Who Is In the NBA All-Star Dunk Contest? 2026 Lineup, Time, How to Watch

If you’re searching who is in the 2026 NBA All-Star Dunk Contest, the NBA’s official field is set: Carter Bryant (Spurs), Jaxson Hayes (Lakers), Keshad Johnson (Heat), and Jase Richardson (Magic).

The event is part of NBA All-Star Saturday in Los Angeles and will be held at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. It’s slated as the third event of the night, with All-Star Saturday tipping at 5 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

---

Full 2026 Dunk Contest lineup

Here are the four participants the NBA announced for the 2026 AT&T Slam Dunk:

The NBA also noted a key storyline for searchers: Jase Richardson is the son of two-time dunk champion Jason Richardson (2002 and 2003).

---

Quick player-by-player context

Carter Bryant (Spurs): Bryant is a rookie and was selected 14th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, per the NBA’s release. He also got an All-Star weekend boost on Friday, when he was named a Rising Stars replacement, according to Reuters.

Jaxson Hayes (Lakers): Hayes is the “veteran” name in this group. Hayes was drafted No. 8 overall in 2019 and is in his seventh NBA season (third with the Lakers). This season, he’s putting up 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game while shooting an efficient 77.2% from the field.

Keshad Johnson (Heat): Johnson went undrafted in 2024 and signed a two-way deal with Miami that summer. He’s currently listed as being in his first NBA season, and his 2025-26 averages sit at 3.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.1 assists per game.

Jase Richardson (Magic): Richardson was selected No. 25 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft and is in his first NBA season in Orlando. His 2025-26 per-game line: 5.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, with 47.1% shooting.

---

Format: how the 2026 dunk contest works

The NBA is using a straightforward two-round format:

1. Round 1: All four players attempt two dunks. Judges score each attempt, and the combined score decides the top two who advance.

2. Final round: The two finalists each attempt two more dunks. The higher combined score wins the trophy.

That matters because it puts a premium on two clean makes early, a single miss or “redo” can put a contestant in a hole before the finals even begin.

Add one more thing to know before Saturday: the dunk contest is usually won on execution and pacing, not just difficulty. Because judges are scoring each attempt, a clean first make matters, especially in Round 1, when the goal is simply to finish top-two and reach the final. Contestants typically get a short runway to reset between attempts, and players often use props or helpers to boost creativity (think passers, bounce assists, or themed setups). That’s where strategy comes in: some dunkers “bank” a reliable dunk early, then save the riskier, headline dunk for the final two attempts. If there’s a tie after the final round, the NBA can go to a tiebreaker based on judges’ scoring.

---

How to watch (TV + streaming)

Per the NBA, All-Star Saturday (including the dunk contest) will air on NBC and stream on Peacock, with the show starting at 5 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. MT.

Because the dunk contest is listed as the third event, you may want to tune in early to avoid missing the opening round.

Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson