For the first time since 2022, there will be a new winner of the NBA slam dunk contest.
Mac McClung, who has won the past three dunk contests, will not be competing in this year’s event. Instead, there will be two rookies and two first-time participants in the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk contest on Saturday evening at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
Here’s a look at the latest NBA odds and a prediction for this year’s dunk contest:
NBA Slam Dunk Contest Odds 2026
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Carter Bryant | +190 |
| Jaxson Hayes | +250 |
| Keshad Johnson | +325 |
| Jase Richardson | +350 |
Who Will Win the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest?
Based on the latest NBA betting lines, San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant is the betting favorite to win the dunk contest in 2026. At +190, he has an implied probability of 34.48%.
Bryant, who is 20 years old and 6-foot-6, was selected by the Spurs with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s averaging 3.4 points per game during his rookie season.
When it comes to dunking, it certainly doesn’t hurt to be a younger athlete. Kobe Bryant won the 1997 slam dunk contest as an 18-year-old rookie. Spud Webb (1986) and Zach LaVine (2015) also won this event in their rookie campaigns.
That said, I don’t like the idea of backing a rookie as a favorite.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes will have his work cut out for him with the judges, given his height advantage (7 feet). Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson, son of two-time dunk champion Jason Richardson, could be a sneaky option as the biggest long shot.
But my prediction is Miami Heat wing Keshad Johnson, who is averaging 3.1 points per game in his second season since being undrafted out of San Diego State. Johnson, who is 6-foot-6, has the highest vertical leap (42 inches) among all four participants.
Prediction: Keshad Johnson
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