All-Star Saturday Night in San Francisco delivered its signature blend of spectacle, star power, and stunning upsets as Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson captured the 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest title in dramatic fashion. The undrafted rookie edged out heavily favored San Antonio Spurs phenom Carter Bryant in a final-round showdown that defied expectations and instantly cemented Johnson's legacy in franchise history.
The evening's festivities at Chase Center kicked off with the 3-point contest, where Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard made his highly anticipated season debut in official competition. Still methodically recovering from an Achilles injury that has sidelined him throughout the campaign, Lillard showed no signs of rust as he outdueled Phoenix Suns sharpshooter Devin Booker to claim the prestigious shooting crown.
Lillard's victory was both methodical and spectacular. He posted an impressive 27 points in the opening round to comfortably secure his spot in the championship round, then elevated his performance when the pressure mounted most. His final-round 29-point masterpiece showcased the deep-range precision that has defined his Hall of Fame-worthy career. The triumph marked Lillard's continued dominance in All-Star weekend shooting competitions, adding another accolade to his already decorated resume and providing Blazers fans a rare bright spot in an otherwise challenging season.
But the night's main event belonged to the high-flyers and the gravity-defying artistry that has made the dunk contest a cultural touchstone for decades. The competition featured four worthy participants: Johnson, Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, and Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson. From the opening round, it became clear that the championship would likely come down to the two former Arizona Wildcats who, despite never sharing a college locker room, now found themselves inextricably linked on basketball's brightest stage.
Carter Bryant entered the competition as the prohibitive favorite, and for good reason. The Spurs' lottery pick, selected 14th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, brought a rare combination of elite athleticism, creative vision, and natural showmanship that had fans and analysts buzzing with anticipation. He did not disappoint in the preliminary round, delivering a performance that seemed to foreshadow a coronation.
Bryant's first attempt was a breathtaking 360-degree spin, complete with a theatrical left-leg kick and a powerful right-handed finish that silenced the crowd. The judges responded with enthusiastic scores, but he saved his best for his second dunk. Unleashing a windmill slam that harkened back to the golden age of dunk contests, Bryant earned perfect 50s from Hall of Famers Dwight Howard and Dominique Wilkins—the two judges most qualified to evaluate aerial artistry. His average score of 49.2 was the highest of the first round, virtually guaranteeing his place in the final and setting an imposing standard for his competitors.
Meanwhile, Keshad Johnson was quietly building his case with a workmanlike approach that mirrored the Miami Heat's organizational philosophy. The Heat's two-way contract player knew he needed something special to stand out against a lottery pick with superior hype. His opening dunk was a testament to both creative risk-taking and cold-blooded execution. Johnson soared over Bay Area rap legend E-40, who stood planted in the paint as a human prop, while simultaneously placing his left hand behind his head in a nonchalant pose that suggested he was relaxing on a South Beach shoreline rather than defying gravity before a global audience. The judges appreciated the swagger and difficulty, awarding him 47.4 points—the second-highest mark of the round.
Johnson's second dunk was a baseline reverse that showcased his impressive wingspan, a physical gift that complements his 6-foot-7 frame and allows him to extend finishes that others cannot attempt. While less spectacular than his first effort, it was clean, efficient, and demonstrated body control—enough to secure his spot in the final alongside Bryant and set up the David versus Goliath narrative that would define the evening's conclusion.
Jaxson Hayes and Jase Richardson brought their own athletic flair but couldn't match the scores of the two leaders. Hayes attempted a soaring dunk from inside the key that would later become significant as a point of comparison, while Richardson's efforts, though technically sound and athletic, failed to crack the upper echelon of the leaderboard or capture the judges' imagination.
The final round set the stage for what many assumed would be Bryant's inevitable coronation. The Spurs rookie had one more spectacular trick prepared—a reverse slam after bouncing the ball off the backboard to himself, a move that requires perfect timing, hand-eye coordination, and elite elevation. But as he took off into his approach, something went wrong. The ball didn't bounce true off the glass, the angle was slightly off, and Bryant found himself airborne without a viable plan.
