The upcoming NBA All-Star weekend will take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, home of the Clippers. In an effort to revive interest in the All-Star Game, which has seen declining viewer engagement over the past decade, the NBA is introducing a novel USA vs. World round-robin format this year. This format features three teams of eight All-Stars, aiming to inject a fresh and competitive spirit into the event. Despite these changes, traditional events like the slam dunk contest will remain largely unchanged.
This year’s slam dunk contest will feature four skilled players, maintaining the familiar two-round structure. Each participant will perform two dunks in the first round, with the two highest scorers advancing to the final round to showcase their best moves again. The contest has faced criticism from fans in recent years, particularly due to a lack of star players willing to participate. However, this year’s lineup already includes at least one current All-Star: Jalen Duren from the Detroit Pistons, who also earned his first All-Star selection this year.
As of February 3rd, three players have confirmed their participation in the highly anticipated slam dunk contest:
1. **Jalen Duren** – Detroit Pistons (1 All-Star selection)
2. **Jaxson Hayes** – Los Angeles Lakers (0 All-Star selections)
3. **Carter Bryant** – San Antonio Spurs (0 All-Star selections)
Jaxson Hayes and Carter Bryant were the first two players to sign up for the contest. While neither is an All-Star, both bring considerable athleticism to the competition. Hayes, a 7-footer, has made a name for himself with a collection of impressive highlight dunks throughout his career. Meanwhile, Bryant, drafted 14th by the Spurs, displayed remarkable jumping ability at the 2025 NBA draft combine, registering a vertical leap of 39.5 inches.
The addition of Jalen Duren, a 22-year-old rising star who averages 18.0 points and 10.7 rebounds this season, significantly enhances the contest’s appeal. With Duren’s exceptional athleticism and creativity, the dunk contest may regain some of its lost luster. He stands out among the limited number of current All-Stars to have competed in the dunk contest in recent years, joining Jaylen Brown who participated in 2024.
The dunk contest will still require one more participant, and the additional competitor is yet to be announced.
As excitement builds for the All-Star Weekend, fans are hopeful that this year’s events, particularly the dunk contest, will rekindle the thrill that has made it a beloved part of the NBA’s annual festivities. With fresh faces and exceptional talent, the contest promises to deliver memorable moments for basketball enthusiasts.