The Reincarnation of the NBA Dunk Contest

The NBA All-Star weekend has been on the decline in recent years. But this year did not disappoint. Karl-Anthony Towns won the Skills competition in the first year the “Big Men” of the NBA were allowed to compete. Russell Westbrook was the MVP of the All-Star Game for the second year in a row, which is the first time since Bob Pettit in 1959 that someone won consecutive All-Star MVPs. Paul George was also one point away from tying the All-Star game record with 41 points.

The real story however was the Dunk Contest on Saturday night. The contest has been in decline in recent years, but Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine stole the night with their championship “dunk off” where both guys kept receiving perfect scores so both players had to keep coming up with more creative dunks again and again.

The first round of dunkers also included Andre Drummond and Will Barton, but both of their dunks were very easy to forget. The championship round started strong with Aaron Gordon’s 360 windmill, but it was more impressive when Gordon timed his dunk so that the mascot of the Magic, “Stuff”, was rotating slowly on a hoverboard. Gordon again took it one step further when he put his hand behind his head for the finish. LaVine then followed with a very similar move, except he didn’t put his hand behind his head and he tossed the alley-oop to himself. Both very impressive dunks, but this round of the Dunk-off goes to Gordon.

Gordon for his second dunk tried to put the win in the bag as he used his mascot again, this time, jumping over him. Gordon got so much elevation he was able to jump over Stuff with ease, taking the ball off of Stuff’s head and putting the ball underneath both legs and through the rim which earned another perfect score of 50. LaVine kept the competition alive with his second “free throw line” dunk. This time, LaVine set the contest into overtime with a windmill with his foot on the line.

Gordon and LaVine continued to go back and forth, until Gordon pulled off what I believe was the most impressive dunk of the night. Gordon took the ball, touched his back with it and also brought the ball down between his legs before putting down a very powerful reverse slam. The judges deemed the dunk a 46, and LaVine end the competition with a free throw line dunk once again, this time putting the ball between his legs, earning him a 50 and the trophy for two years in a row.

Both dunkers showed a commendable amount of effort and brought the Dunk Contest back to its previous height. I really can’t wait for All-Star Weekend to come around next year.