標籤: dunk

Brooklyn Nets rookie Ben Saraf continued his breakout on Wednesday. The 6-foot-6 point guard scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field with seven assists and four turnovers during a 109-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors. He delivered one of the Nets’ top highlights of the season during the final minutes of a tight contest.

With the Nets trailing 106–104 with 50 seconds remaining, Saraf drove and threw a poster dunk over Draymond Green to tie the game. The game started when he drove and made a go-ahead bucket and the game was tied with two minutes left.

Ben Sarraf drives and dunks over Draymond Green to tie the game. Glass. pic.twitter.com/uCj5oKrWij

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 26 March 2026

Ben Saraf drives, pump fakes Kristaps Porzingis in the paint, sends him flying, and scores a clutch layup to beat the shot clock with an amazing move

What a trick!
ice in his veins#netsworld

Ben Sharaf enters ringside, fraudulently sends Kritpas Porzingis to pluck oranges… pic.twitter.com/Bkx1jT8DqX

– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 26 March 2026

Trailing by one in the final seconds, Jordi Fernandez called the rookie’s number again. Saraf drove to left field but failed to advance on D’Anthony Melton as Brooklyn lost its ninth consecutive game.

“I wanted the ball in [Ben’s] Hand. I wanted him to touch the paint. I mean, seven assists tonight, 5 for 9 from the field. He was aggressive, and he had incredible dunks the game before. That was the thought process,” Fernandes said of the final play.

After a slow start to his rookie campaign, Saraf is finding his rhythm as he steps into an expanded role to finish out the season.

Ben Saraf continues to cheer during Nets’ tough loss to Warriors

The Israeli floor general has taken on increased ball-handling responsibilities amid injuries to Igor Demin and Michael Porter Jr. Over his last eight games, he is averaging 12.3 points on 46.2 percent shooting with 4.5 assists and 3.1 turnovers in 26.6 minutes per game.

Saraf’s on-ball advantage creation, the main selling point of his skill set entering the draft, has been on full display. The 19-year-old has averaged 14.9 drives per game in his last eight appearances, the most on the team by a wide margin, and is shooting 51.1 percent. He’s attempting 6.2 free throws per 100 possessions during the stretch and converting 85.7 percent.

“I feel like every time I’m in the right mindset of being aggressive at the rim and being in control, something good comes from it. So I just need to stick to that mindset,” the rookie said.

Saraf’s two made threes on Wednesday were a welcome sight for the net, as he was 13 of 67 (19.4 percent) entering the matchup. The No. 26 pick’s defensive improvement has impressed Brooklyn’s coaching staff. He had two steals on Wednesday as the Nets forced the Warriors into a season-high 26 turnovers.

Saraf played a key role in slowing down Jalen Brunson during Brooklyn’s near upset of the New York Knicks on Friday. The rookie guarded Brunson for long periods of time, as the Nets held the Knicks star to 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting.

Victor Wembanyama’s parents should be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize or something for introducing the San Antonio Spurs star to the world.

It feels like everyone has come together to cheer for Vembanyama. How can you not support a 7 foot 4 inch tall man who does something every night that defies logic?

On Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, Wembanyama had another stellar performance. After faking a three-pointer in the third quarter, he attacked the lane before nailing GG Jackson with a vicious dunk.

When Jackson saw Wembanyama go up he probably saw his life flashing before him.

The players on the Spurs bench were unsure how to react, leading to a farcical scene.

Wemby caught a dead body 💯pic.twitter.com/JffoFIeMOr

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 March 2026

Fans were ecstatic after Vembanyama’s latest soul-snatcher.

“Victor Vembanyama, oh Lord, have mercy,” said @AGLR_23.

“How will you stop it?” @jebediah010 asked.

@PoobFC said, “This is better than this year’s dunk contest, oh my god.”

@ReichelRadio said, “GG Jackson really thought he could block Victor Wembanyama.”

“Oh my god. The fact he paid her back so soon after getting semi-dunked is ridiculous. Wembies are a different breed,” @jackholland22 commented.

As mentioned, Jackson had attacked Vembanyama in the previous occupation. Of course, the two-time All-Star had to bring him back. Revenge was as sweet as creme brulee.

The 22-year-old Wembanyama recently said that he deserves to win as MVP for his overall impact. His nasty dunk alone over Jackson should earn him an award.

At the time of writing, the Spurs are leading the Grizzlies in the fourth quarter. Vembanyama had 19 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, three steals and seven blocks.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker continued his breakout on Monday as the Atlanta Hawks took a 71-46 lead at halftime against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 27-year-old guard led the offense for the Hawks with 22 points in the first half and shot 7 of 10 from the field before the break. The highlight captured his emphatic one-handed poster dunk and the stunned reaction that followed, reinforcing his growing influence at the end of Atlanta’s season. The Hawks have now gone 13-2 in their last 15 games this season.

“Nicali Alexander-Walker’s reaction to his powerful poster dunk”

Nichelle Alexander-Walker reacts to her powerful poster dunk 🔥 https://t.co/RtalfOafIj pic.twitter.com/pKBaY8wcJs

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

The clip shows Alexander-Walker under the basket moments after the finish, looking upward in visible disbelief after a violent slam on a defender. The reaction isn’t just a highlight – it’s a real-time emotional reaction that underlines the impact of the play and aligns directly with the “even that was shaken” moment.

The sequence occurred during Atlanta’s impressive home performance, in which the team led Memphis by nearly 30 points. While the sting looks different visually, there is significance in the broader context. Alexander-Walker has emerged as a major contributor, averaging over 20+ points per game since signing with the team in the NBA offseason, while also taking on increased offensive responsibility, including a 40-point outing in a win over the Orlando Magic earlier this month.

