How much money does the winner of the 2024 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest receive?

There is no doubt that one of the biggest attractions during the All Star weekend is the slam dunk contest. For years the image of legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or Shaquille O’Neal destroying the basket in one of these contests has loomed large in the minds of NBA fans. However, the event has been up and down over the last decade due to a lack of really big names. But this year it promises to put on a show as an All-Star returns to the court.

Jaylen Brown, Celtics point guard, will add spice to the night at Lucas Oil Stadium, giving more life to the slam dunk contest. However, he is not the favorite to win the award. That distinction belongs to Mac McLung of the NBA G League’s Osceola Magic. The contest takes on a different tone thanks to Brown and McLung’s participation.

How much will the winner get?

The prize money for the event in recent years has caused endless controversy. The low payouts have made the big names lose interest in the contest and stay away to a great extent. In 2021 the winner of the contest took home a measly $40,000, but as of 2022 that amount rose to a not insignificant $105,000 for the first place winner. Nate Robinson, triple champion of the contest and now a commentator, recently commented to Sportico that if the prize were a million dollars “all the stars would participate.”

The award payout is included in the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which stipulates the prize at just over $100,000. However, this is still not enough for the very best players in the league who, for the time being anyway, remain reluctant to participate despite the increase. If for some it is not enough, for rookies and G-League players it can be a great incentive for the season, with some even having bonuses with their teams in case they win the prize.