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The 2020 NBA Slam Dunk contest saw Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. take home the crown, edging out Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon in a finale for the ages. Unfortunately, a rather controversial result that saw Gordon lose another close call clouded the classic showdown between two of the best dunkers in the NBA today.
According to ESPN, two of the judges on duty – hip-hop artist Common and WNBA star Candace Parker – revealed that they had intended to have Gordon and Jones Jr.'s second dunk-off finish in a tie. However, someone from the group apparently steered away from the plan in the end, causing the controversial finish:
“We thought it was going to be tied. We were like, ‘This is a tie!'” one judge, hip-hop artist Common, told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. “But somebody didn't do it right. I don't know who it is.”
Los Angeles Sparks star Candace Parker, another judge on the panel, confirmed that they had intended for the second dunk-off to result in a tie.
Gordon and Jones Jr. each scored two 50's in the final round and needed two more tie-breakers to determine a winner. Jones Jr. received a 48 in his second dunk of the tie-breaker round. It all seemed certain that Gordon would finally get his crowning NBA Dunk Contest moment, especially after he finished what eventually became his final dunk of the night, a slam over the majestic Tacko Fall.
However, as mentioned, three judges instead gave Gordon as score of 9, resulting in the Jones Jr. win. Many people were up in arms on Twitter and believed the trophy should have gone Gordon's way, especially after he put down arguably the best dunk of the night, a 360 alley-oop slam off the side of the backboard.
