This year’s NBA All-Star Game will be on Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Calif., which is the brand-new home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
On Thursday, news finally came of the first two known participants for the Slam Dunk Contest. It is Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes and San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes and San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant have accepted invitations to the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star weekend in L.A., sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 29, 2026
Windy City Bulls guard Mac McClung, the back-to-back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest winner, is not participating in the event this time.
Hayes is averaging just 6.4 points per game in 38 appearances for the Lakers this season, but he did win the Ohio-Kentucky contest in high school.
Jaxson Hayes won the Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game dunk contest as a senior in high school with a windmill from the foul line.
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) January 29, 2026
(Video h/t to @AdamKing10TV) https://t.co/Nw7Xel9aTo pic.twitter.com/yKP42PMUCi
Hayes also had an impressive between-the-legs dunk recently against the Chicago Bulls.
Replay of Jaxson Hayes steal and between legs dunk pic.twitter.com/SXhjxmQ7QD
— ✶Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️✶ (@_MarcusD3_) January 27, 2026
Bryant is a more surprising inclusion. He was selected 14th overall by the Spurs in the 2025 NBA Draft and has played in 37 games while averaging just over 8 minutes per contest.
However, Bryant has missed half of his dunks this season.
This year’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest is on Feb. 14, and more participants should be revealed soon.
