Vince Carter dazzled the fans with his superior dunking skills in his 22-year illustrious NBA career. Vincanity not only won the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest but also set that performance as a benchmark for future participants.
With the new piece of information that Vince Carter has provided, LeBron James can be blamed even more for the diminishing star power of the contest after Stephen A. Smith fired the first arrow. But what exactly did “Air Canada” say that puts LeBron in the firing line along with some other iconic names?
Vince Carter reveals NBA’s million dollar Slam Dunk plan
During a recent podcast with FanDuel’s Run It Back, Vince Carter was asked about a specific rumor that surfaced years ago. The 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
revealed the NBA’s plan to arrange a contest between the star players, which eventually did not translate into reality.
“It was Kobe, T-Mac, LeBron…But guys didn’t want to do it,” said the former Raptors star. It was also revealed that the NBA would have given $1 million to each of the participants as an incentive, but it was turned down by the other three.
"There was a rumor back in the day that the NBA tried to elevate the dunk contest…Who were they trying to pitch you against?" @MichelleDBeadle
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 20, 2024
"It was Kobe, T-Mac, LeBron…But guys didn't want to do it." @mrvincecarter15
📺: https://t.co/qYBPWhYgh7 pic.twitter.com/6scfnZYVpY
Carter said, “the NBA years ago tried to put a lot of money up for the best to do it, and prime Vince would want all the smoke with everybody because it’s gonna bring the best out of me.”
Mac McClung graciously concedes to Vince Carter superiority
Despite claiming the Slam Dunk winner’s crown for the second time in consecutive years, Mac McClung said that he is not even close to Vince Carter.
In a discussion on Run It Back, where both Vince Carter and McClung were present, the G-league guard was asked to pick between the prime Carter and himself. McClung waived and without letting the host finish said, “It’s not even close, that’s Vince all day, don’t even do that to me”. Carter smiled and said that a similar proposition was made by the NBA, and he would have loved to be a part of it.
"Prime Vince Carter-Prime Mac McClung, who are we taking in the dunk contest?" @ChandlerParsons
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 20, 2024
"It's not even close, that's Vince all day, don't even do that to me." @McclungMac 😂
📺: https://t.co/qYBPWhYgh7 pic.twitter.com/SQUCZ3uefW
McClung discusses the prep time for the contest and when asked whether he would like to face the main man Carter in a Slam Dunk or not, the 25-year-old said, “I might have to start two years in advance just thinking and figuring it all out,” McClung said.
For McClung, all he can do now is go three in a row next year and cement himself as one of the greatest dunkers of all time alongside Vince Carter.
