The one-on-one shootout between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu was a success due to their star power and the novelty of the NBA vs. WNBA competition. Unlike the Dunk Contest, which has grown stale with repeated concepts, their matchup brought excitement and a fresh narrative to All-Star Weekend.
New ideas, like the Elam Ending and All-Star Draft, have generated interest in the past, but the Dunk Contest has struggled to innovate after nearly 50 years. Proposals for dunk choreographers, mixing professional dunkers with NBA players, or hosting the event less frequently may be needed to revive the competition.