This year's NBA All-Star Saturday night culminated in Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat securing the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest title. The event, held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, showcased four debutants vying for the coveted championship. Johnson edged out Carter Bryant of the San Antonio Spurs in a closely contested final round, marking a significant moment in his burgeoning NBA career.
Context of the Competition
NBA All-Star Saturday night traditionally features a series of skill-based competitions, with the Slam Dunk Contest and the 3-Point Contest being central attractions. The 2026 iteration saw a fresh slate of talent in the dunk contest, with Mac McClung, the three-time defending champion, not participating this year. The participants included Carter Bryant (San Antonio Spurs), Jaxson Hayes (Los Angeles Lakers), Keshad Johnson (Miami Heat), and Jase Richardson (Orlando Magic). All four were making their first appearance in the event. The competition followed a two-round format, with judges scoring each dunk. The top two scorers from the initial round advanced to the final.
Read More: NBA All-Star Weekend 2026 Ends in Los Angeles
Dunk Contest Performances
The Slam Dunk Contest featured a two-round structure where judges scored each attempt.
Round 1 Scores:
Carter Bryant: 45.6
Jase Richardson: 45.4
Keshad Johnson: 47.4
Jaxson Hayes: 44.6
Round 1 Advancement: Bryant and Johnson advanced to the final round.
In the final round, Keshad Johnson showcased a dynamic performance, earning scores of 49.6 and 47.8. His final round total was 97.4. Carter Bryant, who had achieved the highest score of the first round (50.0 for his initial dunk), scored 43.0 on his second final-round dunk. While Bryant's first dunk in the final received a high score, Johnson's consistent execution across both rounds secured him the victory.
Other Notable Saturday Night Events
Alongside the Slam Dunk Contest, other key events took place on NBA All-Star Saturday:
State Farm 3-Point Contest: Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks (previously associated with the Trail Blazers, as indicated by Article 3 and 8) claimed his third career 3-Point Contest title, defeating Devin Booker in the final round.
Kia Shooting Stars: Team Knicks, comprised of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and NBA Legend Allan Houston, emerged victorious in this revived event.
Expert Analysis and Reactions
The NBA All-Star Saturday night was described as a blend of established stars and emerging talent. Keshad Johnson's victory was highlighted as a significant achievement for a first-time participant, adding his name to the list of dunk contest champions. The format's ability to unearth new stars was a recurring theme in post-event commentary. The event also saw Damian Lillard make history with his third 3-Point Contest win, further cementing his legacy.
Conclusion and Implications
Keshad Johnson's win in the 2026 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest marks his first major individual accolade during the All-Star Weekend festivities. His performance, particularly in the final round, demonstrated the creativity and athleticism that the event aims to celebrate. While Carter Bryant achieved a perfect score in one of his dunks, Johnson's overall consistency secured the championship. The event, as a whole, served to highlight the league's up-and-coming talent alongside its established stars, contributing to the ongoing narrative of NBA All-Star Weekend.
Sources Used:
Article 1] The New York Times (NYT Athletic): [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/nba-all-star-saturday-2026-live-updates-slam-dunk-contest-3-point/WXblRs4M2eKb/ - Provides context on the unpredictability of the event and highlights Keshad Johnson's win.
Article 2] NBA.com: [https://www.nba.com/allstar/2026 - Lists the events and participants for the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, confirming Johnson's win.
Article 3] USA Today: [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/allstar/2026/02/14/nba-all-star-weekend-live-updates-dunk-contest-3point/88668316007/ - Confirms Keshad Johnson's win and details Damian Lillard's 3-point victory.
Article 4] NBA.com: [https://www.nba.com/news/live-updates-nba-all-star-saturday-2026 - Features social media posts confirming Keshad Johnson as the Slam Dunk Champion and Team Knicks winning Shooting Stars.
Article 6] Sporting News Canada: [https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/nba-dunk-contest-live-score-highlights-2026-all-star/85ab7228727c1d5a881ff96a - Discusses the format and highlights Keshad Johnson's early lead.
Article 7] NBA.com: [https://www.nba.com/news/2026-slam-dunk-contest - Provides detailed scores for the participants, confirming Johnson's victory over Bryant and noting their debut status.
Article 8] CBS Sports: [https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2026-nba-all-star-live-updates-results-dunk-contest-3-point-winner/live/ - Highlights Keshad Johnson's win and Damian Lillard's historic 3-point victory.
Article 9] Newsweek: [https://www.newsweek.com/how-to-watch-nba-slam-dunk-contest-2026-live-stream-all-star-saturday-night-tv-channel-11517068 - Details the participants and format of the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest.
Article 11] Associated Press (AP News): [https://apnews.com/article/nba-all-star-dunk-contest-ec62b646e2015d761ded3838fa990858 - Reports on Keshad Johnson's win, emphasizing his victory over Carter Bryant despite Bryant's high scores.
Article 12] Sports Illustrated: [https://www.si.com/nba/all-star-game/nba-all-star-saturday-live-scores-updates-from-three-point-contest-shooting-stars-slam-dunk - Summarizes the winners of Saturday's events, including Keshad Johnson in the Slam Dunk Contest.
Article 13] NBA.com: [https://www.nba.com/news/2026-nba-all-star-saturday-participants - Confirms Keshad Johnson as the winner of the AT&T Slam Dunk and lists participants.
Article 14] NBC Los Angeles: [https://www.nbclosangeles.com/nba/nba-all-star-dunk-3-point-contest-winner-2026/3847410/ - Provides final scores and confirms Keshad Johnson's path to victory against Carter Bryant.
Article 16] Olympics.com: [https://www.olympics.com/en/news/basketball-nba-all-star-2026-slam-dunk-contest-winners-complete-list - Offers historical context and lists previous winners of the Slam Dunk Contest.
