Starlight dims! Hayes Bryant will participate in the dunk contest, while three-time dunk champion Mike Long will not compete.

In recent years, the NBA dunk contest has lost much of its shine. On January 30th Beijing time, according to respected journalist Shams, two of the four confirmed participants this year are Lakers center Hayes and Spurs wing Carter Bryant. Earlier, three-time dunk champion Mike Long declared he would skip the contest.

Hayes stands 2.13 meters tall and naturally carries the “tall player dunk effect,” whether it impresses or not. Not long ago, he executed a between-the-legs dunk during a Lakers regular-season game, showing he has a professional-level dunk repertoire. Hayes hails from the University of Texas and was selected 8th overall in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. This season, Hayes has mostly played off the bench for the Lakers, averaging 6.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, with a remarkable shooting percentage of 77.3%.

Bryant comes from the University of Arizona and was picked 14th overall in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft by the Spurs. Known for his defensive skills in college, Bryant currently averages only 2.5 points per game as a rookie in the NBA, with a shooting percentage that leaves much to be desired. Clearly, the public expects Bryant to deliver a more dazzling performance on the dunk contest stage than in his rookie season games.

Two more participants are yet to be decided. U.S. media express hope that at least one of these two will have greater star appeal than the two already named.