Keshad Johnson Leaves Mark on NBA History as Third Miami Heat Player to Win Slam Dunk Contest

The 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest concluded with a bang, with Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson emerging victorious. In an eventful night at the Inuit Dome in Los Angeles, Johnson, the second-year player from the University of Arizona, outshone the competition, including San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant.

Johnson’s Dominant Performance

Entering the competition with +310 odds, Johnson was the underdog. However, he silenced the critics with an impressive display of athleticism and creativity. Here’s a rundown of his dunks:

• Dunk 1: Johnson jumped over Oakland, California, artist E-40, scoring a 47.4, the highest score of the first round.
• Dunk 2: For his second attempt, Johnson performed a reverse two-handed dunk, earning him a 45.4, enough to advance to the finals.
• Dunk 3 (Finals): In an impressive opening dunk in the finals, Johnson executed an in-between-the-legs, one-handed reverse dunk, earning a near-perfect score of 49.6.
• Dunk 4 (Finals): Johnson’s last dunk of the event was an attempted one-handed windmill from the free throw line, but he stepped too far into the paint, receiving a 47.8 score. Fortunately for him, Bryant stumbled, securing Johnson’s victory.

“I just came out here and showed people who showtime was,” Johnson said after receiving the trophy. “Had all the legends out. I’m from California, brought my own Bay Area swag out to LA. We’re all one, it’s for the whole west coast right here, baby.”

Miami Heat’s Dunk Contest Dominance

The Heat now have four NBA Slam Dunk Contest champions, tying with the New York Knicks for the most in NBA history. This marks back-to-back years in which a Heat player has won an event during All-Star weekend, following Tyler Herro’s 3-point competition win last season.

Johnson joins an elite group of Heat players to have won the contest, including Derrick Jones Jr. (2020), Harold Miner (1993, 1995).

Johnson’s Season with the Miami Heat

Despite being relatively unknown to many NBA fans, Keshad Johnson has made a name for himself this season. After signing a two-way contract with the Heat in 2024 and later a standard contract in 2025, Johnson has played in 21 games this season, averaging 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds per game on 40.4% shooting. Known for his athleticism and high-flying dunks, Johnson is expected to make a bigger impact in future seasons.