Son of Warriors legend Jason Richardson tapped for Slam Dunk Contest

Jason Richardson received the Slam Dunk Contest in his first two NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors. Now his son will attempt to repeat his feat in his personal rookie season.

Jase Richardson of the Orlando Magic is one in all 4 dunkers competing for glory at this 12 months’s Slam Dunk Contest, occurring Feb. 14 on the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. After Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons pulled out of the competition on account of a knee damage, the NBA tapped Miami Warmth guard Keshad Johnson to interchange him, together with rookie Carter Bryant of the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers heart/complete jerk Jaxson Hayes, who served a one-game suspension this week after cheap-shooting Washington Wizards mascot, G-Wiz.

J-Wealthy received the primary two dunk contests he entered then fell quick in 2004, when Indiana Pacers guard Fred Jones backed into the win after a disappointing closing spherical the place each rivals missed their final dunks. Nevertheless, Richardson was transcendent in his first look in 2002, delivering the three highest-rated dunks within the contest whereas seamlessly duplicating a traditional Dominique Wilkins windmill dunk and shutting on a reserve two-handed jam.

The youthful Richardson is a special sort of participant than his father. Jase isa 5 inches shorter at 6-foot-1 and he’s a three-point specialist, a talent that ultimately took off for J-Wealthy however not till his fifth NBA season. Additionally, J-Wealthy dunked 81 occasions in his rookie season, whereas thus far his son has dunked precisely 4 occasions.

That’s a bizarre aspect of this 12 months’s contest: These guys don’t really dunk in video games. Richardson has 4 dunks. Bryant has dunked six occasions. Johnson has 9 dunks, and 15 in 37 profession video games. Hayes dunks quite a bit, throwing it down 69 occasions this season earlier than Saturday’s recreation and 67 occasions earlier than Tuesday’s contest, and which of these numbers you discover funniest says quite a bit about your age.

Nevertheless, Richardson has proven a capability to rise up, particularly in Michigan State’s preseason dunk contest in 2024, when the freshman placed on his dad’s previous No. 23 jersey earlier than throwing down a 360-degree slam.

Plus, he’s considerably shorter than all the opposite dunkers, which makes dunks look extra spectacular. How else did Nate Robinson turn out to be a three-time champion?

Dwight Howard was by no means the identical after this.

Jase most likely isn’t the very best dunker amongst Jason Richardson’s sons. That honor goes to his youthful brother Jaxon Richardson, who has received a number of dunk contests whereas nonetheless in highschool.

Hey, bear in mind when Jason Richardson received his second dunk title in 2003? We do!

Jase and Jason may turn out to be the primary father-son pair to win the Slam Dunk Contest, after Larry Nance, Jr., son of 1984 dunk champ Larry Nance, fell to Donovan Mitchell within the closing of the 2018 occasion. They’d additionally tie for the household dunk championships document with the Robinson’s and the McClung’s, who’ve three every.

Is Jase excited to compete? Form of.

The Slam Dunk Contest nonetheless struggles to draw star expertise, with this group together with two rookies and a man in Johnson who was on a two-way contract six weeks in the past. Mac McClung bowing out of this 12 months’s occasion after three straight titles removes some star energy, although he’s enjoying nice for the Windy Metropolis Bulls — 27.9 factors, 7.9 assists and 1.4 steals in his 14 video games. Thursday, he signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, and it wasn’t simply so the NBA may save face earlier than All-Star Saturday!

Look, with Jimmy Butler out and Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jonathan Kuminga traded, the Warriors are down to at least one man who ever dunks, Gary Payton II. However due to McClung’s Summer time League stint with the Warriors and Richardson’s dad, Golden State might be taking a look at 4 straight dunk contests with a vaguely Warriors-adjacent champion. At this level within the 2025-26 season, Warriors followers will take any W they’ll.