This highlight serves as both a viral moment and a continuation of that upward trajectory. It shows confidence, usage growth and momentum as Atlanta sits sixth in the Eastern Conference with 39 wins, tied with the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers, while pushing to climb up to fifth and try to make it 40 wins tonight.

Alexander-Walker continued that pace in the second half and scored 26 points with 7:19 remaining in the third quarter as Atlanta increased its lead over Memphis to 84–61.

Fans went wild after Jayson Tatum attempted a one-handed dunk during his season debut in the Boston Celtics’ matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.

Tatum finally made his long-awaited debut on March 6. This occurred approximately 10 months after tearing his Achilles in Game 4 of the 2025 East Semifinals against the New York Knicks.

Tatum missed the first 62 games of the season, leaving him with 20 games left to potentially participate. Making his debut against Dallas, he attempted a one-handed dunk in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Even though the rim rejected him, the fans in attendance were happy to see him use that burst of athleticism to improve his health.

TD Garden was almost destroyed after this dunk attempt by Jayson Tatum 👀🗣️

pic.twitter.com/mAajlxH7W

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 7 March 2026

The popularity of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest is declining, as the most famous players are refusing to compete. Not only are the most recognizable names going begging, even the best dunkers see no justification in putting themselves out there for the glory of being the league’s dunk king. The prestige that the competition once had is no longer there. But Phoenix Suns owner Matt Ishbia is on his way to doing something to try to change players’ minds.

In an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, the Suns owner pledged $2 million to revitalize the Slam Dunk Contest.

“My take on it is how can we bring great players to it. How can we make it a great event. How can we make the fan experience phenomenal. We’re going to make it an amazing event,” Ishbia said. “Let’s do this. We can do this. Tell me what we’re doing?”

McAfee said, “You will invest one million dollars for the winner. And then donate one million dollars to the charity of their choice.”

“Done. Let’s get the best people in there. Let’s make it amazing,” Ishbia responded.

Suns owner Matt Ishbia has one last attempt to revive the NBA Slam Dunk Contest

The 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest is considered by many to be one of the worst ever. Jackson Hayes did a warmup dunk in the actual contest. Jess Richardson risked his life. Carter Bryant tried, but he couldn’t keep up with Keshad Johnson and his bizarre dance moves.

Giving monetary incentives has certainly worked wonders in the past, although it is not at all clear whether this will give the best players a chance to compete again as they already have millions and crores in their bank accounts and will not be incentivized in any way.

Alpern Sengun delivered an incredible dunk highlight during Monday night’s clash between the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz.

Sengun is in his fifth year of his NBA career with the Rockets. He has become one of the best big men in the league, helping the Rockets return to relevance.

His offensive skills, especially his play-making, often come to light. What isn’t often highlighted is his dunking tendencies. That part of his game was on full display during Houston’s contest with Utah. The highlight came in the third quarter when Sengun and Kevin Durant used pick-and-roll action to go it ahead. Durant passed the ball back to his co-star, who took a euro step to get past his defender and then leapt into the air for a reverse dunk.

Alpern Sengun with Euro for the Reverse Slam 😮‍💨pic.twitter.com/0OzVBcpvl7

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 February 2026

Alpern Sengun, how the Rockets played against the Jazz

Successfully completing it was a big highlight for Alpern Sengun, helping the Rockets blow out the Jazz 125-105 at home.

Perimeter shooting and rebounding made the difference in this matchup. The Rockets won both categories after making 18 3-pointers and grabbing 53 rebounds. It wasn’t the same for the Jazz as they only converted eight triples and grabbed 36 rebounds.

Six players scored in double figures for Houston in the win, including Sengun. He finished with a stat line of 16 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and one steal on 7 of 12 shooting from the field. Jabari Smith Jr. made a splash with a performance of 31 points, nine rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Amen Thompson finished second with 20 points and seven rebounds, Kevin Durant had 18 points and 12 assists, Reed Shepard had 15 points and four assists, while Terri Eason provided 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Houston improved to a 35–21 record on the season and finished fourth in the Western Conference standings. They are one game up on the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves. However, they trail the Denver Nuggets on tiebreakers and the San Antonio Spurs by 5.5 games.

The Rockets will stay at home and await their next matchup. They will host the Sacramento Kings as tip-off takes place on February 25 at 8 PM ET.

In a potential NBA Finals matchup, the Detroit Pistons will face the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. At the time of publication, the Pistons were trailing by double digits midway through the fourth quarter. But Pistons big man Jalen Duren had the highlight of the night in the NBA by throwing down a poster dunk over Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

Bread-n-butter play for Pistons leads to a Duran poster at Wembley pic.twitter.com/r0FUiipnED

– Esfandiyar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) 24 February 2026

The play occurred early in the fourth quarter when Cade Cunningham took a hand-off from Jalen Duren, saw Duren hiding in the dunker spot and as he stepped up he hit him with a pass and threw a poster dunk on the unsuspecting Victor Wembanyama. This was an impressive feat considering Wembanyama’s length and size and his reputation as one of the best defensive players in the league.

The No. 13 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, this season has been a coming-out party of sorts for Duren. He was recently selected to the first All-Star appearance of his career, and his play has been a big reason why the Pistons have the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Coming into Monday’s game, Duren had appeared in 45 games for the Pistons, a little over 27 minutes per game. He averaged career-highs of 17.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists while splitting 63 percent shooting from the field and 73 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Pistons are looking to avoid breaking their five-match winning streak in the match against the Spurs. They are currently 42–13 and are on top of the Eastern Conference standings.

Tyrese Maxey had a stellar performance as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 135-108 at Target Center on Sunday, giving Anthony Edwards a frontcourt seat — unfortunately for him.

