The Lakers' Jaxson Hayes faced a barrage of criticism for his performance in the NBA All-Star Dunk Contest, with many calling it the worst dunk in the contest's history. Hayes' first attempt, a one-handed dunk that resembled a pre-game warm-up, received the lowest score of the first round, averaging just 44.6 from the judges. Despite a more creative second dunk, where he threw the ball to himself, caught it off the bounce, took it between his legs, and dunked it, his score only improved to 47.2. This performance led to widespread online backlash, with fans and critics slamming Hayes' display as an embarrassment. Meanwhile, Damian Lillard, who missed most of the season due to a torn Achilles tendon, made a remarkable comeback by winning the NBA Three-Point Contest for the third time in his career. Lillard's victory was a testament to his resilience and skill, as he beat Devin Booker in the final round. The contest showcased Lillard's ability to perform under pressure, as he shot last in the opening round and advanced to the final with a score of 27. In the final, Lillard's consistent performance, including hitting five shots in a row on the left wing, secured his win with 27 points. The NBA Slam Dunk Contest saw Keshad Johnson take the title with an impressive 97.4 points, including a windmill dunk in the final round. Carter Bryant, a rookie forward from San Antonio, also made a memorable appearance with a perfect 50-point score in his first finals dunk, despite missing his final attempt. The All-Star Saturday festivities also included the Shooting Stars competition, which was won by Team Knicks, consisting of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Allan Houston.
