Miami Heat's Keshad Johnson Claims NBA Slam Dunk Title at 2026 All-Star Weekend
Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson emerged victorious in the NBA Slam Dunk contest on Saturday, February 14, 2026, during the league's All-Star Weekend festivities held at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Johnson's impressive performance overcame perfect scores delivered by San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant, securing the championship trophy in a memorable showdown.
A Contest of High-Flying Athleticism
The competition unfolded as part of NBA All-Star Saturday, featuring a four-man field that included Jaxson Hayes of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jase Richardson of the Orlando Magic alongside Johnson and Bryant. This marked the fifth consecutive year the contest maintained this format, though Hayes and Richardson did not advance to the final round.
Johnson's winning routine began dramatically behind the judges' table, where he took off from the free throw line to execute a one-handed windmill jam that immediately captured attention. His first dunk earned slightly higher scores for a sophisticated between-the-legs maneuver that showcased both creativity and athletic precision.
Bryant's Perfect Score and Subsequent Struggles
Carter Bryant opened the final round with what appeared to be a championship-caliber performance. The Spurs rookie bounced the ball in front of himself, caught it between his legs mid-air, and dunked with his right hand—a move that earned perfect 50.00 marks from all five judges on the panel. This represented the highest single-dunk score of the entire competition.
However, Bryant encountered difficulties during his second attempt, missing his first two tries and pausing to consult with basketball legend Vince Carter. When he resumed, Bryant attempted a reverse dunk off the glass, but the ball rolled around the rim before ultimately falling out. His third dunk proved successful but lacked the flashiness needed to surpass Johnson's consistent excellence.
Judges and Presentation
The contest was judged by an esteemed panel of basketball greats including Hall of Famers Julius Erving and Dominique Wilkins, along with Dwight Howard, Corey Maggette, and Brent Barry. Erving personally presented the championship trophy to Johnson in a symbolic passing of the torch between generations of high-flyers.
Following his victory, Johnson shared inspirational words with aspiring athletes everywhere. "All the kids out there, keep dreaming, anything can happen," he stated, according to The Associated Press. "I just came out here and showed people."
Additional All-Star Saturday Events
While Johnson claimed dunking supremacy, other athletes excelled in parallel competitions during the same evening. Damian Lillard secured his third three-point contest championship, tying the historical record shared by Larry Bird and Craig Hodges for most titles in the event's history. Lillard scored 30 points in the final round to edge out Devin Booker, who finished with 27 points despite an early hot streak.
In the Shooting Stars competition, Team Knicks—composed of Karl-Anthony Towns, Allan Houston, and Jalen Brunson—claimed victory with 47 points after rallying in the final seconds to defeat Team Cameron. The event required teams to score points while rotating through seven designated shooting locations around the court within a 70-second time limit.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend thus delivered another chapter of basketball excellence, with Keshad Johnson's dunk championship serving as a highlight of athletic achievement and competitive spirit.