Maxey had a game-high 39 points on 16-of-28 shooting with three rebounds, eight assists and two steals. The 76ers ended their four-game losing streak and improved to 31–26.

They also snapped the Timberwolves’ three-game winning streak, which came to 35–23. Minnesota played without Rudy Gobert and Nazi Reed due to a one-game suspension and shoulder injury, respectively.

In the third quarter, Maxey gave the 76ers even more momentum after making strong dunks over Anthony Edwards and Jon Beringer.

After the game, Edwards acknowledged Maxi’s huge slam and gave his teammate the All-Star high praise.

“He’s unbelievable. He already knows he’s one of my favorite players to watch in the league. He even attacked me today. I really don’t like it. He played very well,” Edwards said in a video posted by Timberwolves reporter Andrew Dukowitz.

“I didn’t know he was going down. I just turned my head. I was thinking he was going to lay it up, then he went and punched it. It was like a little early dunk, too. I didn’t even get a chance to stop it. But yeah, that’s why we play the game. I’m not mad at it.”

Tyrese Maxi on Anthony Edwards and getting dunked on

“He’s an incredible guy, he already knows he’s one of my favorite players to watch in the league. He even dunked on me today, I don’t really like it (laughs)… I didn’t know he was going down, I just took my turn… pic.twitter.com/GbOlgtciHA

-Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) 23 February 2026

Ant-Man has always kept it real during interviews, and it’s nice to hear him give Maxi props. While Edwards, 24, is known for talking a lot on the floor, he is equally generous with compliments.

He finished with 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. He also had a game-high seven turnovers.

The Timberwolves will face the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.

Rob Dillingham shocked the home crowd with his mistake on the court in the Chicago Bulls’ matchup against the New York Knicks on Sunday night.

Dillingham is halfway through the second season of his NBA career. He initially represented the Minnesota Timberwolves before being traded to the Bulls midway through the 2025–26 campaign.

The youngster has earned more playing time, giving him the opportunity to showcase his skills in Chicago’s rotation. However, their inexperience began to show at times, which was certainly the case in the final minutes of the third quarter. He went on a fast break while attempting a dunk, but was surprisingly unsuccessful.

Rob Dillingham oh no 😭

Dillingham hits a wide-open dunk on a fast break.pic.twitter.com/t8aT4rnMh9

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

Rob Dillingham, how the Bulls played against the Knicks

It was a brutal miss for Rob Dillingham during the game. Additionally, the Bulls faltered in a close loss to the Knicks at home, resulting in the continuation of their losing streak.

Shot selection, ball movement and turnovers made the difference in this matchup. The Knicks won all three categories after making 45% of their total shots, dishing out 27 assists and limiting their turnovers to just 13. It wasn’t the same for the Bulls as they only converted 40% of their total chances, dished out 24 assists and turned the ball over 17 times.

Five players scored in double figures for Chicago in the loss. Matas Buzelis led the way with a stat line of 15 points and four rebounds. He shot 4 of 12 from the field, including 3 of 9 from beyond the arc and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line. Jalen Smith came next with 12 points and five rebounds, Isaac Okoro had 12 points and six rebounds, Guerschon Yabusele put up 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Patrick Williams added 10 points and eight assists.

Chicago fell to a 24–34 record on the season and finished 12th in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets while trailing the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets.

After nine consecutive losses, the Bulls will look to end this streak in their next match. They will be at home when they host the Hornets on February 24th at 8 PM ET.

After teaming up for Team Stars in the All-Star Game, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards are back on opposite sides.

Maxi made sure to remind Edwards about it on Sunday.

With the 76ers leading in the third quarter, Maxey attacked the rim and made a strong attack. left hand slam Edwards and center Jon Beringer, wowing the crowd at Target Center.

Tyrese Maxey beats multiple defenders! pic.twitter.com/y8aNCXkxEH

– NBA (@NBA) 23 February 2026

When Maxi moved into the lane he clearly had bad intentions.

While the 25-year-old guard is more known for his speed and explosiveness, he can definitely throw it down.

Edwards, who has quite a collection of posters, must appreciate Maxi’s fearless jam.

X fans certainly did.

“He bounced like gravity had forgotten him,” said @LinLyn99.

@shydyor said, “Maxi attacking multiple defenders? Bad.”

At this point, one could argue that Maxey is now the 76ers’ most important player, as Joel Embiid struggles with his health. Maxi has been performing consistently since his second year out.

The backcourt pairing of Maxey with VJ Edgecombe has given Philadelphia a more dynamic and high-octane attack than relying mostly on Embiid.

Maxi had 39 points, three rebounds, eight assists and two steals.

The San Antonio Spurs enter Saturday’s game against the Sacramento Kings looking to extend their seven-game winning streak. Early in the first quarter, Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was doing his best to throw down an incredible slam dunk after deceiving Kings big man Maxime Renaud.

This game occurred when the Spurs were already leading by double digits, 16–6. Victor Wembanyama caught the ball on the wing, dribbled into the paint, pretended to spin left, only to go right and throw down a slam dunk.

However, at the time of publication, the Kings had managed to mount a comeback midway through the second quarter and tie the game. Spurs will need more plays like Wembanyama’s to maintain their winning streak.

Wembanyama is coming off his second consecutive All-Star selection after being voted as a starter. As part of the league’s new format, he represented Team World, which lost both of its games in the round-robin tournament due to early exits. After the All-Star Game, Wembanyama was outspoken about his competitiveness and desire to win on All-Star Weekend.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama is already one of the top five players in the NBA. With a unique blend of size, speed, strength and skill, that’s why his ‘Alien’ nickname makes sense.

