The 2016 NBA Slam Dunk Contest between Orlando Magic big man Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine was one for the ages.
LaVine won, but many people believe Gordon should have gone home with the trophy that night. The Magic high-flyer says even today, people tell him he was robbed, via Magic.com:
“Man, it’s almost every day,” Gordon said of the fans who randomly approach him. “(They usually say), ‘You got robbed! You should have won that dunk contest!' “
Fans were hoping for a rematch between Gordon and LaVine this year in Chicago, but LaVine opted not to participate since he's won the event twice already.
Gordon will instead dunk against Dwight Howard, Derrick Jones Jr. and Pat Connaughton.
Howard, the 2008 Slam Dunk champion and former Magic star, will compete in the event for the first time since 2009, when he made the last of three consecutive appearances. Gordon’s runner-up performance in 2016 included three straight perfect scores of 50. Fans are anxious to see what he has in store this time around.
Jones finished second in 2017, while Connaughton is seeking to become the first Bucks player to win the contest.
Gordon is averaging 14.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Magic this season in 49 games. He's shooting 42.4 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from beyond the arc and 67.5 percent from the free-throw line.
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