Jaxson Hayes Aims to Make Lakers History in 2026 NBA Dunk Contest
With Mac McClung sitting this one out, the 2026 NBA Dunk Contest is officially wide open-and Jaxson Hayes is stepping into the spotlight.
The high-flying Los Angeles Lakers center is making his Dunk Contest debut on Saturday night, and if you’ve been watching Lakers games lately, this doesn’t come as a surprise. Hayes has been putting on an aerial show in real time, throwing down dunks that are equal parts power and grace. Now, he gets the chance to showcase that bounce on one of the league’s biggest stages.
Don’t Count Out Hayes Just Yet
Hayes might not be the odds-on favorite heading into the event, but he’s not far off. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, he holds the second-best odds to take home the trophy at +240. That puts him right behind San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant, who enters the contest as the frontrunner.
Bryant, the 14th overall pick out of Arizona, hasn’t exactly built a highlight reel of dunks in his rookie campaign-but his explosive athleticism has clearly caught the attention of the oddsmakers. The contest is as much about potential and style as it is about résumé, and Bryant’s raw vertical tools have made him a trendy pick.
But don’t sleep on Hayes. At 6’11” with a wingspan that seems to stretch into next week, he brings a unique blend of size and agility that could make for some jaw-dropping moments. He’s not just a big man trying to dunk-he’s a big man who can fly.
Also joining the field are Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat organization and Jase Richardson from the Orlando Magic. Each brings their own flair, but Hayes might be the most intriguing mix of experience, size, and flair in the group.
A Chance to Join Lakers Dunk Royalty
Hayes is stepping into some pretty exclusive company. He’s just the seventh player in Lakers history to compete in the Dunk Contest-a list that includes some iconic names.
It all started with Michael Cooper in 1984, followed by Antonio Harve in 1995. Then came a young Kobe Bryant, who not only represented the purple and gold but won the whole thing, becoming the youngest Laker to ever do so. To this day, Bryant remains the only Laker to take home the Dunk Contest crown.
Since then, Shannon Brown, Larry Nance Jr., and Dwight Howard have all taken their shots. Howard, already a Dunk Contest legend from his time in Orlando, gave it another go in 2020 as a Laker at age 34, but couldn’t recapture the title.
Now it’s Hayes’ turn. If he can rise to the moment, he’d become just the second Laker ever to win the event-a feat that would etch his name alongside Bryant’s in franchise lore.
Showtime at the Intuit Dome
The 2026 NBA Dunk Contest will cap off Saturday night’s All-Star festivities at the Intuit Dome in California. The action kicks off at 5 PM ET, with the dunk showcase following the 3-Point Contest and the Shooting Stars competition.
For Hayes, it’s more than just a midseason exhibition-it’s a chance to put his name on the map in a whole new way. He’s already shown he can throw it down in-game. Now, it’s about creativity, timing, and putting on a show when the whole basketball world is watching.
Don’t blink. Hayes has the hops-and the stage-to make something special happen.