Twenty-four years ago, Jason Richardson won his first Slam Dunk Contest. This All-Star Saturday, his son will participate in the contest.
Rookie Jase Richardson from the Orlando Magic is among four dunkers competing, along with Jaxson Hayes from the Los Angeles Lakers, Keshad Johnson from the Miami Heat, and fellow rookie Carter Bryant from the San Antonio Spurs. Jase is the shortest of the group, which doesn’t always pose a challenge.
Jase Richardson is the NBA’s second ‘second-generation’ dunker
Jase is the second dunk champion’s child to take part in this contest. In 2018, Larry Nance Jr. competed, 34 years after his father, Larry Nance Sr., won the NBA’s inaugural All-Star Weekend dunk contest by beating Dominique Wilkins. Although Nance Jr. made it to the finals, he lost to Donovan Mitchell.
Jason Richardson, playing for the Golden State Warriors, won the dunk contest in his first two NBA seasons, in 2002 and 2003, but was eliminated in his third attempt by Fred Jones after an unsatisfactory final round. Only Nate Robinson and Mac McClung, who is not participating this year after winning three times in a row, have more dunk titles than J-Rich.