Robert Marvi, LeBron WireSun, February 15, 2026 at 2:35 AM UTC·1 min readLos Angeles Lakers backup center Jaxson Hayes was a surprise addition to the 2026 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest recently. He showed a glimpse of his dunking ability when, during a recent 129-118 win over the Chicago Bulls, he threw down a between-the-legs dunk that was a version of the "East Bay Funk Dunk" Isaiah Rider once delivered during the 1994 dunk contest.
Lakers fans were hoping that Hayes would come through on Saturday and become the first member of the Purple and Gold to win the dunk contest since Kobe Bryant in 1997.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHis first dunk on Saturday, however, was seen as a dud. He got a running start from the other end of the court, but he merely took off from just outside the dotted line and threw down a very ordinary dunk.
He did better on his second dunk, however. That time, he threw the basketball out to himself, then went between the legs.
Unfortunately, Hayes failed to advance. Keshad Johnson, a forward for the Miami Heat, won the contest by defeating San Antonio Spurs rookie forward Carter Bryant in the final round.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: How did Jaxson Hayes do in the NBA slam dunk contest?
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