2026 NBA All-Star weekend - Slam Dunk Contest, 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
Slam Dunk Contest
Over the past years, the Slam Dunk contest has undergone some notable changes. This is a competition that has evolved from a superstar showcase into a much better platform for the emerging and high-flying players looking to build their reputations.
In the previous edition, Mac McClung emerged victorious after putting on a show with four perfect dunks. McClung might be the defending champion, but that success saw him become the first-ever player to win the tournament three times in a row. Unfortunately, the 27-year-old won't be taking part this year as he declined the opportunity for a four-peat. In simple terms, a new champion is about to be crowned and a new record made!
Competitors and what they bring:
Carter Bryant is a rising talent who is currently playing for the San Antonio Spurs. His unpredictability in this tournament could work in his favor. Also, the rookie has the most explosive upside in the field.
Keshad Johnson might not be a name known by everyone, but the 24-year-old Miami Heat star has been presented with the platform to change all of that and impress in his first debut of the Slam Dunk contest.
Jase Richardson is a 6 ft 1 rookie guard playing for the Orlando Magic. Richardson might not be familiar with the slam dunk, but he comes from an elite dunking pedigree, with his father being Jason Richardson, who won this tournament in 2003 and 2004.
Jaxson Hayes is 6 ft 11 and plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is also a newcomer in this competition. However, his size must not be mistaken for weakness, as he recently wowed the crowd with an Eastbay dunk against the Chicago Bulls. His size, combined with athleticism combo, could prove beneficial to his success.
Predicted Winner: Jaxson Hayes.
3-Point Contest
The 3-point contest is a respected and competitive All-Star event. Unlike the Slam Dunk event, which excludes the league's top dunkers from participating, the current event features established stars.
Tyler Herro is the current defending champion of the 3-Point Contest. He won this event in the previous edition with a final score of 24. However, the Miami Heat star won't take part in this year's event as he recovers from an injury.
Competitors and what they bring:
Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers) is widely known for deep-range shooting and clutch shot-making. The former is where he has excelled a lot. At the time of writing, Lillard ranks fifth on the all-time NBA list with 2,804 three-point baskets. He has won this competition two times in three editions in 2023 and 2024. He is about to match Larry Bird and Craig Hodges' records of three wins if he becomes succesful this this Saturday.
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) will be hoping to get his form back in the three-point range as he features in the 3-point contest. Booker is shooting 37% from the three-point range this season. Despite this, he is still considered a technically sound shooter.
Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers) is a high-volume scorer whose confidence streaks can translate well to contest settings. Also, the team he is playing for, the Cleveland Cavaliers, has the best deep-range shooters this season.
Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers) is racking up impressive numbers for the Philadelphia 76ers this season. Maxey is shooting 38.2% from the three-point range. Besides 169 three-pointers made in the 2025-26 season, which rank fourth in the league, he has hit four or more threes in 26 games.
Other participants include:
- Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets (Career 3-point percentage: 42.8%)
- Bobby Portis Jr., Milwaukee Bucks (Career 3-point percentage: 39%)
- Norman Powell, Miami Heat (Career 3-point percentage: 39.8%)
- Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets (Career 3-point percentage: 38.7%)
Predicted Winner: Damian Lillard.
Skills Challenge
This is not your ordinary skills challenge contest, where you would expect an individual obstacle course. However, the tournament has transformed into a team-based contest.
How the winner is decided:
- Fast decision-making
- Clean ball handling and efficient passing
- Quick shooting accuracy
What are the standout archetypes?
- Young All-Stars ready to show their skills
- Guard heavy teams with speed advantage
