Dominique Wilkins sees untapped dunking talent like Anthony Edwards and Jalen Johnson, urging them to light up the contest with their explosive skills.
Before the 2026 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest tipped off in Los Angeles, Dominique Wilkins was already thinking about who wasn’t in the field.
The Hall of Famer and former Atlanta Hawks icon, speaking in a one-on-one interview ahead of All-Star Saturday night, was asked who he considers the best dunker in today’s NBA. Rather than limit the conversation to the four-man field, Wilkins pointed toward star-level talent across the league.
“It’s a lot of guys, man, or there’s a lot of guys who were not even in the dunk contest,” Wilkins told Forbes.
Among the names he mentioned were Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Hawks forward Jalen Johnson — players known for their in-game explosiveness and highlight finishes.
“Look at Anthony Edwards,” Wilkins said. “Exciting dunker, I would say. Jalen Johnson, another guy who was very creative and an explosive guy. You can go down the line with guys who are not in the contest that would be good participants.”
Wilkins’ comments came before Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson ultimately won the 2026 title, defeating Spurs rookie Carter Bryant in the final. But his point was broader than one year’s results: the league’s most dynamic dunkers aren’t always the ones on the All-Star stage.
Johnson, notably, has already expressed interest in eventually entering the contest.
During All-Star Weekend, while attending the Celebrity Game at Kia Forum, the 24-year-old forward was asked whether he would consider participating in the future.
“I will be in the dunk contest one day,” Johnson said.
The statement was delivered calmly and without hesitation. When ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson joked that Johnson might not have enough bounce, the Hawks forward responded with a smile.
“It sounds great. We'll see when the time comes,” Johnson replied.
Johnson’s confidence aligns with the type of season he is having. Through 50 games, he is averaging 23.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 35.7 minutes per contest, emerging as one of the league’s most versatile forwards. He is shooting 50.2% from the field and 35.3% from three-point range while posting a 59.2% true shooting percentage.
Beyond scoring, Johnson has recorded 409 assists and averages 1.3 steals, underscoring his expanded playmaking role. His 1,164 points and 532 rebounds rank among the most productive totals at his position, and his +13 cumulative plus-minus reflects his overall impact.
Athletically, the tools are evident. At 6-foot-8, Johnson combines length, coordination and vertical pop — thriving in transition and elevating comfortably in traffic. Those traits often form the foundation of successful dunk contest participants.
Wilkins, who won the contest in 1985 and 1990 and remains one of its defining figures, wasn’t making a prediction — but he was offering a roadmap. If the NBA’s most explosive stars choose to participate, he believes the contest’s ceiling rises with them.
Johnson has already put his name in that future conversation. Now it becomes a matter of timing.