NBA Slam Dunk Contest 2026: A Dismal Show

The 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest has reached a new low. While the contest’s decline has been apparent for years, Saturday night marked an all-time low. Perhaps it’s time for the NBA to consider canceling this event altogether, before it fades into irrelevance like Chris Paul.

Every element of the event felt lackluster. Keshad Johnson from the Miami Heat clinched the win with a dunk that seemed barely sufficient for a first-round appearance from a decade ago. Even the NBA’s promotional tweets came off as forced and unenthusiastic.

And yet, amazingly, this was the top dunk of the night. The only other moment worth mentioning was when Johnson leaped over rapper E-40. It was decent, but certainly not groundbreaking—E-40’s just 6-foot-1. This used to be the competition where athletes soared over cars and shacks. Remember when Aaron Gordon jumped over the Magic mascot while he was standing on a hoverboard? That was something special.

Although Johnson emerged as the standout in a lackluster pack, his dancing before, during, and after each dunk probably should have disqualified him. It felt more like an attempt to boost his personal brand as the “dancing guy” than a genuine celebration of the dunk contest.

Jace Richardson also had a moment that could have led to a fainting spell, while Jackson Hayes delivered a dunk that wouldn’t even make a highlight reel during a regular game.

To add insult to injury, the judging was baffling. The NBA assembled a panel of notable dunkers like Dominique Wilkins and Dwight Howard, but they operated under an arbitrary scoring system. They weren’t allowed to give a score lower than 40 out of 50, a move likely made to spare feelings. After all, “scoring 42 out of 50” sounds much better than simply a low “2.”

If the judging process wasn’t flawed enough, look at Dwight Howard handing out 50-point scores like they were nothing, even for mediocre dunks. Hard to believe? The criteria seemed almost laughable.

Case in point: Johnson’s windmill jam from just beyond the free-throw line didn’t even require a dribble. At least he had a dance ready for the aftermath.

It’s clear that the nature of basketball has evolved. Back in the ’90s and early 2000s, kids practiced their dunk techniques like those of Michael Jordan and Vince Carter on their home hoops. Nowadays, kids look up to shooters like Steph Curry. The defenses have tightened, making it more challenging for mid-game dunks to thrill. Instead of relying on crowd-pleasing dunks, players now thrive on eurosteps and floaters. There’s a clear decline in creative dunking, and that’s disappointing. The tools for innovation are there—unlike in previous eras—yet players seem unwilling to push the envelope.

Unfortunately, a whole generation of basketball fans may never appreciate the thrill of the Dunk Contest as it once was. Those who only catch snippets online won’t grasp the excitement that stemmed from watching the league’s best display their artistry and skills. That excitement is sadly conspicuously absent now.

It’s a harsh reality: no one wanted to see a beloved family pet like Old Yeller put down when it became rabid. But the NBA Slam Dunk Contest has hit that sad point, and perhaps it’s time we preserve its legacy by moving on from it entirely. Continuing in this format feels more like a tragedy than a celebration.