The Slam Dunk Contest will crown a new champion for the first time since 2022 when All-Star Saturday Night returns to Los Angeles on Feb. 14. The NBA announced the full four-player field on Friday, ending weeks of speculation about who would step up to compete at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The lineup features a mix of rookies, veterans, and first-time All-Stars, all making their debuts in the competition.
Who Are the 4 Dunkers Who Will Take Part in the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest?
Mac McClung won’t be defending his title after becoming the first player to win three consecutive dunk contests in league history. The three-time champion opted out of this year’s event, opening the door for a fresh batch of dunkers to make their mark.
The 2026 Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend will include Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant, Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson, and Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) February 7, 2026
Without McClung’s presence, the contest shifts focus to a group that includes two rookies hoping to make an immediate impression and a Lakers center who recently went viral for a between-the-legs dunk against the Bulls.
The four participants are:
- Jaxson Hayes (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Carter Bryant (San Antonio Spurs)
- Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons)
- Jase Richardson (Orlando Magic)
Hayes, 25, is in his seventh NBA season and third with the Lakers, averaging 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game while serving as Deandre Ayton’s backup in JJ Redick’s rotation. The 7-footer went viral on Jan. 26 when he threw down an Eastbay dunk between his legs on a fastbreak against Chicago.
Bryant, the 14th overall pick in the 2025 draft out of Arizona, brings elite athleticism at 6-foot-6 with a 39.5-inch vertical measured at the draft combine. He is averaging 2.8 points in 8.6 minutes per game off the bench for San Antonio, but his bounce and creativity made him an attractive option for the league. The 20-year-old represents the second straight Spurs player to compete after guard Stephon Castle finished as runner-up last year.
Duren gives the contest its biggest name and most accomplished player. The 22-year-old earned his first All-Star selection as a reserve this season while averaging impressive numbers of 17.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game for a Pistons team that leads the Eastern Conference at 38-13.
Richardson carries the most interesting legacy into the competition as the son of two-time dunk contest champion Jason Richardson, who won back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003. The 6-foot-1 guard was selected 25th overall by Orlando in the 2025 draft and gets a chance to follow in his father’s footsteps. His presence adds a narrative element that could generate buzz if he advances to the finals.
Meanwhile, NBA fans eagerly await tonight’s Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes, Spurs rookie Carter Bryant, Pistons’ Jalen Duren, and Magic’s Jase Richardson will compete for the title, marking the first new champion since Mac McClung’s three-year reign ended.
