Why LeBron James Would Steamroll Blake Griffin in NBA Dunk Contest

Blake Griffin said he wouldn't participate in this year's slam dunk contest. LeBron James has hinted that he might. If both things are true, Griffin is better served staying out, because if they were both in, James would dominate him in the contest. 

Let's be honest about the dunk contest: It's not about the dunks. It's about who is doing the dunking. Let's look at last year's contest, for example. The actual dunks by JaVale McGee, including dunking two balls at the same time on two different rims, were far better than Griffin's dunk by jumping over a car. 

If you look at Griffin's dunk and take away the car, the actual jump wasn't that impressive. He didn't even really jump "over" the car, either, so much as he jumped on top of it. He lept a couple of feet in the air from the bottom of the key. It was a pretty standard alley oop. 

Griffin didn't win on dunk power, he won on star power. While he might be a star, though, he's not the star that LeBron James is. 

Celebrity was the reason he won last year. Celebrity would the reason he would win this year. 

And, if that's not enough for you how about the fact that James is actually a better dunker? He's a better jumper, and he's got the same power that Griffin has. While Griffin might get the better facials, he's not as athletic as James. He's not going to get Timofey Mosgov or Kendrick Perkins to pose for him.

Griffin's dunking style doesn't translate well to the dunk contest. It's pretty much just straight power with him, which is why he needs props to make things work. 

James, on the other hand, has all the power, but he has the athleticism to really come up with some special dunks as well, such as in the recent dunk where he leaped over John Lucas III, who might be only 5'11" but is a lot taller than a Kia. When you gauge the height and distance, this dunk is far more athletic. 

I'd love to see the contest. It would be the best contest since Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins went at it in 1988. 

Actually, James has the best combination of power and athleticism since Jordan. He also does have a good grasp on how to entertain. Griffin is more of a power dunker in the vain of Wilkins, so it's an apt comparison. 

James would win, though, because it's about star power as much as dunking, if not more. Even if it is about pure dunking, though, James would win anyway. Athleticism ultimately triumphs over power because it's more entertaining.