Heading into Saturday’s game, he had appeared in 41 games this season, averaging a little over 28 minutes per game. He averaged 24.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.7 assists while splitting 51 percent shooting from the field, 36.1 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 81.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The nice thing about watching the NBA is that you’ll always get a chance to see something you haven’t seen before. Even if that thing is completely unnecessary. Just ask New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby.

The Knicks host the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on Thursday in a potential preview of the conference finals. It was an up-and-down affair from the start, with both teams refusing to budge.

In the second quarter, Anunoby took it a little too literally. He went up for a dunk, but Cade Cunningham intercepted the ball, which stuck to the side of the rim for a classic, all-time favorite, soul-enriching wedgie.

The great commentator Ian Eagle, in all his gusto, proudly exclaimed: “Oh! A dunk wedgie! That doesn’t happen often!”

“It doesn’t happen often!”

Cade blocks a dunk attempt at the rim for a wedgie 🖐️ pic.twitter.com/AnRdLR3S1n

– NBA (@NBA) 20 February 2026

If that doesn’t get you excited, nothing will.

Of course, fans had to react to the unusual moment, with some insisting that Cunningham escaped the foul.

@PratikGroth said, “The veggie block is crazy. Cade is doing everything there.”

@B82Scottie said, “At least it’s not a high school game where the ref has to use a ladder or a broom.”

“Posting this obvious foul as a highlight is crazy,” @Nafta456 wrote.

@dj_immy_ echoed, “Show the replays closer. That’s a foul.”

“This game is so much fun,” @KOYIN_CENTRAL posted.

Anunoby’s wedgie was a bad omen, as the Knicks fell to the Pistons, 126–111. They went 35-21, including 21-8 at home.

Anunoby struggled with eight points on 3 of 13 shooting, including 1 of 8 from long range. He also had four blocks.

Jalen Brunson had 33 points, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals. They also had six turnovers.

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest has been in decline for some time, with most of the league’s best players refusing to compete in the dunking exhibition. It certainly feels like the NBA has had to beg some players to go out and compete, and this year, there were plenty of throwbacks — from Jaxon Hayes’ routine tomahawk dunk, to Jace Richardson’s hard fall, to San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant’s timeout, to reigning Dunk Contest champion Keshad Johnson’s eccentric dance moves.

But it looks like a rising star in Spurs rookie Dylan Harper could at least bring a little name recognition to the dunk contest. In an appearance on the Cousins ​​Podcast with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, Harper, who was accompanied by his father and three-time NBA champion Ron and his brother, current Boston Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr., was perhaps inspired to attend the 2027 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in Phoenix.

“I could have done every dunk you did in that contest,” Dylan told his father, referring to Ron’s appearances in the 1987 and 1989 dunk contests. “[But] “I’m not doing a no-dunk contest.”

“Don’t you think you’re good enough?” McGrady asked, provoking a reaction.

“No, I guess I don’t know that many tricks,” the Spurs guard replied. “[But] We can see like a year. We can see next year.

Can Spurs guard Dylan Harper at least outperform his father?

In 1987, Ron Harper, still with the Cleveland Cavaliers, self-lobed and tapped to the front rim for a reverse dunk before a reverse dunk for his second of two of the night. He finished fifth in the competition.

Two years later, he executed a one-handed, 360 Statue of Liberty jam (which he made on the second attempt) followed by a self-lob, a high toss off the ground, which he punctuated with a thrusting one-handed tomahawk.

The Spurs guard doesn’t have a high enough bar to clear given the dunks his father did.

The Milwaukee Bucks recently surprised some in the NBA world with their decision to retain Giannis Antetokounmpo until the NBA trade deadline. Antetokounmpo was in Los Angeles over the weekend for NBA All-Star Weekend festivities, but did not participate in the event as he is recovering from a calf injury.

At one point, Antetokounmpo shared a hilarious moment with his four-year-old son, making fun of him at San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s expense. in the process.

“So at 19 years old, you’re going to be drafted, and then you’re going to be rookie of the year, and then you’re going to be an All-Star, and then you’re going to dunk on Wembley,” Antetokounmpo said, according to X, formerly the NBA’s account on Twitter.

Giannis: “How old are you? 4?”

His son: “Four.”

Giannis: “So at 19 years old, you’re going to be drafted, and then you’re going to be rookie of the year, and then you’re going to be an All-Star, and then you’re going to dunk on Wembley.”

Son: 😁

Giannis: “Yes!”

(via @nba)pic.twitter.com/hQNtbWb2KD

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 17 February 2026

To do this, Wembanyama would have to have at least an 18-year NBA career, which is not unreasonable considering the historic start he had with the Spurs. However, Wembanyama has had very few dunks in his career so far, so the young Antetokounmpo will certainly have a lot of work to do to make up for it.

Meanwhile, as previously mentioned, Antetokounmpo largely remained linked to the Bucks after passing the trade deadline despite rumors, though it’s unclear if that means he’ll remain a member of the organization long-term, or if it was simply a delay until the summer, when other teams will be able to make a more attractive offer for the star.

Some have floated the idea of ​​the Bucks locking up Antetokounmpo for the remainder of the year in hopes of securing a high draft pick, which could either help entice him to stay or accelerate their rebuild if he leaves. The Bucks will have little choice between themselves and the New Orleans Pelicans.

In any case, the Bucks’ 2025-26 season is scheduled to resume on Friday evening with a road game in New Orleans.

The Orlando Magic are represented during All-Star Weekend, as rookie Jace Richardson participated in the dunk contest. Richardson looked good early in the first round, but it was his second dunk attempt that had many wanting to check his safety.

Richardson tried to catch the ball off the backboard, but too many things happened at once and it landed straight on his back. He stayed on the floor for a few seconds and then decided to dunk safely. He was not able to advance to the next round, and this led many to wonder what dunk he was trying to do.

