Patryk Stachowiak
Keshad Johnson Wins All-Star Slam Dunk Contest
Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson brought West Coast energy to the Intuit Dome on Saturday, capturing the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest title. Accompanied by Bay Area rapper E-40, the 24-year-old Arizona product used a series of high-flying displays to outlast San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant in the final round.
Johnson opened the competition by leaping over E-40 for a one-handed slam while posing mid-air. He secured the victory with a final round score of 97.4 out of 100. While Bryant briefly took the lead with a perfect 50 on a between-the-legs dunk, he failed to convert his more complex attempts as time expired. Johnson sealed the win with a powerful windmill slam to satisfy the judges.
“I beat the odds,” Johnson said. “I made it into the NBA. Every year I was watching the NBA dunk contest, I dreamed of being out there putting on a show.”
The competition featured Lakers center Jaxson Hayes and Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson, though both were eliminated in the opening round. Hayes struggled to find his rhythm, noting that his veteran status and knee fatigue hampered his verticality against younger competitors. The judging panel included legends Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins, Dwight Howard, Corey Maggette, and Brent Barry.
Damian Lillard Joins Elite 3-Point Company
Despite missing the entire regular season with an Achilles injury, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard returned to the court to win his third 3-point contest. Lillard recorded 29 points in the final round to edge out Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, who finished with 27 points after missing his final shots from the corner.
This victory moves Lillard into a tie with Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only three-time winners in the event’s history. Lillard previously won the title in 2023 and 2024. Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel also reached the final round but struggled, finishing with 17 points. Other participants included Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Bobby Portis, and Norman Powell.
Team Knicks Dominates Shooting Stars Return
The Shooting Stars competition returned for the first time since 2015, with Team Knicks emerging victorious. The trio of Karl-Anthony Towns, Jelen Brunson, and Allan Houston posted 38 points in the final round to defeat Team Cameron. Rick Brunson served as the celebrity passer for the winning New York squad.
| Event | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Slam Dunk Contest | Keshad Johnson | Carter Bryant |
| 3-Point Contest | Damian Lillard | Devin Booker |
| Shooting Stars | Team Knicks | Team Cameron |
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