Kobe Bryant’s 1997 Slam Dunk Contest rival Chris Carr’s son drafted by Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Cameron Carr with the No. 24 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, bringing a direct link to Kobe Bryant through his father Chris Carr, who faced Bryant in the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest at Cleveland’s Gund Arena on 9 February 1997.
Chris Carr spent six NBA seasons with six teams from 1995 to 2001, averaging a career-high 9.9 points per game for Minnesota in 1997-98. The 6-5 guard earned his lone All-Star Weekend invite by reaching the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest finals, where he locked horns with a teenage Bryant.
Carr’s dunking prowess shaped his son’s game. Cameron transferred from Tennessee to Baylor, where he starred under Scott Drew before declaring for the 2026 draft. The Lakers targeted him specifically, trading up one spot to land the guard at No. 24.
Bryant, then 18, edged Carr 49-45 in the finals to claim the crown. Michael Finley also reached the final round, while Ray Allen and future Laker Darvin Ham bowed out in the first round. Carr’s 45-point score remains one of the highest losing marks in contest history.
The contest was a collision of rising stars. Bryant’s victory launched a Hall of Fame trajectory, while Carr’s dunking pedigree lived on through his son’s rim-rocking highlights at Baylor.
The Lakers’ pick ties a generational thread. Bryant played 20 seasons in purple and gold, winning five titles and cementing a legacy that now includes a player whose father once challenged him on the dunk stage.
Cameron Carr joins a roster alongside Luka Dončić and, potentially, LeBron James. The move gives the Lakers a guard with elite athleticism and a backstory rooted in Bryant’s era.
Carr must now prove himself in the NBA. His draft slot slipped after a strong Baylor season, but the Lakers see upside in his slashing and defense. The 2027 Slam Dunk Contest could mark the 30th anniversary of his father’s runner-up run against Bryant.
The Lakers’ front office clearly values connections to Bryant’s past. With Dončić and James anchoring the core, Carr’s role may hinge on how quickly he adapts to the pro game.