Ja Morant teases his potential debut in the Slam Dunk Contest for 2026, drawing inspiration from Mac McClung’s impressive three-peat as champion.
On Saturday, Morant hinted at his interest through social media posts, suggesting he might be swayed to participate in the iconic event.
“mac might make me decide to dunk,” he shared, clearly acknowledging McClung’s influence.
The Memphis Grizzlies guard also reached out to two legends of the Dunk Contest, seeking their involvement.
“zach & AG wassup,” Morant wrote, using an eyes emoji to grab attention.
This message likely targeted Zach LaVine of the Sacramento Kings and Aaron Gordon of the Denver Nuggets. Both players are celebrated for their spectacular performances in the history of the contest, with LaVine being a two-time winner. Their 2016 showdown remains one of the most memorable, with LaVine earning a perfect score on all four dunks while Gordon matched him with three perfect attempts, leading to a dramatic dunk-off.
Before McClung’s recent triumph, Gordon held the record for the most dunks with a perfect score in Slam Dunk Contest history. McClung’s four flawless dunks, including a jaw-dropping leap over a car, tied him with Gordon for this prestigious achievement.
For years, Morant has been viewed as a highly anticipated participant in the Dunk Contest. However, he had previously expressed reluctance, stating in a 2021 Bleacher Report interview that he would only consider it if he received $1 million.
Now, Morant appears to be more open to the idea of showcasing his dunking skills, which would undoubtedly add significant star power to the event. In recent years, Jaylen Brown is the only player to compete in the contest while also being named an All-Star, finishing as the runner-up in the 2024 edition.
However, the landscape could shift dramatically between now and the 2026 All-Star Saturday in Los Angeles. A notable example is LeBron James, who famously declared his intent to compete in the 2011 Dunk Contest while watching Dwight Howard claim victory in 2010, yet he has never participated in the event.
