There’s life in the old dunk yet.
With most of the league’s biggest stars no longer interested in competing, the NBA Slam Dunk Contest has lost some of its lustre in recent years, but last night’s duel between Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine might just have breathed new life into the contest.
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard LaVine, the defending champion, ended up victorious, but he was pushed all the way by Orlando forward Gordon, as the pair put on a show for the crowd at All-Star Weekend in Toronto.
LaVine booked his place in the final with the help of this stunning effort…
.@ZachLaVine 😮 https://t.co/SSj9rmmAQE
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 14, 2016
Gordon, though, stepped up his game in the final round, using Magic mascot Stuff, who was spinning on a hoverboard, to help him deliver a 360 dunk.
Aaron Gordon's Spinning Mascot Hoverboard Dunk https://t.co/lU3S1cu1Vf
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 14, 2016
And when Gordon (and Stuff) delivered this incredible behind the back effort it looked like LaVine’s reign as the dunk champ might be over. But the T-Wolves guard had one last dunk in his locker, one which he later admitted he’d never tried before.
LaVine took off a foot inside the free-throw line and went between the legs to seal his victory.
Game winning dunk by the gawd Zach Lavine #BackToBack https://t.co/ei7RyOErzj
— OnSMASH (@OnSMASH) February 14, 2016
Us, still: pic.twitter.com/RKDadkMfbY
— CBS Sports NBA (@CBSSportsNBA) February 14, 2016
