

However, his latest comments have left fans wondering how many times the veteran sports personality plans to revisit the same argument.

NBA Fans Push Back Against Stephen A. Smith’s LeBron James Slam Dunk Contest Criticism

Speaking on Wednesday’s “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on SiriusXM, Smith listed two things he holds against James as a basketball player. One of them was the four-time NBA champion’s decision never to participate in the event.

“Two things I hold against LeBron James in his career… Number one, I hold LeBron James directly responsible for ruining the slam dunk contest,” Smith said.

He argued that James’ absence encouraged other NBA stars to follow his lead and skip the competition.

“Because it was started with him that stars began not participating. Because they follow LeBron’s lead. He ruined the All-Star Weekend slam dunk contest because he’s never been a participant in it,” Smith added.

The veteran sports commentator also pointed to several legendary players who competed in the event during their careers.

“Kobe, Vince, Tracy McGrady, everybody that was Skywalkers participated in the slam dunk contest but LeBron James. I hold that against him,” he said.

James has never entered the contest since joining the league in 2003.

The latest comments did not sit particularly well with fans, especially those who have heard the same argument from Smith multiple times.

“It’s year 24… blood gotta get a new gimmick,” one fan wrote.

“How many times is he gonna say this (expletive)?” another fan questioned.

Others were even more direct about their frustration with the repeated criticism.

“Stephen A genuinely does not shut up about LeBron Jesus Christ,” one fan remarked.

“You say this every year, old hag. Shut up,” a sports commentator tweeted.

“Do these narratives never get tiring?” another fan asked.

“This has never made sense,” one fan added.

Back in February 2026, after an edition of the competition featuring a relatively low-profile field, the ESPN personality raised the same argument on “First Take.”

Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson won that year’s contest, but the lack of star power among the participants became a major talking point.

“We all know it was terrible because there were no star power… I’m going to blame LeBron James… the person who really is the provocateur to ruin the slam dunk contest is him,” Smith said at the time.

James, meanwhile, has previously made his stance on skipping the competition clear.

“There’s no part of me that has regrets about not doing it,” the NBA’s all-time leading scorer once said.

The Slam Dunk Contest has faced growing criticism over the years, with several fans and analysts calling for more established stars to participate. However, whether James’ absence is directly responsible for that decline remains a matter of debate.