We know two players who will be in the Dunk Contest, and one of them is a Laker
The roster for the high-flying spectacle at All-Star Saturday Night is beginning to take shape, and the hometown crowd in Los Angeles will officially have a representative to rally behind. According to breaking reports surfacing this week, Jaxson Hayes of the Los Angeles Lakers and Carter Bryant of the San Antonio Spurs are the first two confirmed participants for the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest at the Intuit Dome.
The inclusion of Jaxson Hayes introduces a fascinating dynamic to a competition that has been dominated by guards and undersized wings in recent years. Standing seven feet tall, the Lakers center is looking to break the "big man curse" that often plagues taller competitors, whose dunks can appear less impressive visually due to their proximity to the rim. However, Hayes is far from a traditional power dunker. He possesses elite fluidity and body control, evidenced by a viral in-game between-the-legs finish earlier this season that showcased his contest-ready creativity. If Hayes can leverage his verticality without falling victim to the judges' bias against height, he could become the first true center to capture the crown since the mid-2000s.
Opposite the veteran big man is Carter Bryant, a rookie wing looking to make his mark on the league. Selected with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Arizona, Bryant has seen limited action in the Spurs' rotation this season, but his athletic profile suggests he is tailor-made for this stage. The Dunk Contest has a rich history of turning high-flying rookies into household names, and Bryant’s scouting report—highlighting explosive leaping ability and hang time—positions him as a dangerous dark horse.
The stakes for the 2026 event are particularly high following the exit of three-time champion Mac McClung, who officially retired from the competition after his historic run. With the "McClung Era" in the rearview, the league is searching for a new face to carry the mantle of the NBA’s premier aerial artist. With Hayes defending the home court in Los Angeles and Bryant bringing fresh legs to the tarmac, the stage is set for a new chapter in Dunk Contest history.
The inclusion of Jaxson Hayes introduces a fascinating dynamic to a competition that has been dominated by guards and undersized wings in recent years. Standing seven feet tall, the Lakers center is looking to break the "big man curse" that often plagues taller competitors, whose dunks can appear less impressive visually due to their proximity to the rim. However, Hayes is far from a traditional power dunker. He possesses elite fluidity and body control, evidenced by a viral in-game between-the-legs finish earlier this season that showcased his contest-ready creativity. If Hayes can leverage his verticality without falling victim to the judges' bias against height, he could become the first true center to capture the crown since the mid-2000s.
Opposite the veteran big man is Carter Bryant, a rookie wing looking to make his mark on the league. Selected with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Arizona, Bryant has seen limited action in the Spurs' rotation this season, but his athletic profile suggests he is tailor-made for this stage. The Dunk Contest has a rich history of turning high-flying rookies into household names, and Bryant’s scouting report—highlighting explosive leaping ability and hang time—positions him as a dangerous dark horse.
The stakes for the 2026 event are particularly high following the exit of three-time champion Mac McClung, who officially retired from the competition after his historic run. With the "McClung Era" in the rearview, the league is searching for a new face to carry the mantle of the NBA’s premier aerial artist. With Hayes defending the home court in Los Angeles and Bryant bringing fresh legs to the tarmac, the stage is set for a new chapter in Dunk Contest history.