Luckily for those folks, there was footage of Richardson practicing and landing the dunk. She posted it on her Instagram to show the world exactly what was going to happen.

Jess Richardson posted on Instagram what his failed dunk attempt looked like

(h/t @therealBeede) pic.twitter.com/U7wDY5oKhE

– FullCourtPass (@FullCourtPass) 15 February 2026

For her height, this would have been good, and there’s a good chance the judges would have given her a good score as well. Still, we’re stuck in Dunk’s “what if” moment, and it’s not certain whether he’ll be able to redeem himself for the Dunk Contest next year.

In the end, the Miami Heat’s Keyshawn Johnson won the dunk contest, and without a doubt, he had fun during the experience.

As for Richardson, he may have felt bad about how things turned out, but he’s not the first person to mess up during a dunk contest. All he can do is take it on the chin and keep pushing.

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest has always been a major part of All-Star Weekend. It’s an event we always looked forward to seeing as kids, and it’s arguably the most searched-for NBA content on YouTube, as fans always want to relive amazing moments from Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Zach LaVine, and Aaron Gordon, among many others. It wasn’t that long ago that this competition meant anything.

Nowadays, the dunk contest is seen as something that makes us all ask, “Do we need to do this?”

At this point the event seems forced upon us, especially when it has overstayed its welcome and simply lost its touch.

If the tremendous dunk contests of the past several years were any indication of where this All-Star event has come to an end, Saturday night (technically afternoon) in Inglewood was the icing on top of the cake.

What was memorable about this incident, other than Jess Richardson almost being seriously injured when he fell hard on the court after attempting a dunk off the edge of the backboard? Honestly, can anyone remember what has happened at this event during All-Star Weekend the past few years, other than Mac McClung, who is the only player who has played a total of 10 NBA games in his career?

Frankly, getting the league to try to get players to participate in this event has been almost like pulling teeth over the years. This is especially true because star players aren’t as sought after as they were with the 3-point contest or the All-Star Game.

Lack of stars ruined the event

It wasn’t long ago that stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell and others were competing in the dunk contest during All-Star Weekend. Although they were small at the time and the event has always catered to young players looking to make a name for themselves, it has suddenly become something that no one wants to participate in.

Jaylen Brown has been the only All-Star talent to participate in the event over the past several years. We see players and stars all the time talking about how the dunk contest should be changed, fixed, and saved, yet none of them are willing to step up and be the solution.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the problem here. The reason past dunk contests with Carter, Jordan, LaVine and Gordon have always been talked about is that they not only cared about putting on a show, but they were also willing to be the face of the event.

Nobody wants to do that these days except a G League player, which is why the talent in the dunk contest has been extremely low over the past few seasons.

This should in no way be taken as a disrespect to this year’s participants: Keshad Johnson, Carter Bryant, Jace Richardson and Jackson Hayes. These people did what they could, and should really be commended for making this program happen when so many others turned down the opportunity to participate.

Also, what have any of these players actually done that made people flock to this event and think it would be any different from the disappointments of almost every dunk contest over the years? Bryant and Richardson are rookies who have barely played, Hayes has been a backup big man for most of his career, and Johnson has played a total of 257 minutes in his career.

Unless they’re a fan of one of these four players’ teams or are a basketball buff like yours truly, the average NBA fan doesn’t know anything about this year’s participants. This is a big problem, and this issue has existed for years in relation to the Dunk Contest.

Needless to mention, Hayes criticized the dunk contest after the event on Saturday night, claiming he would rather be in Hawaii than Los Angeles for All-Star Weekend festivities. When a lesser-known player is saying this, there is a serious problem with spectacle.

After all, it’s not like this year’s event was all that memorable, as it was filled with a lot of dancing and a few dunks, most of which any player in the NBA could have done. There was nothing unique about this event, and it has almost turned into an event that fans are only attending and cheering for because they don’t want to let go of the past.

Keshad Johnson went under the backboard for this dunk.

pic.twitter.com/EHjdA3ADi5

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 15 February 2026

Even the young, rising stars, who can easily win the event and get a lot of endorsement deals and set the standards for the next generation, do not want to participate in the event. Prominent rookies and second-year players, who should see such an opportunity as an honor, are ignoring the event because it is not like it used to be.

VJ Edgecombe has had an All-Rookie and Rookie of the Year campaign this year with the Philadelphia 76ers, and fans would love to see him take a lead role in the dunk contest. But the Sixers rookie had other ideas and made it clear he would not be accepting an invitation to the event, giving no specific reason other than “I’m not doing that” and that he’s “cool.”

Perhaps the dunk contest has run its course, especially when every year it’s the same story of a disappointing event and star players pleading to save it. That’s exactly what happened in 2025, prompting Ja Morant and others to hint that this year’s event in Inglewood will be one to remember for years.

Ja Morant, Zach LaVine and even Giannis claimed on social media that they could save the event after McClung won for the third consecutive year. It takes that kind of energy to save the Dunk Contest, yet neither star participated in the event last weekend.

NBA All-Star Saturday has lost its touch as the dunk contest continues to dominate the headlines. But at the same time, that doesn’t mean All-Star Weekend as a whole needs a revamp.

All-Star Saturday still works… kind of

Fans and NBA media members alike have been very critical of All-Star Weekend over the years. More specifically, All-Star Saturday Night has become a major discussion topic, with some questioning whether it is even necessary anymore.

Just because the Dunk Contest has been disappointing and needs a change, doesn’t mean that every single fun event that basketball fans around the world enjoy watching should be abandoned.

The NBA 3-Point Contest is still a great spectacle, and one of the main reasons is that big names and elite 3-point shooting threats are willing to participate. Each of the past six winners of the event has been an All-Star talent, and Damian Lillard has now won the event in three of the last four seasons.

