Dominique Pressures Josh Smith to Enter Dunk Contest

ATLANTA -- Atlanta forward Josh Smith is pondering coming out of retirement to go after another slam dunk crown. And he still has a high-flying legend planning to work him over.

Dominique Wilkins won NBA dunk titles with the Hawks in 1985 and 1990. He'll try to get Smith, the 2005 winner who hasn't competed since 2006, to head to Dallas for next month's event during All-Star Weekend.

"I'm going to talk to him,'' Wilkins said in an interview with FanHouse. "I would love to see him be in it. I think he would make a nice comeback and take the contest again by doing something a little different. ... I hope (the chances are) good (of Smith competing).''

So what are the chances Mr. Smith goes to Dallas?

"I don't know,'' Smith told FanHouse. "We'll have to see. Maybe. I'm not sure yet. ... I guess it has to be a feeling that I might have to have.''

Smith won in Denver in 2005, doing a tribute dunk to Wilkins while donning the Hall of Famer's jersey. Smith lost his bid to repeat in Houston in 2006, the champion being 5-foot-9 New York guard Nate Robinson, who also reigned last year.

Smith hasn't been back.

"I just haven't had the interest of doing it,'' said Smith, 24, who was known more for his dunking and being a raw athlete a half decade ago but is now regarded as a seasoned all-around player, averaging 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.24 blocks per game. "I'm kind of past that at this stage of my career.''

But there is something, in addition to possible persuasive arguments by Wilkins, that really could whet Smith's appetite to return. He wouldn't mind seeing Cleveland star LeBron James, who vowed last year to dunk but is now wavering, to make his contest debut.

"It might be enticing,'' Smith said.

If James were to dunk, Smith would require the King to show him what he's got.

"LeBron hasn't been in the dunk contest yet,'' Smith said. "So you really couldn't say that he would be the best dunker of the contest. He has to actually do it.''

If Smith were to dunk again, he believes he would win regardless of the opposition.

"I would say me because I'm confident in myself,'' Smith said. "But, if you ask everybody else, they'll probably say themselves, too.''

In addition to seeing Smith dunk, Wilkins also wouldn't mind James making his debut.

"I want to see all the best do it,'' Wilkins said. "That's when you find out the best. We want to find out the best. I would love to see (James) go.''

But don't expect Wilkins to work James over. As for Smith, that's another story.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson