標籤: Jess

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.

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.