The Detroit Pistons will no longer have representation in the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest despite reports that center Jalen Duren had accepted an invitation to take part in the event.
The NBA officially announced the four-man field for the competition on Saturday and Duren was nowhere to be found.
The Pistons’ star big man has been dealing with knee soreness “for a bit” according to coach J.B. Bickerstaff, causing him to exit Thursday’s game against the Washington Wizards in the first half and see him miss Friday’s matchup with the New York Knicks entirely.
That right knee ailment may have played a role in him eventually not taking part in the dunk contest during his first career trip to the All-Star game. Duren was selected as a reserve player earlier this week and set to compete alongside teammate Cade Cunningham under Bickerstaff with team USA Stars in the new three-team All-Star format.
There’s been no indication whether he will still play in the All-Star game or not.
The field for the dunk contest will include San Antonio rookie Carter Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, the Miami Heat’s Keshad Johnson and former Michigan State guard Jase Richardson, now with the Orlando Magic.
Since being selected 25th overall in the 2025 NBA draft, Richardson has played 36 games for the Magic, averaging 5.1 points and 1.2 assists per game off the bench while shooting 47% from the field.
The rookie will try and live up to his father’s — 15-year NBA veteran Jason Richardson — impressive resume in the dunk contest.
Jason won the event in back-to-back years in 2002 and 2003. He’s one of five players to ever win the contest in consecutive years alongside Michael Jordan, Nate Robinson, Zach Lavine and Mac McClung.
The elder Richardson was the last former Spartan to participate in the event after competing again in 2004.
Jase was a one-and-done with the Spartans, playing a crucial role in a 30-win MSU team that reached the Elite Eight before exiting to the No. 1 overall seed, Auburn. He averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his lone college season.
The dunk contest will take place on Feb. 14 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., the home arena of the Los Angeles Clippers. The All-Star game will be played on Feb. 15 to conclude the weekend.