In 2016, the Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon and then Minnesota Timberwolves' Zach Lavine were the two finalists in what is considered one of the greatest dunk contest of all time. Lavine would end up winning, but by most people's accounts, Gordon should have won.
Tonight, you could call the dunk contest a 2016 redux.
Gordon lost to the Miami Heat's Derrick Jones Jr in the finals, a supreme high-flyer whose dunks included a windmill over teammate Bam Adebayo and a through-the-legs jam off the backboard while jumping over a helper. The last dunk for Gordon though, should have been a 50, and is the point of controversy in the competition. After he and Jones Jr went on a string of 50 point dunks, Gordon went to something we had never seen. He had the Boston Celtics' Tacko Fall - all 7'7 of him - stand a few steps from the basket, facing the basket, head down and the ball held behind his head. Gordon, on a running start, leaped and grabbed the ball from Fall's neck, jumping over Fall and throwing down a two-handed dunk - crowd wild, and Reggie Miller, Kenny Smith and Kevin Harlan beside themselves after witnessing such an extraordinary feat. But Gordon would only be awarded a 47, receiving 10s from judges Common and Candace Parker, but 9s from Dwyane Wade, Chadwick Boseman, and Scottie Pippen.
The dunk was certainly worth a 50, but - with just the 47 - Jones. Jr, who did a windmill from just inside the free-throw line on the preceding dunk - clinched the title with a 50 score on that slam. Commentator Reggie Miller remarked after the contest that it was "1988 all over again" referencing the controversial contest when Michael Jordan edged out Dominique Wilkins.
Maybe Gordon and Jones. Jr will participate next year, after all no one would be mad at that and we could get a rematch of tonight's festivities. However, Gordon coming in second just doesn't sit right, especially after his controversial 2016 loss.
Here's hoping he'll enter again next year, and win it next time.
Winners:
Skills competition: Bam Adebayo over Domantas Sabonis in final round
3-Point competition: Buddy Heild over Devin Booker in final round
Dunk contest: Derrick Jones. Jr over Aaron Gordon in final round dunk-off
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