keshad johnson soars to victory in 2026 AT&T Slam Dunk
Feb. 15, 2026 (ET) — Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson won the 2026 AT& T Slam Dunk contest at Intuit Dome, beating San Antonio’s Carter Bryant in a final that highlighted consistency over a single spectacular mark. Johnson’s pair of composed, crowd-pleasing dunks secured the trophy after Bryant opened the final with the contest’s lone perfect 50.
Final showdown: steadiness topples a perfect opener
The championship round boiled down to two attempts for each player. Bryant electrified the arena with a between-the-legs dunk on his first try, earning perfect scores from the judges and setting a high bar. He needed a strong follow-up and instead faltered on his final, planned reverse slam off his own backboard pass, ultimately settling for a 43 on his last attempt — well short of what was required to defend his lead.
Johnson answered with two reliable, high-flying finishes. Early in the final he produced a between-the-legs lob that drew gasps from the crowd, then closed with a one-handed running windmill from inside the key that combined lift and flair. Those solid showings were enough to outpoint Bryant and hand Johnson the win.
Contest arc and dramatic moments
The night’s field included Jaxson Hayes and Orlando rookie Jase Richardson. Hayes was eliminated in the opening round, while Richardson endured a scary fall in the second round after hitting his head on the court following a missed attempt; he recovered and completed a third try but was knocked out of contention. The event featured a mix of veteran polish and rookie bravado, and judges rewarded both execution and creativity across the board.
Johnson’s path to the final included a memorable dunk over Bay Area rap legend E-40, where he posed mid-air with one hand behind his head. That effort earned strong marks and helped seal his spot alongside Bryant, whose first-round windmill and 360 attempts carried him into the last stage of the competition.
What the win means for Johnson and the Heat
For Johnson, the victory provides a sharp boost in visibility. Undrafted in 2024, he worked his way from a two-way deal to a standard contract and had recently been recalled from the G-League. This season he has appeared in 21 games for the Heat, and the dunk contest crown can translate into a higher profile and marketing momentum.
Johnson embraced the moment afterward, saying the West Coast crowd felt like home and that he tried to control his dream once he stepped into it. The nickname "Showtime" — a nod to his pregame routine that features live dunking — seemed apt as he danced and delighted the audience throughout the night.
The win also adds to the franchise’s history in the event, marking another dunk contest champion while spotlighting a player whose on-court minutes remain limited but whose highlight-reel potential is clear. For Bryant, the night will be remembered for both the dazzling 50-point dunk and the missed opportunity that followed; for Johnson, it will be a marquee moment that could shape perceptions of his upside going forward.
All-Star Saturday at Intuit Dome offered both spectacle and stumbles, but when the final scores were tallied it was Keshad Johnson’s steady showmanship — not a lone perfect mark — that took home the trophy.