Less than 24 hours after the contest ended Saturday in Inglewood, Stephen Curry and Lillard made it clear they will be back in contention next season when the Phoenix Suns host All-Star Weekend.

For anyone who had any doubts about how serious Curry and Lillard are, these two are already teaming up to recruit Devin Booker, who said he would participate, and Klay Thompson, who Steph told Lillard via message that he would get them to sign.

With Lillard, Curry, Booker and Thompson, the 2027 3-Point Contest already has the best field in the event’s history, as all four stars have won the 3-point crown before. So, if the big names can come together to do this for one of the All-Star Saturday events, why can’t they do the same for the others?

This year’s All-Star Saturday Night, which took place at noon, started with a fun and thrilling 3-point contest that came down to Lillard, Booker and rookie sensation Kon Knueppel. Overall, it was a great event that no one had any problems with, especially considering that Lillard has been out the entire season recovering from an Achilles injury and he not only participated, but won the event.

The next order of business was Kia Shooting Stars, which replaced the Skills Challenge. Although it was not as entertaining as previous events, Shooting Stars brought a level of excitement with the addition of past greats such as Alan Houston and Ron Harper. Whenever the NBA can add former players and Hall of Fame talent, they should always take advantage of the opportunity.

But after these first two events, the Dunk Contest, which is always the headliner of All-Star Saturday Night, was a complete waste of time. The attendees hardly made any noise, and there was virtually no over-the-top reaction from current and former players present to watch the competition.

The dunk contest has lost its touch. Unless some of the league’s best dunkers and stars are willing to save the event, it’s time to join the skills challenge. In doing so, the NBA could create a new event that both fans and players have been demanding:

A 1-on-1 tournament.

Time for a new 1 vs 1 event?

One thing the NBA does really well is involving the players and letting their input help make decisions to better the league. Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA office have worked long and hard with the players union over the past few seasons to improve the All-Star Game, and we can certainly see improvements in terms of competitiveness on the court.

Both the NBA and the players deserve a lot of credit for making All-Star Weekend better than ever.

However, there’s still room for growth, and it all goes back to All-Star Saturday Night, with the Dunk Contest coming off as an event that overstayed its welcome. Down the road, it might make sense to bring back the dunk contest, but for now, it’s time to put this event next to the Skills Challenge.

As for what will replace the Dunk Contest and become the main event of All-Star Weekend, the NBA should look no further than the success women’s basketball has had with its unmatched 1-on-1 tournament. WNBA players have taken the event as seriously as their season over the years, and the event has generated a lot of interest among NBA talent.

At the 2025 All-Star Game, Kevin Durant spoke highly of the idea of ​​a 1-on-1 tournament and claimed that the league is full of amazing talent that could make the event stand out.

“I don’t think it’s going to be easy to predict who will come out on top,” Durant said on NBA TV. “I think there are a lot of guys that can come out here and put on a show in 1-on-1, so it will be a great addition to All-Star Weekend. We’ll see what happens.”

Durant talked about the idea of ​​a 1-on-1 tournament with Draymond Green and claimed he would play if the NBA added the event to All-Star Weekend.

This year, it was Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown who was the leading voice for a 1-on-1 tournament to be added to the All-Star calendar, as he fully supported the idea of ​​moving the event to All-Star Weekend.

“I’m really a big fan of one-on-one,” Brown said at All-Star media day. “There are some guys here this weekend that I would love to challenge. All of them. Luka (Doncic), Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), (Jalen) Brunson, Donovan (Mitchell). I would challenge all of those guys one by one. We can donate to any charity. Let’s set it up.”

With Durant and Brown publicly advocating for a 1-on-1 tournament over the past two All-Star Weekends, and many other stars likely feeling the same way, could we possibly see it debut in 2027? Maybe we could even see a 1-on-1 All-Star tournament replace the dunk contest for a while.

The NBA has some decisions to make regarding All-Star Weekend, and no decision is bigger than what happens with Saturday night’s activities, specifically the Dunk Contest. Unless they get stars and notable talent to participate, the event will continue to be disrespected and despised by players and fans alike.

With Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson winning the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest, there is still some discussion going on about the event and the changes that should be made to it. As people wonder what the future of the Slam Dunk Contest will look like, former player Kendrick Perkins has a request for the league.

Perkins didn’t hold back on his feelings toward the event on Saturday, saying the Slam Dunk Contest was a “disgrace” and “terrible.” He believes the addition of big-name players will help fix this, the three players he mentioned are Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant and Victor Wembanyama.

Perkins said, “That was an embarrassment. If there was one thing that was an embarrassing moment for All-Star Weekend, that dunk contest was terrible.” “And I wouldn’t say that … and I would sit here today and say the Dunk Contest doesn’t need to go anywhere, but it needs to be fixed. And the only way you fix it is you need bigger, top players, bigger names, Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant. Hey, I’d even like to see Wembey go seven-on-seven.”

“He was an embarrassment. … The only way you fix it is you need big-time players … Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant — I’d like to see Wembley in it, too.”

Kendrick Perkins wraps up this year’s dunk contest at NBA All-Star Weekend 😳pic.twitter.com/8912v95Mtf

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 16 February 2026

Kendrick Perkins compares the Slam Dunk Contest and the Three-Point Contest

While there were some viral moments on Saturday, such as Johnson winning the Slam Dunk Contest by helping rapper E-40 dunk, the excitement has been noticeably subdued. Perkins explained the difference between the event and the three-point contest, saying that stars compete there, with Damian Lillard winning his third title.

“The difference between the dunk contest and the three-point contest, the superstars and the stars, they participate in the three-point contest. We saw Dame Lillard… We need those big-name guys, Adam Silver and the NBA to do whatever they need to commit and get those guys to participate, damn it, get it done. It may cost a little salad, but make sure they make sure you get it done. Dunk Contest NBA and All-Star “It means a lot to the weekend.”

