In Inglewood, California, 20-year-old Jase Richardson is gearing up for the AT&T Dunk Contest during All-Star Saturday Night, drawing on advice from his father Jason Richardson, a 13-year NBA veteran and two-time Dunk Contest champion. Despite the usual eye-roll of a son receiving paternal advice, this week’s preparations carry special gravity as Jase follows in his father’s iconic footsteps with hopes to shine in the contest.
Passing Down Experience and Strategy
Jason Richardson delighted in his son’s newfound focus on his basketball counsel after two decades, sharing with NBC Sports his surprise and pride at Jase’s engagement. Jase admitted he is carefully absorbing all his father offers, recognizing the significance of his dad’s unique experience in the very event he is about to compete in.
Most of Jason’s recommendations revolve around mindset and enjoying the moment, rather than introducing new dunk techniques.
“Most of his advice has been more about the thought process,”
Jase said, explaining that the landscape of dunk contest dunks has evolved since Jason’s time. His father emphasizes approach and savoring the experience above all else.
Jason recalled his own legendary 2003 Dunk Contest dunk in Atlanta—a reverse between the legs—highlighting the role adrenaline played. Though he struggled to land that dunk during practice, the adrenaline surge during competition allowed him to perform flawlessly.
“The dunk I made in Atlanta, the reverse between the legs on the baseline—I couldn’t do it in practice… But I knew, once I’m in that dunk contest, my adrenaline will be so high, and I’m gonna be jumping so crazy that that’s going to be an easy dunk. And when it came time to do that dunk, I made it. And honestly, I never done that dunk again in my life,”
Jason said.
AT&T’s Support and Symbolic Dunk Tools
The special connection between father and son drew the attention of AT&T, which celebrated the 150th anniversary of the first phone call by sponsoring both Richardsons for the event. Jase embraces this partnership, incorporating a distinctive blue AT&T basketball for all four of his dunks, turning it into a memorable keepsake of his Dunk Contest experience.
“I’m actually using the ball for all four dunks—very blue, I would say,”
Jase shared with a smile.
“But, you know, it’s a super cool ball, something I can have later down the line in my life, and look back and remember the Dunk Contest.”
Unexpected Invitation to the Dunk Contest
Neither Jase nor his father expected him to receive the invitation to participate in the Dunk Contest, especially given Jase’s modest dunk count this season and his reputation at Michigan State as not being a high-flyer. Jase expressed surprise at the call but acknowledged the opportunity to showcase his skills and enjoy the All-Star Weekend spotlight.
“Oh, 100%. I never thought me specifically would be a Dunk Contest participant,”
Jase admitted.
“When I got asked, I was definitely shocked to hear and surprised by it. But, I mean, it’s also a good opportunity to go out during the All-Star Weekend and just have fun.”
Jason advised his son on capitalizing on surprise and the importance of making each dunk on the first try to win over the crowd.
“You got to catch the element of surprise, and you got to make it on the first attempt. That’s never going to change…”
Jason explained.
“I think that was always the key to my recipe going into the dunk contest was to make every dunk on the first try and get people on my side.”
Admiring Past Dunk Legends and Seeking Creative Inspiration
Jase has long been a fan of the Dunk Contest, influenced by memorable performances from stars like Zach LaVine and Vince Carter. He fondly recalled watching the 2016 contest featuring LaVine and Aaron Gordon’s remarkable battle and credited Vince Carter’s performance with elevating the contest’s popularity.
“I think for me, [I watched] a lot of Zach LaVine. I remember watching the 2016 dunk contest, and I was just in awe,”
Jase said.
“And I think somebody else who really stood out to me was Vince Carter. I feel like his dunk contest really, really made the contest what it is now, and I feel like his dunk contest will always be special.”
Alongside his father’s insights, Jase has sought input from a wide circle, including teammates, former contest participants, coaches, and even his former teachers, gathering various perspectives to find the perfect angle for his performances.
Father’s Role in the Upcoming Dunk Contest
While neither Jason nor Jase has revealed whether the father will feature in any of the son’s dunks on game night, one thing remains certain: Jason Richardson is fully committed to ensuring his son enters the contest ready for the moment, using his own experience and calm under pressure as a blueprint.
Throw back to Jason Richardson's iconic dunk contest performance.
Can Jase Richardson follow in his father's footsteps this year? pic.twitter.com/sHI9k5giES
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) February 10, 2026
