Jace Richardson’s not-so-enthusiastic reaction to a header

Orlando Magic rookie quarterback Jace Richardson offered a muffled reply after being named one of the participants in this year’s AT&T Slam Dunk Contest.

With NBA releases complete list of dunk competitors for next Saturday’s event at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Richardson reshared Magic’s post on X, formerly known as Twitter, and added a short caption:

“I guess,” followed by a laughing emoji and a shrug.

The reaction stood out as the league continues to build buzz around the dunk contest ahead of All-Star weekend. Richardson will compete alongside Los Angeles Lakers center Jackson Hayes, San Antonio Spurs rookie forward Carter Bryant and Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson. The contest will take place on Saturday night as part of the NBA All-Star festivities.

I guess 😂🤷🏾‍♂ https://t.co/uDkgJZl0M6

— Jase Richardson (@JaseRich4) February 7, 2026

Richardson, 20, was selected by Orlando with the 25th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and has taken over the rotation during his first pro season. In 36 games, he is averaging 5.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three-point range in 12.0 minutes per game.

Jace Richardson’s dunk in the dunk contest adds attention as the Magic push toward the All-Star break

While Richardson showed athleticism on the play, his understated reaction was in contrast to the excitement usually associated with being selected for the dunk contest. The 2026 field will follow last year’s event, which garnered significant attention after guarding the Chicago Bulls Mac McClung won his third straight slam dunk contest titlebecoming the first player in NBA history to accomplish the feat.

Orlando enters the final stretch before All-Star Weekend focused on maintaining momentum. The The Magic sit at 26-24 and will be looking to close out their current four-game stretch strongly. Orlando hosts the Utah Jazz on Saturday night at 7:00 PM ET, after A 118-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.

Richardson’s slam dunk will add another moment in the spotlight to his rookie campaign as the league gathers in Los Angeles for All-Star weekend.