Former Magic PF Aaron Gordon Roasts Dunk Contest, Praises Mac McClung
Shaquille O'Neal is 7-1. Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat cleared him with just a hand for balance placed on his back, and the NBA Dunk Contest judges game him a 47.4 score.
That was respectable, but with Jaquez Jr. going first, the panel expected bigger and better things to come. Ultimately, Mac McClung of the G-League's Osceola Magic took home the trophy with a much-deserved perfect 50, besting ... Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown?
Dunk contest winner Mac McClung also participated in the Rising Stars Challenge as a member of Team Detlef.
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Brown, the only All-Star in the contest, advanced with a total score of 96.4 in the first round. His dunks were impressive, but nothing exceptional. A double-clutch windmill and an alley-oop from Jayson Tatum over a seated Kai Cenat, who is only 5-9, received boos from the crowd and a 47.6 from the judges, besting Jaquez Jr. and advancing to the finals.
It should be noted that it took Brown two chances to make a dunk over Cenat, when Jaques Jr. cleared Shaq on the first attempt.
After the contest, McClung received well-deserved praise for his repeat as Dunk Champion, but the other contestants, and judges, were not spared criticism.
Former Orlando Magic forward and two-time Dunk Contest participant Aaron Gordon took to social media to sound off.
Gordon lost in both of his appearances but is widely regarded as one of the best dunkers ever. his 2016 battle with Zach LaVine was the greatest Dunk Contest ever, and after Saturday's showcase, it's safe to say that the 2016 bout will remain the best.
Gordon is a 10-year NBA veteran but is only 28 years old. With minimal significant injury history, it's not beyond reason that Gordon could still throw dunks down with the rest of them.
Despite his above-the-rim prowess, Gordon has retired from the Dunk Contest unless he is also an All-Star, which seems unlikely. For now, he can watch the contest from home and insist that he could put on a show.
And you know what? He's probably right.
