The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend is here, and one of the major events that has captivated fans over the years is the Slam Dunk Contest.
Over the years, the marquee contest has featured some of the top names in the NBA, including Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, Toronto Raptors icon Vince Carter, and more recently, the likes of Zach LaVine and Mac McClung.
This time, there are new names in the mix, and they will vie for the title of the best dunker.
2026 NBA Slam Dunk Competition: Who Is Carter Bryant?
Lacing up to showcase his athleticism and skills in the 2026 Slam Dunk competition is San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant. Selected 14th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, Bryant is an Arizona product known for being an explosive forward.
This season has seen him record seven dunks, and per Yahoo! Sports, he has a 39.5-inch wingspan. In his 43 games this season, Bryant has averaged 3.4 points and 2.0 rebounds in just over 9.0 minutes per game.
The California native has been known as an impressive dunker, with his recent slam coming against the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant grew up idolizing Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, but they are not related.
Other names in the competition include Jase Richardson (Orlando Magic), Keshad Johnson (Miami Heat), and Jaxson Hayes (Los Angeles Lakers). McClung notably made headlines recently for his decision not to participate in this year’s edition after winning the last three Slam Dunk Contests.
In related news, Bryant was one of the standout performers during the Spurs’ solid 116-106 win against defending champions OKC Thunder on Thursday. Per the San Antonio Express News, Bryant weighed in on his performance and what he’d learned from his mistakes.
“I was so fixated on being perfect because I’m a perfectionist and I want to be great,” the Arizona alum said. “You have to make a lot of mistakes. You’re going to have to go through a lot of hard things.
“You’re going to have to go through games where you thought you played absolutely terrible. And once you kind of get that out of your mind, it just is what it is. And I think that’s kind of just me working and then also the coaching staff believing in me and telling me, ‘Trust your work, understand what you put into the game.'”
MORE: 2026 NBA Rising Stars Rosters: Featuring Cooper Flagg, Stephon Castle, and More
Now it remains to be seen if he can better his competitors in the competition. The 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest is the third event of All-Star Saturday night, taking place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The weekend festivities begin at 5 p.m. ET.
