Former NBA All-Star dunk contest winner to miss rest of 2025-26 season after injury update originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The dunk contest is a staple of NBA All-Star Weekend, but many would agree the overall standard has dropped in recent years.
When you think of the best dunk contests, you'd probably think back to ten years ago, when Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine had an epic duel.
Unfortunately, LaVine just got an unlucky injury update, which was announced during NBA All-Star Weekend.
Zach LaVine to miss rest of 2025-26 NBA season
NBA insider Chris Haynes announced on Friday night that Kings' guard Zach LaVine would miss the remainder of this season.
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LaVine is being shut down after it was revealed he needs surgery on his right hand.
The Kings are in no place to make the postseason at this point, and were viewed as a team with almost all of their assets on the trade block at the recent deadline.
The LaVine injury loss is still a blow for the team, unless you're rooting for the Kings to get a good draft pick.
LaVine was acquired by the Kings during the 2025 trade deadline, playing in 71 games with the team since being traded there.
LaVine has a player option worth nearly $49 million for next season, so his time with the Kings could potentially be over if he doesn't re-sign or accept the player option to return next season.
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