The Heat will have a third representative at the All Star Game events and festivities next weekend at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
Heat forward Keshad Johnson on Saturday was named one of the four competitors in the Slam Dunk content, which will be televised live on NBC at 5 p.m. next Saturday.
The others competing: San Antonio’s Carter Bryant, the Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes and Orlando’s Jace Richardson. All four players will be competing in the event for the first time.
Johnson, an undrafted 6-6 forward, has played 159 minutes in his second NBA season after splitting last season between Miami and its NBA G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He’s averaging 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds and 7.6 minutes in 21 appearances for the Heat this season.
Two of the four competitors are rookies: Bryant, a 6-6 forward, was selected 14th overall by San Antonio in last June’s draft; Richardson, a 6-1 guard, was chosen 25th overall by Orlando.
Richardson is the son of two-time AT&T Slam Dunk champion Jason Richardson (2002 and 2003).
Hayes, a 7-foot center, is in his seventh NBA season and third with the Lakers.
The competition will feature a two-round format, with judges scoring each dunk. In the first round, all four players will attempt two dunks, and the combined score will determine the top two who advance to the final round. Each finalist will then attempt two additional dunks, with the higher combined score determining the champion.
Two other Heat players will be involved in All Star weekend: Norman Powell, who was named an Eastern Conference reserve for the All-Star Game next Sunday evening on NBC, and center Kel’el Ware, who was named to the Rising Stars competition on Friday.
Heat players have combined to win three past Slam Dunk championships. Harold Miner won the event in 1993 and 1995 and Derrick Jones Jr. took the crown it in 2020.
Other Heat competitors over the years included Billy Thompson and Jaime Jaquez Jr., who participated in the event as a rookie in 2024 and paid tribute to his Mexican roots and successfully jumped over 7’1” Shaquille O’Neal during his routine.