Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon will probably be remembered as the greatest dunker not to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. With this legacy, however, the high flyer has concerns he might have ruined the once-popular All-Star weekend competition.
As the NBA continues to receive criticisms for its relatively week lineup for the 2021 dunk contest, Gordon spoke out about how his experience of pulling off incredible dunks and still not win may stop stop others from joining the annual showdown.
To recall, the Magic big man joined the 2016 and 2020 Slam Dunk Contest. In 2016 in particular, he lost to Zach LaVine despite showing what what has been some of the greatest dunks in the history of the competition. Meanwhile, last year, he lost to Derrick Jones Jr. after a controversial judging decision by DJJ's former Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade.
“I have some fears that I ruined the dunk contest, that people aren’t going to want to do it anymore,” Gordon said in his documentary titled “Mr. 50,” which chronicled the Magic forward's experience in the 2020 All-Star Weekend in Chicago (per USA Today). “I hope that people see ‘Mr. 50’ and are inspired and continue to elevate that dunk contest because there are still dunks that haven’t been done. I’m not going to do them, but I hope somebody comes in and does them. It’s a great event. It’s beautiful for the game.”
To Aaron Gordon's point, the recent controversies in the dunk contest may have truly disappointed both players and fans. After all, the NBA failed to invite a big-name player in the 2021 dunk competition, with New York Knicks rookie Obi Toppin, Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons and Indiana Pacers freshman Cassius Stanley being the only participants.
While the dunk contest has been one of the most popular All-Star events in the past years, it's clear the NBA has a lot of work to do to return it to its former glory.
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