At any rate, it remains to be seen how the Slam Dunk Contest develops

Over the weekend, the NBA All-Star Saturday Night festivities bizarrely took place in the afternoon, with the Slam Dunk Contest being the major event of the day. Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson won the competition, although many fans were wondering why Chicago Bulls guard Mac McClung was not in the competition.

McClung has won the last three Slam Dunk Contests, and although he hasn’t been able to consistently carve out a spot for himself on an NBA team, he’s been with the Bulls for the past few weeks, which means he had every reason to be there in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Recently, according to Chaz NBA on YouTube, McClung showed off some of the dunks he would go with if he was selected to defend his title at the event.

Obviously, McClung still has every bit of the athleticism needed to win the event, but fans in Los Angeles had to be satisfied with bizarre dunks from Johnson, Jace Richardson, Jackson Hayes and Carter Bryant all night.

The dunk contest and the perceived decline in quality of the NBA All-Star weekend as a whole have come under some heavy criticism in recent years, with many fans lamenting the fact that big-name players often refuse to participate in the event these days.

Two years ago, Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown changed that by participating in the competition, but that didn’t stop more criticism from coming the NBA’s way.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the league will be fully hopeful that the All-Star Game players will make some kind of effort after years of playing a boring middle school recess game that is a stark contrast to the performances of the best basketball players on the planet.

Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 pm ET from Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES – For the first time since 2019-20, the Los Angeles Lakers have a participant for the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend in the form of big man Jackson Hayes. Dwight Howard competed in the championship for the last time in his lone season with the Lakers. Howard did not advance to the final round that season, with Derrick Jones Jr. taking home the hardware.

Jackson Hayes is the sixth Lakers player to be selected for the Slam Dunk Contest, but only Kobe Bryant has won the marquee event of NBA All-Star Saturday Night. Hayes is now attempting to become the second player in franchise history to bring home the trophy.

Over the past few seasons, the Slam Dunk Contest has come under increased scrutiny from fans, media, and players alike, and the contest has lost some of its luster compared to previous years. But for Hayes, he’s just trying to go out there and have fun, and try to bring excitement back to the competition.

“I want to bring as much fun and life back to this competition,” Hayes said during his media availability session. “Me and the guys were talking about it, we just want to make it a show. Just try to bring the dunk contest back in the best way possible, just go all out and have fun, and make it entertaining for people to watch.”

Hayes has wowed fans with some impressive dunks in games this season. He is good for Luka Doncic in almost every game. But the one that stood out so far this season was his Eastbay dunk, which he threw down during the Lakers’ win against the Chicago Bulls on January 26.

The inspiration for that dunk came when Hayes’ Lakers teammates made fun of him for throwing an ambiguous dunk on a fastbreak.

Hayes said, “At the beginning of the game my teammates were making fun of me. I had a fastbreak and I just did a simple two-handed dunk. Not hanging on the rim or anything, just dropping it in.” “Everyone was teasing me, they were all messing with me. I got a steal late in the game and I was just remembering the guys who were teasing me earlier and making fun of me, so I was like, ‘Okay I’ll do something.’

As far as Hayes’ production for the Lakers, he has been one of the team’s most consistent players this season with his energy and effort. He has appeared in 45 games, including seven starts, at a pace of just over 17 minutes per game. He is averaging 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 77.2 percent from the field.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game weekend took a trip down memory lane by way of Mac McClung. The veteran no longer participated in this year’s event as a member of the Chicago Bulls. Still, he made headlines — one that made Phoenix Suns fans think of Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire.

McClung helped release a series of online videos after the ’26 Dunk Contest was completed. The fourth, however, is reminiscent of the famous Nash-Stoudemire headbutt dunk.

four stings @macmcclung37 Would have done in this year’s dunk contest 🔥

Which one was your favourite? Text DUNK to 69097 to vote! pic.twitter.com/lrtNdcoFek

– Team VKTRY (@TeamVKTRY) 15 February 2026

Nash and Stoudemire had an epic soccer-like dunk in the 2005 NBA All-Star Game. Despite not attending the celebration in Inglewood, McClung has become the first person to actually recreate that dunk.

Why did Mac McClung skip the 2026 NBA All-Star Game Dunk Contest?

McClung likely entered the Intuit Dome as the heavy favorite to win again.

Except this year he opted to take a year off.

“I think we were just going back and forth, and then they were calling me, like ‘if I was doing this people weren’t going to want to do it,’ and I thought it would be best if I just sit out this year and let it be, no matter what,” McClung said.

Other words – McClung opted to allow this year’s edition to become more competitive without him. McClung’s presence may have made the participants feel like they had lost.

McClung is on a two-way deal with the Bulls, which he signed on February 5, the day of the NBA trade deadline. He may continue to bounce between the NBA and the G-League.

Meanwhile, Miami Heat’s Keshad Johnson won this year’s dunk title with the help of famous rapper E-40.

Orlando Magic rookie Jess Richardson gave fans a big scare at the Intuit Dome on Saturday night, but luckily, he’s leaving Los Angeles with nothing more than a bruised ego and a viral moment.

While attempting his second dunk of the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Richardson suffered a terrible fall, hitting the back of his head on the hardwood. Despite the scary scene, the young guard quickly revealed on social media that he was “crying laughing” at the replay.

I’ve been crying laughing for the last hour😭 https://t.co/3rxhHUFFNu

– Jase Richardson (@JaseRich4) 15 February 2026

Richardson, the son of two-time dunk champion Jason Richardson, entered the night looking to keep the family legacy alive. He opened the competition with a 45.4 after hitting a clean reverse slam on a bounce-up.

