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.
#Jess #Richardson #stop #crying #laughing #failing #dunk #contest
