All-Star Saturday night will look different this season in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Lakers' Jaxson Hayes and San Antonio Spurs' Carter Bryant have agreed to participate in the contest, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Thursday. The news comes after three-time defending Slam Dunk Contest champion Mac McClung confirmed he would not be participating in the event.

In ‘24, he said he’d participate in the dunk contest if he was selected as an All-Star. That didn’t work out as Williamson has made his two All-Star appearances thus far in ‘21 and ‘23, but let’s hope that offer still stands if he becomes an All-Star again.

Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes and San Antonio Spurs wing Carter Bryant punched their tickets to the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Former Moeller HS standout Jaxson Hayes is averaging 6.4 points and 3.9 rebounds over 38 games this season for the Lakers.

A pair of Western Conference contenders will reportedly send representatives to the event.

Lakers center Jaxson Hayes and Spurs rookie Carter Bryant have accepted invitations to the NBA slam dunk contest at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, sources said.

This year’s NBA All-Star Game will be on Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Ca, 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.

The head coach of the Bulls is applauding Matas Buzelis for not accepting an invitation to take part in the NBA Dunk Contest.