However, he needed a huge score in his second attempt to keep pace with Keshad Johnson and Carter Bryant. Richardson opted for a 360 tomahawk from the side of the backboard, but he misjudged the angle, causing it to hit the board before crashing hard onto the floor.

After a few tense moments, the former Michigan State star was able to get up under his own power. He even finished the round with a safe 360 ​​slam to record the score, although a 43.4 on his attempt effectively ended his night. Richardson finished last in the field of four with a total score of 88.8, behind Jackson Hayes of the Los Angeles Lakers.

While the Orlando Magic guard isn’t adding a trophy to his dad’s, his ability to find humor in a “backboard block” has already won over social media. With Miami Heat forward Keishad Johnson finally taking home the crown, Richardson is just happy to be healthy and heading back to Orlando with a story.

When the San Antonio Spurs selected Carter Bryant with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the consensus was that he was a raw prospect who would need at least a few years to develop before becoming a reliable contributor. The organization took the risk, in part, because of his attractive athletic talent. This feature was put on display during the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Bryant stunned fans inside the Los Angeles Clippers’ Intuit Dome on All-Star Saturday and scored 50 across the board after an East Bay slam in the second period. The 20-year-old forward fell short in the finals against Miami Heat’s Keshad Johnson, but still put in a great performance in his native California.

Carter Bryant all 50!

Carter Bryant went high for this dunk

pic.twitter.com/BJ6aNtTBnS

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 15 February 2026

Bryant jumped off the floor and performed what might have been the best dunk of the night. Unfortunately, he missed a sure chance of winning the competition and was forced to settle for second place. The former Arizona talent can still take great pride in posting a perfect score.

Bryant still has a lot to learn, but he’s already making remarkable progress in his first NBA season. The 2024 McDonald’s All-American is enjoying a promising February, averaging 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 44.0 percent from 3-point range in just 16.7 minutes per contest. One can only learn a lot from a six-game sample size, but the young player is quickly earning the trust of his teammates and the coaching staff.

He should also earn more fans after his viral jam. Keep an eye on Carter Bryant.

LOS ANGELES – When the smoke cleared and the dust settled, Los Angeles Lakers big man Jackson Hayes failed to advance to the final round of the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend. After a combined score of 91.8 in the first round, Hayes was defeated by Miami Heat wing Keshad Johnson and San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant for the final dunk-off.

After the end of the Slam Dunk Contest, Jackson Hayes talked about whether or not he would participate in the Slam Dunk Contest again. As the oldest player in this year’s event, he hasn’t completely closed the door on another appearance, although that seems highly unlikely.

Hayes said, “This is my seventh year in the NBA, I’ll be in my eighth next year. You can see these young guys have more legs. I went up for my first dunk, I felt it right in my knees.” “I don’t think so. It was fun to do it and say I did it, but I don’t know. I’m not going to turn down the dunk contest completely, but probably not. I’d rather be in Hawaii right now.”

Each participant received two dunk attempts in the first round, with Hayes’ second attempt looking like it was a better option for him to advance. For his first dunk, he tried to take off from the free-throw line, but it appears he made a jump mistake and ended up flying just inside the line, which was essentially just a fastbreak dunk.

His second dunk really had people out of their seats when he threw the ball in front of him, tossed it in the air from one hand to the other, tossed it back to the other hand between his legs and dunked.

Jackson Hayes taps it towards him and goes between the legs for his second slam @To slam dunk 😤

Tap to watch: https://t.co/BpnjnxQ8vC pic.twitter.com/pBALENoNJ0

– NBA (@NBA) 15 February 2026

Hayes became the sixth Lakers player to participate in the Dunk Contest, following Michael Cooper, Antonio Harvey, Kobe Bryant, Shannon Brown and Dwight Howard, respectively. Bryant is the only Laker to win the Dunk Contest.

Hayes is really known for his in-game dunks this season, catching a lob from Luka Doncic and throwing down an impressive Eastbay dunk during the Lakers’ win against the Chicago Bulls on January 26.

This is Hayes’ third season with the Lakers after re-signing a one-year contract last offseason. He originally signed with the Lakers as a free agent in 2023 after four seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans.

This year, Hayes has appeared in 45 games, including seven starts, averaging a little over 17 minutes per game. He is averaging 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals while shooting 77.2 percent from the field.

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest has ended, and Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson is this year’s winner. However, Orlando Magic guard Jace Richardson had a scary moment as he was completely knocked unconscious during one of his attempts.

Richardson, who is 20, ran along the baseline to attempt his dunk. However, the ball got stuck on the backboard, causing Richardson to fall and land directly on his back. Fortunately, he did not appear to suffer any related injuries, and he was able to get back on his feet after about three seconds.

Jace Richardson’s scary fall during the slam dunk contest 😱😱😳
pic.twitter.com/3aqWDBqAyS

– HoopVillain🔥 (@HoopVillain_) 15 February 2026

Richardson was one of the first contestants to be eliminated from the dunk contest. Jackson Hayes of the Los Angeles Lakers was the other contestant eliminated early. The Magic rookie at least got a chance to show off his athletic talents on Saturday, even if he didn’t win the dunk contest.

After being selected 25th overall by Orlando, Jace Richardson has had a great first year so far in the NBA. He plays an average of 12.1 minutes per game in a reserve role for the club. During 39 appearances off the bench, Richardson averaged 5.1 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He’s also shooting 47.1% from the field and 37.3% from beyond the three-point line.

The Dunk Contest was the only competition Richardson competed in during NBA All-Star Weekend. He will now enjoy the remainder of the break before the Magic are back in action on Thursday, February 19, giving him approximately five days of rest. Orlando will face the Sacramento Kings in that contest.