Feb. 13, 2026, 1:42 p.m. ET
After accepting an invitation to the 2026 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, Jase Richardson didn’t waste time enlisting the help of his father, Jason Richardson, a two-time winner of the event, to serve as his mentor.
Jase is among four first-time participants vying for the Dr. J Slam Dunk Contest Trophy on Saturday at NBA All-Star Weekend, along with San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes and Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson.
Like Jase, Jason was rather surprised to learn that the NBA wanted his son to compete in Inglewood, California. That’s likely because Jase has thrown down just four dunks this season with the Orlando Magic, the lowest mark of any of the four contestants.
“I was actually pretty shocked that the NBA invited him, but I’m proud that he decided to accept it,” Jason told Rookie Wire. “With the Dunk Contest, a lot of people don’t want to go out there and do it, but he is a kid who likes to live up to expectations. I think he is going to shock a lot of people this weekend.”
Jason established himself as a high-flyer and exceptional shooter throughout his 13 years in the league, including 109 games with the Magic. He won the Slam Dunk Contest in 2002 and 2003, becoming the second player to win in consecutive years (Michael Jordan).
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Though Jase joked that he may not have the same dunking ability that his father put on display, he has the luxury of bouncing ideas off a proven competitor and winner. In other words: He’ll be stepping into the Intuit Dome with an edge on Saturday.
“It is a huge advantage,” Jase told Rookie Wire. “I basically have a cheat code right in my backyard. I got somebody I can lean on who has won it twice. He has got a lot of creativity that I can take from.”
Said Jason of his advice to Jase: “Just have fun with it and have a game plan. You can’t just walk out there and not have anything planned. You got to have a set schedule and just try to go out there and get the crowd on your side and make some spectacular dunks. Hopefully, the judges agree with what you’ve come up with.”
Jase and Jason are teaming up with AT&T as part of its 150th-anniversary celebration of the first phone call. Returning as the title partner, AT&T will spotlight the Slam Dunk Contest while honoring a legacy of innovation that continues to shape how people connect.
The father-son duo is eager about the partnership.
“We just ended up partnering with them through basketball, using the AT&T-sponsored ball,” Jase said. “I just kind of feel like it is important to build relationships with technology programs like this, which are advancing so much in technology nowadays.”
Jase, with a limited highlight reel over his first 39 games, enters the competition with the lowest odds of winning (plus-350), trailing Johnson (plus-325), Hayes (plus-250) and Bryant (plus-190), his former AAU teammate of two years.
The 20-year-old has had the opportunity to practice some of his dunks after shootarounds and practices with the Magic recently. He is confident with what he’ll be showcasing on the big stage and that he can make some noise, despite entering as an underdog.
“I’ve seen a lot of jokes on social media, and I love stuff like that,” Jase said. “I find it hilarious. For those people expecting me not to do much, I’m hoping to go out there and shock some people. I always want to try to win at anything I do, so I’m going to be super competitive, but I’m also going to have fun at the same time.”
Jase, the ninth Magic player to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest, is hopeful to deliver an instant classic this year. Along with his father, he pointed to players like Aaron Gordon, Zach LaVine and Mac McClung as some of his favorite contest dunkers.
The 6-foot-1 guard will have two dunk attempts in the first round to impress the judges well enough to advance to the final round. But Jason, after watching him work closely, likes his chances to win.
“I think they’re really high,” Jason said. “A lot of people are counting him out. I think the crowd is going to be on his side because he is six inches shorter than the next shortest person, and people forget: He still has my genetics. He is going to shock a lot of people.”