Reviving the dunk contest: Ranking the NBA's best high-flyers

The NBA Slam Dunk contest needs new life.

One of All-Star Weekend's premiere events has grown stale again, with few big names participating and underwhelming performances. The Three-Point Contest has often stolen the spotlight in recent years, with All-Stars competing and some dramatic finishes.

The dunk show just hasn't been much of a draw ever since the epic showdown between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon in 2016. It needs an injection of energy to reinvigorate what's supposed to be the main event of All-Star Saturday Night.

Here are the five players we'd most like to see revive the dunk contest:

5. Jonathan Kuminga

Second-year Golden State Warriors forward Kuminga couples elite explosiveness with smooth finishes. The 6-foot-8 high-flyer makes dunking look all too easy, gliding with long strides before showing off his 38-inch vertical jump.

Whether in traffic over defenders, a windmill on the break, or flying in for a putback off of a teammate's miss, Kuminga has showcased just about every type of slam in his young career. Considering he can just about reach eye level with the rim, it would be no surprise if Kuminga could get creative with a wide variety of slams in the dunk contest.

An appearance in the event would give the Warriors forward a chance to stand out away from the team setting, where Golden State has more ambitious goals. As a reserve, Kuminga's on-court role isn't huge, though he could still be key in certain matchups with his ability to defend elite wings and finish at the rim.

4. Shaedon Sharpe

One of the greatest travesties in dunk contest history is Portland Trail Blazers rookie Sharpe reportedly committing to the event before backing out soon after. While the reason for his departure - focusing on his team's second-half playoff push - is quite admirable, it also rids us of potentially the best hypothetical dunker in the showcase since the aforementioned Gordon-LaVine duel of 2016.

Sharpe's dunking style is in the same vein as LaVine. The Canadian guard jumps with unfathomable effortlessness, making the saying "jumps out of a cannon" feel real - so much so that it's hard to pick one single dunk to highlight. Instead, we'll just show them all:

When it comes to his demeanor on the court, Sharpe is all business, and that would certainly apply to the Slam Dunk contest. Plus, we could bank on all-time dunking icon Vince Carter lending a helping hand. Not only has Blazers star Damian Lillard compared the two high-flyers, but the future Hall of Famer is a known fan of Sharpe's. As Carter aptly mentions, there are levels to this that few other than Sharpe can reach.

3. Zion Williamson

Dunking and Williamson are essentially synonymous at this point. Not only does the New Orleans Pelicans star have 223 dunks in 114 career games, but his athleticism combined with his unique, surprisingly nimble 6-foot-6, 284-pound frame makes him one of the most enjoyable dunkers to watch.

Who cares if the dunk above broke the player code; it would also break the dunk contest's 50-point rating scale. In fact, just search through Williamson's in-game slams, and a large majority of them would top anything this year's competitors will throw down in the event itself. His dunk contest performance in high school is better than what most NBAers could muster.

Unlike some stars who have completely shut down the idea of participating in the exhibition, Williamson has at least considered appearing in the past. However, the oft-injured star is currently sidelined for the second straight All-Star break, rendering the discussion all but closed for now. Still, one of the greatest dunkers of the generation has to be near the top of the list for a dream lineup for the Slam Dunk contest.

2. Anthony Edwards

There may not be a more physically gifted athlete in the NBA than Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Edwards. His blend of speed, power, and insane bounce means every time he takes the floor, there's an opportunity for a highlight slam. In fact, he may have one of the best in-game dunks of all time:

While it's unlikely that poor Yuta Watanabe would be a willing participant for a recreation in our hypothetical dunk contest, Edwards would still put on a show. Beyond his athleticism, "Ant-Man" is as unique a character as you can find in the league. Not only is he uber-confident and always cracking a smile, but he also features one of the best sidekicks in the game: his dog, Ant Jr.

Unfortunately, Edwards has stated he'll never take part in the dunking exhibition. However, he'd be a surefire contender if he ever changed his mind. Whether he's finding another hopeless defender to dunk over, using his elite leaping ability to pull off mid-air tricks, or getting his dog in the mix somehow, if there's anything we've learned from Edwards since he entered the league, we bet he'd be "A1 from Day 1."

1. Ja Morant

No NBA player puts on a show more than Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies' All-Star guard dazzles every night with outrageous poster slams. His explosiveness is reminiscent of a prime Derrick Rose, and Morant attacks even more ferociously to challenge shot-blockers at the rim.

Morant uses his absurd athleticism to unleash monster dunks nearly every game, unfortunately for the likes of Jakob Poeltl and Jalen Smith. He's arguably the No. 1 must-watch player on a nightly basis; you can't change the channel for fear you'll miss Morant's next unbelievable dunk.

As a two-time All-Star, Morant would be the biggest star to enter the Slam Dunk contest in quite some time if he ever chooses to. Recently, he's become somewhat polarizing due to his (and the Grizzlies') propensity for trash talk, but that would only add to the fun. Both Morant's fans and those who wish to see him fall flat would enjoy watching him battle with some of the league's best athletes to be crowned the top dunker.