Aaron Gordon was the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He’s an incredibly athletic player entering his third season with the Orlando Magic. How will new coach Frank Vogel use him? Is he ready to turn that raw potential into results? Few people outside of diehard NBA fans care, because they only want to know one thing with regard to Gordon: Will he be in the dunk contest this year?
During All-Star weekend last season Gordon and Zach Lavine blew the doors off the Slam Dunk Contest. It was arguably the best dunk contest ever as both guys pulled out every jam they could imagine to try and win. In the end, LaVine won the event for the second straight year, but nobody came away disappointed with Gordon’s performance.
However, despite the fact Gordon came up just short, he may not be looking to defeat LaVine next February. Asked by Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders if he would compete in the dunk-off again, Gordon was noncommittal.
“I’m not 100 percent sure. I kind of gave a lot in this last one and to be more creative would be difficult. I think I could do it, but I’m not sure if I’m going to.”
This is completely understandable, if disappointing. A lot of players won’t even bother competing in the dunk contest because they don’t think it’s worth it. Gordon was willing to give it his all last year. It’s perfectly reasonable if he doesn’t want to do that again. It just means this season’s dunk contest won’t have the same excitement to it.
(Via Basketball Insiders)
