Lakers' Jaxson Hayes to compete in slam dunk contest

Hayes joins teammates LeBron James and Luka Dončić for NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes will participate in the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. He joins his teammates LeBron James and Luka Dončić for All-Star action. NBA All-Star Saturday events at the Intuit Dome begin at 2 p.m.

Why it matters

The Lakers have a strong presence at the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, with three players representing the team across different events. This highlights the star power and depth of the Lakers roster as they look to make a deep playoff run.

The details

Hayes, a 25-year-old center, will compete in the Slam Dunk Contest alongside other participants including San Antonio's Carter Bryant, Miami's Keshad Johnson and Orlando's Jase Richardson. The Lakers will also be represented by Dončić, who was named an All-Star starter, and James, who was selected as a reserve.

  • The AT&T Slam Dunk Contest takes place on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
  • NBA All-Star Saturday begins at 2 p.m. PT on Feb. 14, 2026.

The players

Jaxson Hayes

A center for the Los Angeles Lakers who will compete in the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

LeBron James

A forward for the Los Angeles Lakers who was selected as an NBA All-Star reserve for the 2026 game.

Luka Dončić

A guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who was named an NBA All-Star starter for the 2026 game.

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What they’re saying

“For me, I've always dreamed of being in the dunk contest. I was always big into the dunk contest — if you can't tell by the way I play. So when I got the call, I was definitely down.”

— Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers center (foxla.com)

What’s next

The AT&T Slam Dunk Contest takes place on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 as part of NBA All-Star Saturday events.

The takeaway

The Lakers' strong representation at the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, with three players participating in marquee events, showcases the team's talent and star power as they look to make a deep playoff run in the upcoming season.