Detroit Pistons forward Jalen Duren has announced that he will be withdrawing from the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest due to a knee injury sustained during a recent game. Reports indicate that Duren, who recently earned his first All-Star selection, experienced right knee soreness that forced him to leave the game against the Washington Wizards early and subsequently sit out the victory against the New York Knicks.
In his place, the Orlando Magic rookie Jase Richardson will step in. Richardson, the son of two-time Slam Dunk champion Jason Richardson, adds excitement to the contest alongside other first-time participants such as Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant, and Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson.
The Slam Dunk Contest, scheduled for February 14 at the Intuit Dome, will feature a two-round format, where each player is given two dunks in the first round. The scores from this round will determine which two participants advance to the finals, where they will once again attempt two dunks. The player with the highest combined score at the end of the event will be crowned the winner.
This year’s contest is anticipated to be thrilling, especially with the recent legacy of dominance by Mac McClung, who opted out after making history as a three-time winner last season. As the excitement builds, fans will be eager to see how the new competitors, including Richardson, perform on this grand stage.