Suns’ Mat Ishbia eyes $1M prize for dunk, 3-point contest winners

Suns owner Mat Ishbia aims to enhance participation from star players in All-Star Weekend events when Phoenix hosts the showcase next year.

To encourage this, Ishbia has proposed a $1 million reward for the victors of the 2027 slam dunk and 3-point contests, with an additional $1 million going to charity for each event.

“Let’s bring in the best talent,” Ishbia stated Wednesday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” where he introduced the proposal. “Let’s make it spectacular.”

yet, this idea may face some hurdles.

NBA league officials and the players’ union informed ESPN that the proposed prize would not align with the current bonus framework.

Sources indicate that Ishbia did not discuss the offer with the league office beforehand, but he is eager to find a way to attract more stars to the events.

The last current All-Star to win the dunk contest was Blake Griffin back in 2011. This year’s event in Los Angeles was clinched by the Miami Heat’s Keshad Johnson. Damian Lillard, a nine-time All-Star, secured his third 3-point contest title in four years.