The 2026 edition of the NBA’s annual Slam Dunk Contest reportedly has its first two participants. Spurs forward Carter Bryant and Lakers center Jaxson Hayes have accepted invitations to compete in the event, according to a Thursday afternoon report from Shams Charania of ESPN. Bryant, 20, and Hayes, 25, will be both newcomers to the contest. Los Angeles guard Kobe Bryant is the only player from either team ever to win the event, doing so in 1997. So far, he has primarily come off the bench, averaging 2.5 points in 8.1 minutes per game.