Keshad Johnson made history during NBA All-Star Weekend, winning the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest in Inglewood, California, and becoming the first former Arizona Wildcat to claim the title.

The Miami Heat forward edged out fellow Arizona alum and San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant in a thrilling final round at Intuit Dome. Johnson posted a combined championship score of 97.4, holding off Bryant after a dramatic finish.

Both players impressed from the opening round. Johnson opened with a 47.4 on his first dunk, while Bryant scored a 45.6. Bryant then surged into the championship round with a 49.2, while Johnson followed with a 45.4 to secure his spot in the final.

In the deciding round, Johnson set the tone with a 49.6 on his first attempt. Bryant answered with a perfect 50, briefly taking the spotlight and raising the stakes. Johnson followed with a strong 47.8 on his second dunk, putting pressure on Bryant to deliver. However, Bryant was unable to complete his planned final dunk and had to settle for a simpler attempt, falling short of the score needed to win.

Johnson’s victory marks a milestone for Arizona’s basketball program. He is the first former Wildcat to win the contest after previous participants—including Aaron Gordon, Andre Iguodala, Chase Budinger and Richard Jefferson—came up short. Gordon notably finished second twice, including his memorable performances in 2016 and 2017.

Though Bryant finished second in the dunk contest, he still had a successful All-Star Weekend. He was part of the Rising Stars championship team, playing for Team Vince, coached by Hall of Famer Vince Carter. Bryant scored nine points across two games in the event.

With their electrifying performances, Johnson and Bryant added another chapter to Arizona’s growing presence in NBA All-Star history—and may have positioned themselves for future invitations to the dunk contest stage.

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