Two of the league’s top young players have received a strong message from Kevin Durant encouraging them to participate more in one of the major events that the All-Star Weekend presents to spectators from around the globe.

The 2023 All-Star Game is around the corner, and Durant hopes to make his return before the big match, which will feature Team LeBron against Team Giannis after Antetokounmpo surpassed Durant in the voting. The Brooklyn Nets superstar is really excited about this event, but he’d like to see different things, especially when it comes to the Slam Dunk contest.

This event, which closes the Saturday of the All-Star Weekend, has lost popularity among fans, who always call for stars to take part in it, but these players don’t seem to listen to them. It seems like the last time we saw a great Slam Dunk contest was in 2020, when Derrick Jones Jr. beat Aaron Gordon in a controversial ending.

Kevin Durant Urges Zion Williamson And Ja Morant To Take Part In The Slam Dunk Contest

Now, KD wants to see some of the best names in the game partake in the Slam Dunk contest, specifically mentioning Zion Williamson and Ja Morant as his candidates to join this event, which will have Trey Murphy III from the New Orleans Pelicans, Kenyon Martin Jr. from the Houston Rockets, Shaedon Sharpe from the Portland Trail Blazers, and Mac McClung from the G League.

However, Durant would prefer to watch Zion and Ja, who are two electrifying dunkers that would take the contest to the next level with their presence (around the 11:20 mark).

“We need Zion, we need Ja. I think the stars need to come back. It felt like there was stars in there every year when I was a kid.”

Durant has a very valid point there, as we could see big names going at it for this title, including Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, and even a rookie Kobe Bryant. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and others also featured in these contests, but over the years, stars have lost interest in it.

This could be the right way to revive the Slam Dunk contest. LeBron James has never taken part in it, and it’s too late to ask for that, but players like Ja and Zion could make a difference while giving the fans a terrific show.

Source: fadeawayworld.net