The 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest was an exciting finale to NBA All-Star Saturday Night, held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Feb. 14.
It was a dunk show featuring San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson, and Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson.
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A second-year forward out of Arizona, Johnson was crowned champion of the slam dunk Contest. An Oakland native, Johnson represented for the Bay Area from his introduction to every dunk, which was followed by a little dance.
“First and foremost, thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for allowing me to be here. Everybody’s journey is different,” Johnson said. “So all the kids out there, keep dreaming. Have crazy faith. Crazy faith, not just regular faith. Have crazy faith. Anything can happen.”
Johnson danced his way to victory with showstopping dunks, showing an array of moves and love to California along the way.
“I just came out here and showed the people who Showtime was. We had all the legends out. I’m from California, brought my own Bay Area swag to L.A. We’re all one. It’s for the whole West Coast right here, baby,” Johnson said. “In the Bay, we do it a little different, you know, we got our own little swag. So I had to bring the legend E-40 out, you know? And do my little thizz, do my little smeeze, put on, you know. And I’m also taking this back to the 305, in Miami too.”
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Johnson said it’s a blessing to be in his shoes.
“I would just say like the blessing that God give me, it’s abundant,” he said. “They keep flooding, they keep flooding, and it’s really beyond, beyond my comprehension. So that’s why I just have to take a second and really thank Him. I’m speechless right now. It’s the Lord. I give it all credit to the Lord, all glory to God.”
Check out the highlights from the 2026 slam dunk contest, including all dunks and scores from the competition.
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2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest highlights
The dunk competition order in the first round went as followed:
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Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs
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Jase Richardson, Orlando Magic
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Keshad Johnson, Miami Heat
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Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers
Check out some of the dunks and highlights from Saturday’s slam dunk showcase:
NBA Slam Dunk Contest: First Round
Spurs guard and Southern California-native Carter Bryant got things going as he walked on to the floor with “Still Dre” by Dr. Dre playing in the background.
His first dunk was an ode to Vince Carter, as Bryant pulled out a 360-degree windmill jam.
He scored a 45.6 on the first dunk.
Jase Richardson, who is the son of 2002 and 2003 NBA dunk contest winner Jason Richardson, opened with a tribute to his pops.
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He served up a self-toss, double-pump reverse windmill jam. He scored a 45.4 on his first attempt.
Take a look at his dad’s dunk over 20 years ago.
Keshad Johnson represented for the Bay Area, the Oakland native bringing out legendary rapper E-40, as they were giggin’ and going dumb to 40 Water’s “Tell Me When To Go.”
For his dunk choice, Johnson brought out a rock-the-cradle, Dr. J-esque type dunk as he leaped over E-40, while displaying the hand over the head, Karl “Mailman” Malone style.
To cap his dunk, he gave the fans his best dougie. He scored a 47.4 for the dunk, not the dance.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes seemed a little nervous and had a less-than-impressive first dunk, but he was saved by Dwight Howard, a judge, who gave a generous 47 score to keep the fellow big man in contention.
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Hayes scored a 44.6 overall.
Hayes scored the lowest on his first dunk so he was the first to land a second dunk. For his second choice, he decided to spice things up a bit.
The Lakers’ seventh-year center went with a self-toss, tap to himself before going for an East Bay, between-the-legs funk dunk. He was awarded a 47.2 on the second dunk.
Richardson couldn’t get a clean toss and couldn’t get a great look for a slam. He even fell hard on his back and was down for a split second.
He sprang back up and completed a 360-degree dunk, which earned him a 43.4 for the second dunk.
Bryant, on his second dunk, gave the crowd a self-toss, windmill jam where he nearly saw inside of the rim he was so high. He earned a 49.2 on the dunk. He advanced to the final round.
Johnson, who earned the nickname “Flight 305,” scored a 45.4 on his second dunk, which was a reverse cradle, two-hand slam. He advanced to the final round with the jam.
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Johnson “squabbled up” after the dunk, this dance being more LA-inspired, fitting for the site of All-Star weekend.
Final Round: Carter Bryant vs. Keshad Johnson
Johnson opened the final round with a self-toss, between-the-legs reverse dunk. He scored a nearly-perfect, 49.6 score for his first dunk of the final round.
His dance afterwards, just a little smeeze dance, another ode to the Bay Area.
Bryant, in the final round, answered Johnson’s opening dunk with a jaw-dropping jam of his own. Bryant brought out the self-toss, between-the-legs at the front of the rim.
He was given a perfect 50 for the action.
Johnson, for his final dunk attempt, responded with a one-handed windmill from just inside the free throw line. He got a 47.8 score which put him in position to secure the win.
It was Bryant’s contest to win but multiple misses in the final round as time ticked down led to his demise. He attempted a between-the-legs self-toss, 180-degree reverse two-hand jam. He never made it.
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He wouldn’t go without a jam, finishing with a 360-degree slam as the dunk clock wound down. He earned a 43 for it.
Unaware of the rules, Bryant could’ve allowed time to expire and chose one dunk to attempt.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA dunk contest highlights as Keshad Johnson wins
