Jase Richardson Brings Flair, Takes a Fall, and Finds Perspective in Dunk Contest Debut
Jase Richardson didn’t walk away with the trophy Saturday night at NBA All-Star Weekend, but the Magic rookie still managed to leave his mark-and maybe a bruise or two-on the Slam Dunk Contest stage.
The 20-year-old guard was one of four first-timers in this year’s field, joining Carter Bryant (Spurs), Jaxson Hayes (Lakers), and eventual winner Keshad Johnson (Heat) under the bright lights at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. And while Richardson didn’t advance past the opening round, he made it clear this experience was about more than just scores and standings.
“I just wanted to come out here, have a good time - I did,” he said after the competition. “That’s all that matters.”
Richardson’s first dunk was a clean, creative effort. He tossed the ball to himself, caught it midair, and threw down a smooth two-handed reverse slam. The judges gave it a 45.5, a solid start that kept him in the mix early.
But his second attempt brought the kind of drama that can only come from trying to push the limits. Richardson went big, aiming for a 360-degree finish off a lob from the side of the backboard.
It was an ambitious idea-and unfortunately, it ended with a hard fall. He clipped his arm on the backboard and came down awkwardly, hitting his head on the court.
“I’m good,” he said afterward, brushing off the scare. “I tried to go do a little 360 off the side of the glass, (but) my arm got caught on the side of the backboard.”
With time running out, Richardson pivoted to a backup plan: a standard 360 dunk without a pass. It was clean but not quite electric, earning a 43.4. That brought his total to 88.8, not enough to crack the top two and move on to the finals.
“After taking a fall like that, I just had to move on from that dunk,” he said. “It is what it is. You win some, you lose some.”
Richardson and Hayes were eliminated after the first round, and Johnson went on to edge out Bryant for the win. But Richardson had more in the tank had he advanced. He revealed that his final-round plans included some reverse dunks with mid-air leg work-putting the ball between or underneath his legs, a nod to the kind of aerial creativity that’s become a staple of the contest.
One thing he didn’t plan on doing? Leaning into his family legacy.
His father, Jason Richardson, famously won back-to-back dunk contest titles in 2002 and 2003 with the Warriors. But Jase is carving his own path.
“For me, I’m trying to steer away from that,” he said when asked if he would’ve worn his dad’s jersey in the final round. “I just wanted to do the contest and try to make it my own thing instead of everything having to do with my father.”
That mindset speaks volumes. Jase Richardson isn’t here to ride coattails-he’s here to build something new. And while dunks haven’t been a major part of his rookie season with Orlando-he’s thrown down just four in 38 games-he showed flashes of what he’s capable of when the spotlight’s on.
“This is my first All-Star Weekend so I’ve really enjoyed my time here,” he said. “The energy was great. It’s something I’ve always imagined being a part of and I was just blessed to be here.”
No trophy, no problem. For Richardson, this was about showing up, showing out, and soaking in the moment. And if this is just the beginning, the league might want to keep an eye on what he’s got planned next.