NBA All-Star Weekend is upon us. The best basketball players in the world will be heading to Inglewood for a series of exciting events — the crown jewel, being the Dunk Contest. Let’s break down the field and identify the best bet on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Jaxson Hayes | Center, Los Angeles Lakers (+175)
In a field full of first-time dunk contest participants, it makes sense that Jaxson Hayes is tied for the best odds. The man is a prolific volume dunker; in 411 career regular-season games, Hayes has flushed it down 589 times. That’s especially impressive considering his role as a bench player for most of his career. He jams every 11.5 minutes of play over seven years in the NBA. And he has a penchant for topping your run-of-the-mill slams.
Dunk contests can be difficult for bigs; when you’re seven feet tall, it just looks easier. But Hayes is capable of dunks that defy the rules of nature — and that makes him a favorite.
Carter Bryant | Forward, San Antonio Spurs (+175)
The 14th pick in the 2025 draft, Carter Bryant, is not one of the most recognizable Spurs. But his athleticism and affinity for ferocious dunks will turn some heads this weekend.
At 6-foot-6 with a seven-foot wingspan, his dunks look cartoonish at times. Big windmills look preposterous with his Gumby arms swinging around. He has all the athletic markers to wow when he throws it down.
Bryant doesn’t have the dunking resume of Jaxson Hayes (only nine career NBA dunks in 389 minutes), but they sure look good. He’s got spring-loaded legs that open up all kinds of slams. If he’s creative enough, this contest is his for the taking.
Keshad Johnson | Forward, Miami Heat (+450)
Arguably the biggest unknown in this contest, Keshad Johnson is a sparsely used role player for the Heat. But he does get a lot of run with Miami’s G League team, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. There, he gets plenty of opportunities to show off his athleticism.
Another 6-foot-6 forward, Johnson brings a 6-foot-10 wingspan and a 42-inch vertical to the table. His brawny frame makes his dunks ultra-violent, the kind of thing that goes over well with voters. In a way, it feels like he’ll be going head-to-head with Carter Bryant; both have a similar build and level of bounce. Whoever gets more creative with their slams should have a great chance of advancing.
Jase Richardson | Guard, Orlando Magic (+500)
I’ll be honest. I don’t quite get this one.
Jase Richardson is all of 6-foot-1. We know short guards can do well in the dunk contest (see Nate Robinson and Spud Webb), but he’s not the kind of dunker who breaks the mold. Just look at his dunk reel through his rookie season.
Some of these jams were iffy, to say the least. He’s not clearing the rim with ease and doesn’t seem to have the bounce to get all that creative. It feels like he’s here to bring in some nostalgia by throwing on his dad’s jersey and throwing down a dunk, but he’s not on that level.
Maybe Jase surprises us all with more bounce than we’re used to. But I’m not counting on it; he’s last in odds for a reason.
Now we know the field. Who is the best bet to win on Saturday night?
NBA Dunk Contest Best Bet
I get why Hayes is the co-favorite here. But it’s a steep path to be that big and still look impressive while throwing it down — just ask Aaron Gordon.
I think Bryant and Johnson are the best bets as explosive dunking wings. The latter can bring out some serious physicality to these dunks; guys who look like they’re trying to rip the rim clean off the backboard do well here. The Miami youngster has great value here.
