Suns’ Mat Ishbia targets $1 million reward for champions of Dunk and 3-Point Contests
Suns owner Mat Ishbia is advocating for increased participation from star players in All-Star Weekend activities when Phoenix hosts the midseason event next year.
To incentivize this, Ishbia has proposed a $1 million reward for the victors of the 2027 Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest, with an additional $1 million designated for charity in each competition.
“Let’s get the top players involved,” Ishbia stated Wednesday during his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, where he introduced the proposal. “Let’s make it fantastic.”
However, this initiative may encounter some bureaucratic challenges.
Representatives from the NBA league office and the players’ union informed ESPN that such a reward would not align with the current bonus framework.
Sources indicated that Ishbia did not consult with the league office prior to making this proposal. Nonetheless, he is eager to explore options to attract more stars to the events.
The most recent current All-Star to win the Slam Dunk Contest was Blake Griffin in 2011. This year’s contest in Los Angeles was won by Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat. Damian Lillard, a nine-time All-Star, secured his third Three-Point Contest title in the last four years.
