Inglewood, California.– Keshad Johnson became one of the big stories of All-Star Weekend by winning the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest of the National Basketball Association, held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The second-year forward of the Miami Heat surpassed the rookie of the San Antonio Spurs, Carter Bryant, in the final round, showing confidence, creativity and spectacle.
The Miami Heat’s forward, Keshad Johnson, was proclaimed champion of the Slam Dunk Contest after prevailing in a thrilling final against the rookie of the San Antonio Spurs, Carter Bryant.
Bryant opened the final round with a spectacular dunk: he threw the ball to the ground, caught it between his legs and finished with his right hand, receiving a perfect score (50.0) from the five judges. However, in his second attempt he failed twice and, although he managed to complete a simpler version in the third attempt, it was not enough to beat Johnson.
The Heat player sealed the victory with an impressive dunk, starting behind the judges’ table, taking off from the free throw line and culminating with a powerful one-handed windmill. His first attempt in the final, a move between the legs, had also received a high score that ended up making the difference.
Johnson received the trophy from Hall of Fame member Julius Erving and left a clear message: “To all the children who dream, keep believing. Anything can happen.”
Jaxson Hayes (Lakers) and Jase Richardson (Orlando) completed the bracket, who did not advance to the final round.
Lillard ties record in Three-Point Contest
In the Three-Point Contest, Damian Lillard once again proved that his legacy continues to grow, even when he is not playing the season due to injury. The point guard, currently linked to the Portland Trail Blazers, won his third title in the specialty, equaling the historical record of Larry Bird and Craig Hodges.
Lillard scored 30 points in the final round to beat Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, who finished with 27 after a promising start. Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel was third with 17 units.
“The goal is to keep adding to my legacy,” Lillard said after the victory.
Team Knicks wins the Shooting Stars
The day also included the return of the Shooting Stars, where Team Knicks — made up of Karl-Anthony Towns, Allan Houston, and Jalen Brunson — took home the trophy with 47 points, surpassing Team Cameron.
The evening featured the presence of multiple celebrities and musical performances that energized the audience, solidifying another memorable night within the NBA All-Star weekend.
