LeBron James Says He Will Consider Magic Johnson's $1 Million Dunk Contest Offer

How would you like to be paid a million dollars to dunk a basketball a few times? Sounds pretty sweet, right?

Well, that's exactly what Magic Johnson offered LeBron James. On Friday night's Kia NBA Countdown on ESPN, Magic implored the Miami Heat superstar to participate next year and offered him a cool million if he won the event.

LeBron is thinking about it. That's right—he's not sure whether or not he wants to accept Magic's million, according to ESPN:

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LeBron James apparently is still mulling Magic Johnson's $1 million offer to finally participate in the NBA's dunk contest.

James told ESPN's Lisa Salters that, although he hasn't decided on a response to Johnson's offer, he frequently considers entering the dunk contest.

"I don't have a response yet," James told Salters prior to the Miami Heat's game against the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon.

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Per the same ESPN report, the winner of the contest receives $100,000, while the runner-up earns $50,000. 

LeBron has been in the news for his exciting dunking displays in recent Heat layup drills. It's fun to see the league's best player showing off his athleticism, and it's been nice to see LeBron just enjoying himself this season.

But some may find this entire exchange a little offensive. Offering a million dollars for a player to win a dunk contest? Actually having to consider whether or not you'll take that amount of money when most people make a small fraction of that in a year?

It all just seems a bit excessive.

Here's an idea: What if Magic gave a million dollars to a charity if James participated in the dunk contest, or if James won it? Or what if Magic offered $500,000 to a charity and James matched that amount?

Then, rather than a story about millionaires treating huge sums of money like a $50 bet, a million dollars could go to a wonderful cause.

Ultimately, people can do whatever they like with their money, even blowing it on dunk contests. And we all want to see LeBron participate.

But there are much, much better ways to spend a million dollars than this. Here's hoping Magic and LeBron realize that and put that money toward a better cause.