Lakers' Hayes, Spurs' Bryant Reportedly Accept NBA Slam Dunk Contest Invites After McClung Decision

The first two participants in the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest have reportedly been set.

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.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend is set to take place in Los Angeles from Feb. 13 to Feb. 15.

McClung most recently won the 2025 edition of the event after earning perfect scores on all four of his dunks, including one that involved jumping over the top of a car.

McClung first won the contest with perfect scores on three of four dunks in 2023, then became the fifth player to repeat as Slam Dunk Contest champion by beating the Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown in the 2024 final.

The event is now set to crown a new champion in 2026 from a field including Hayes, who went between the legs for an Eastbay dunk in the Lakers' Monday night win over the Chicago Bulls.

Hayes has made 64 dunk attempts so far this season, which ties him with the Portland Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan for the 20th-most in the NBA, per Basketball Reference.

Bryant has been attempting so many dunks during his breakout rookie season with the Spurs that he's made a deal with his teammates to shave his head if he misses three more, per Sports Illustrated's Matt Guzman.

He has made four dunks on eight attempts so far this season, per Basketball Reference. That included two dunks in a Jan. 19 win over the Utah Jazz.

The upcoming All-Star Weekend will also feature the All-Star Game as well as the Rising Stars Challenge, in which a team of first- and second-year NBA players faces off against G League stars.