Keshad Johnson Beats Carter Bryant to Win 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Fans React to Showcase

The Miami Heat's Keshad Johnson won the 2026 AT&T Slam Dunk contest on Night 2 of NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.

The second-year forward and San Antonio rookie Carter Bryant delivered a thrilling final round, putting on a show for the crowd.

Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes and Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson were both eliminated in the first round.

NBA fans reacted to Johnson, Bryant and the 2026 Slam Dunk contest on social media.

Round 1 Results:

First Attempt

• Keshad Johnson – 47.4 
• Carter Bryant – 45.6
• Jase Richardson – 45.4
• Jaxson Hayes– 44.6 

Second Attempt

• Carter Bryant – 49.2
• Keshad Johnson – 45.4 
• Jaxson Hayes– 47.2 
• Jase Richardson – 43.4

First Round Total

• Carter Bryant – 94.8 – Advanced
• Keshad Johnson – 92.8 – Advanced
• Jase Richardson – 91.8 – Eliminated
• Jaxson Hayes– 88.8 – Eliminated

In addition to some powerful finishes at the rim, the first round featured a handful of questionable dunks, including a simple one-handed finish from just inside the free-throw line by Jaxson Hayes and a scary fall by Jase Richardson after he was stuffed on the side of the backboard.

Round 2 Results:

First Attempt

• Carter Bryant – 50 
• Keshad Johnson – 49.6

Second Attempts

• Keshad Johnson – 47.8
• Carter Bryant – 43.0 

Second Round Total

• Keshad Johnson – 97.4
• Carter Bryant – 93.0 

Johnson executed on his first attempt, impressing the judges and fans with an electric baseline between-the-legs dunk finished with a one-handed reverse slam.

Bryant followed with a successful first attempt of his own, tossing the ball to himself and completing a smooth left-to-right between-the-legs finish that earned the night's first perfect 50.

Johnson's second attempt featured a full-extension windmill from a few steps inside the free-throw line.

Bryant's final dunk appeared poised to seal the competition, but he was unable to complete the initial attempts and had to settle for a quick spinning slam as time expired.

"If I put that dunk down, I win it," Carter said, per Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News. "That's probably the dunk I've made the most out of all the dunks I did today in my life. I've been doing that dunk since I've been 14. Just didn't get the ball. Didn't roll my way."