Players and fans all over the league think Orlando Magic big man Aaron Gordon should have won the controversial 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, but Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. believes that he rightfully deserves the win.
During his presser after the contest, Jones Jr. he addressed the dunks he and Gordon made in the dunk-off. Per Ben Golliver of Washington Post, the Heat swingman claimed that his free-throw line slam should have gotten a 50 and that there was no way Gordon's dunk over Tacko Fall would have gotten the perfect score.
Slam Dunk Contest champion Derrick Jones Jr. says his last dunk was worth a 50 and that Aaron Gordon’s final dunk over Tacko Fall wasn’t worth a 50: “There’s no way I should have got a 48. He clipped Tacko’s head so they couldn’t give him a 50 for that one.” pic.twitter.com/9JJ3fVwdu4
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 16, 2020
For what it's worth, while Derrick Jones Jr.'s his elevation in his final slam was more than respectable, many will argue that his jumping foot clearly went over the free-throw line. With that said, many will say that it also doesn't deserve a 50 — contrary to what the Heat youngster just claimed.
Meanwhile, Aaron Gordon had to clear a 7-foot-5 juggernaut in Tacko Fall to accomplish his final dunk. Sure, he didn't clear the man cleanly enough, but the fact that he jumped at least seven feet in order to finish the dunk is nothing short of astonishing. Moreover, it is worth noting they didn't rehearse the slam beforehand.
Another knock on Jones Jr.'s win is the fact that Dwyane Wade was among the judges. Many fans feel that Wade is the main reason Jones was able to hang on to the contest for as long as he did.
However, the game is now finished, and Jones Jr. will be the one taking home the trophy back to the Heat. The discussions will not likely end, but the conversation is finished as far as he's concerned.
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