In that pressure-cooked moment, with the crowd holding its collective breath and millions watching worldwide, Bryant made a split-second decision that would cost him dearly. Rather than force the missed attempt and risk a zero, he pivoted to a 360 dunk—the same move he had opened with hours earlier. The result was a serviceable but unspectacular finish that earned him a score of 43. He needed only a 47.5 to win, but the improvised substitution and lack of originality proved fatal to his chances.
Johnson, watching intently from the sideline, suddenly saw his opening materialize. He didn't need to match Bryant's degree of difficulty or attempt something never seen before; he simply needed to execute something clean and score higher than 43—a threshold that suddenly seemed achievable rather than daunting.
For his final dunk, Johnson took off from inside the key and unleashed a running windmill that, while not revolutionary, possessed a certain fluidity and elevation that made it special. Some critics in the arena noted its similarity to Hayes' earlier attempt, but Johnson's version had better extension and a smoother rotation through the finish. The judges appreciated the clean execution and awarded him a score that secured the improbable victory.
The win was particularly sweet for the Miami Heat organization, which has built its modern identity on player development and maximizing hidden talent. Johnson became the fourth player in franchise history to capture the dunk contest title, joining an elite group that includes Derrick Jones Jr. (2020) and two-time champion Harold Miner (1993, 1995). For a team known for its culture of hard work, conditioning, and developmental patience, seeing an undrafted player rise to this level of prominence was validation of their system and approach.
Johnson's journey to this moment has been anything but conventional. After going unselected in the 2024 NBA Draft despite a solid career at both Arizona and San Diego State, he fought his way onto Miami's roster through gritty summer league performances and an impressive training camp. In 21 games this season, he's averaged just 3.1 points per outing, primarily playing in mop-up duty or during injury absences. But on this night, none of that mattered. He was a champion, and no one could ever take that away from him.
Bryant, despite the obvious disappointment, showed precisely why the Spurs invested a lottery pick in his services. In 43 appearances this season, he's averaging 3.4 points per game while adjusting to the professional level, but his athletic potential and basketball IQ are undeniable. At just 19 years old, he'll have plenty of opportunities to add to his resume, and many believe this won't be his last appearance in the dunk contest. The experience, though painful, will likely serve as motivation for future performances.
The judges' panel added significant gravitas to the proceedings. Joining Howard and Wilkins were fellow former dunk contest champions Brent Barry and Julius "Dr. J" Erving, whose 1980s battles defined the modern dunk contest, plus longtime Los Angeles Clippers standout Corey Maggette. Their expertise and high standards made the scoring credible, even as some fans debated the final numbers and argued that Bryant's body of work deserved the title.
The dunk contest's format, which combines fan engagement with judicial expertise, continues to evolve in response to criticism and changing viewer habits. This year's event featured a new wrinkle in the final round, where competitors had two attempts to complete their chosen dunks, adding pressure and drama to each possession while also allowing for redemption after a missed first try.
For Johnson, the victory represents more than just a trophy or a check. It's a statement that undrafted players can not only survive in the NBA but thrive on its biggest stages. The Heat's developmental program has produced diamonds in the rough before—players like Duncan Robinson, Gabe Vincent, and Max Strus who went from undrafted to essential contributors on deep playoff runs. Johnson now has hardware to his name that even some lottery picks never achieve, and his story will be told in Miami's training facility for years to come as inspiration for the next generation of overlooked prospects.
The evening concluded with the shooting stars event, a team competition that provided a lighthearted conclusion to the night's festivities. But the memories of Johnson's upset victory and Lillard's precision shooting will linger far longer than the final scores of the ancillary events. All-Star weekend is designed to showcase the league's brightest talents and biggest names, but it's often the unexpected heroes who capture our imagination and remind us why we fell in love with basketball in the first place.
As the NBA moves forward into the second half of the season, Johnson's victory serves as a powerful reminder that greatness can emerge from anywhere in the basketball ecosystem. Whether you're the 14th overall pick with guaranteed millions or a player who had to fight for a two-way contract and prove himself daily, the opportunity for glory exists if you're willing to seize it when the moment arrives.
The dunk contest has a new champion, and his name is Keshad Johnson. The Miami Heat have another piece of hardware for their growing collection. And the basketball world has another underdog story to celebrate—a narrative that proves perseverance, timing, and execution can overcome hype and expectation on any given night.