Jaxson Hayes of the Lakers is Set to Join the Slam Dunk Contest

Jaxson Hayes Among Contestants for NBA Slam Dunk Championship in Los Angeles

A new slam dunk champion will emerge during this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, with Lakers center Jaxson Hayes poised to make his mark. The event is set to take place in February 2026, but notable former champion Mac McClung will not be competing, having indicated last year that his previous participation would likely be his last.

Hayes will be joined in the contest by San Antonio’s Carter Bryant, Miami’s Keshad Johnson, and Orlando’s Jase Richardson. The slam dunk competition will follow a two-round format, with judges scoring each dunk. In the initial round, each of the four contestants will perform two dunks, and the top two scorers will advance to the finals. The finalists will then execute two additional dunks, with the overall score determining the champion.

Contestants will have 90 seconds to complete each dunk, with a maximum of three attempts allowed. If a dunk is not completed within the time limit, they can take one final shot.

For the first time since 2015, the shooting stars event will make a return to the All-Star Weekend, replacing the skills competition, which has been paused for at least this year. The shooting stars challenge will feature teams of three players each.

Allan Houston, a previous shooting stars champion, will return for Team Knicks, alongside current players Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Other participating teams include Team Harper, comprised of Ron Harper Sr. and his sons, San Antonio’s Dylan Harper and Boston’s Ron Harper Jr.; Team All-Star with Richard Hamilton, Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren; and Team Cameron, showcasing Corey Maggette, Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel, and Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson.

The last three editions of the shooting stars event were won by Chris Bosh, Swin Cash, and Dominique Wilkins. This year, teams will compete in a two-round format, with the top two squads advancing after the first round. Each team will have 70 seconds to score points by attempting shots from seven designated locations around the court, with all three players rotating through each spot in a set order.