INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat won the Slam Dunk contest at NBA All-Star Saturday, overcoming perfect scores by San Antonio rookie Carter Bryant on his first dunk in the final round.

The NBA’s new World vs USA vs USA format gave birth to one of the most competitive All-Star Games in the last decade, right up until the undefeated, aging USA Stripes team ran out of gas in their

NBA All-Star Weekend has certainly lost much of its luster over the years and that became more apparent during Saturday night’s 2026 NBA Dunk Contest where Jase Richardson and other players competed.

Isaiah “J.R.” Rider and Derrick Jones Jr., separated by more than two decades, have given UNLV two NBA Slam Dunk Contest champions. Rider claimed the crown in 1994 with his iconic “East Bay Funk Dunk,” while Jones Jr. soared to victory in 2020 [1] [2].