Keshad Johnson wins 2026 AT&T Slam Dunk at NBA All‑Star Weekend
On Saturday, Feb. 15, 2026 (ET), Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson claimed the AT& T Slam Dunk title at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, edging San Antonio’s Carter Bryant in a final round that produced a perfect 50 and a decisive display of consistency. The win gives Johnson a spotlight moment after a path to the NBA that included going undrafted in 2024 and frequent stints in the G‑League.
Final round drama: perfect 50 from Bryant, Johnson’s steady finishing
The championship boiled down to a two‑dunk final between Johnson and Bryant. Bryant opened the final with a between‑the‑legs dunk that earned a rare perfect 50 from the judges, putting immediate pressure on Johnson. Bryant then attempted a high‑risk reverse slam off his own backboard pass but could not land the finish he needed on his final try, settling for a 360 that produced a 43 and left his final tally short.
Johnson absorbed the moment and answered with two polished attempts. His run included a between‑the‑legs reverse taken from underneath the basket and a running windmill that started inside the key. Those efforts combined for a final score of 97. 4, good enough to overtake Bryant’s 93. 0 and secure the trophy. Where Bryant flashed a single spectacular highlight, Johnson’s back‑to‑back strong attempts underscored a consistency that ultimately won out.
Contest highlights, scares and context
The event featured four competitors making their dunk‑contest debuts: Johnson, Bryant, Orlando’s Jase Richardson and Los Angeles’ Jaxson Hayes. Richardson — the son of two‑time dunk champion Jason Richardson — survived a frightening fall in the second round when a failed attempt left him hitting his head on the court. He was cleared afterward and did not advance. Hayes, the most established name in the group as a backup center, was eliminated early as well.
Judges at the contest included several past dunk champions and basketball luminaries, and the crowd reaction amplified each highlight. Bryant’s opening final dunk drew the loudest immediate ovation of the night, but Johnson’s steady execution on successive tries carried the evening. The event served as the capstone of All‑Star Saturday at the venue and offered a platform for emerging players to showcase their athleticism and creativity.
What the victory means for Johnson and the Heat
For Johnson, the win is both a personal milestone and a visibility boost. Undrafted in 2024, he has split time between the Heat and the G‑League and had been recalled recently. This season he has seen action in 21 games and logged limited minutes off the bench; his profiles list roughly 7. 6 minutes per game and a scoring line around 3. 1 points in those appearances. The dunk title gives Johnson a national moment and a new entry on the Heat’s list of dunk contest champions.
Beyond the trophy, the performance could raise Johnson’s profile within Miami’s rotation conversations and among fans and advertisers looking for highlight‑friendly talent. For Bryant, the contest validated his athletic upside despite the loss: a perfect 50 in the final and a dominant first round underlined why the Spurs made him a lottery pick. The night also served as a reminder of the physical risks of the event after Richardson’s fall, and of the unpredictability that makes the Slam Dunk Contest a staple of All‑Star Weekend.
All events at All‑Star Saturday concluded at the Intuit Dome, leaving the dunk contest as one of the evening’s most talked‑about moments and Keshad Johnson as the newest name etched into the event’s history.
