Chicago Bulls: Aaron Gordon sends out challenge for 2020 Dunk Contest
Aaron Gordon in an interview with TMZ challenged Zach LaVine, Zion, and Donovan Mitchell to the 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in Chicago. LaVine beat Gordon in 2016, but could he do it again with Zion and Mitchell in the field?
In a recent interview with TMZ, Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic called out the two-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion, Zach LaVine to compete in the 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in Chicago. LaVine beat Gordon as a member of the Timberwolves in 2016 and also won the prior year.
That Dunk Contest was debated as controversial as Gordon was the winner in a lot of people’s minds even though now Chicago Bulls guard LaVine was named 2016 slam dunk champion that night and completed back-to-back (2015, 16) titles.
When asked by TMZ, if there’s any possibility of Gordon entering the dunk contest in Chicago. “I think so, it’s starting to look like that,” he says. “It’s really up to the NBA, but we’re gonna do it.”
If that isn’t exciting enough, Air Gordon didn’t stop there. TMZ asked, besides LaVine is there anybody else right now you’d love to dunk off against and Gordon responded, “Oh man, I know Zion probably going to do it. It’s in Zach’s hometown (Chicago) so he’ll probably do it, and the people want Donovan (Mitchell).”
Woah. Calling out Zion Williamson and Donovan Mitchell to compete against LaVine and himself is a fan’s dream dunk contest. Gordon made an interesting point after picking his field saying, “There’s a lot of good dunkers, there should be more than four.”
If you remember back in 2013 and 2014, the NBA experimented with the dunk contest adding two more dunkers each year. In 2013, six dunkers participated for the first and fan voting via text message picked the winner. In 2014, they added a freestyle round then battle round to determine the winners which lasted that one year as it should have. Not sure if Adam Silver would take a look into that, but he is a pro-active commissioner so we may see a change in the coming years.
Gordon is attempting to put together the 2020 field in and he has even tweeted about dreaming about doing the dunk contest.
https://twitter.com/Double0AG/status/1155119180770959360
Gordon would have to consider that all three competitors are undefeated in dunk contests on the big stage. We can assume Zion has never lost a dunk contest in his entire life and LaVine and Mitchell are undefeated in NBA Dunk Contests leaving Gordon the only winless one. Gordon competed in the 2017 Dunk Contest and finished last behind Champion Glenn Robinson III, runner-up Derrick Jones Jr., and DeAndre Jordan.
LaVine beat out Victor Oladipo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Mason Plumlee in 2015 and Gordon, Andre Drummond, and Will Barton in 2016. Mitchell won in 2018, out-lasting Larry Nance Jr., Dennis Smith Jr., and Victor Oladipo. Mitchell and Gordon both sat out of the contest in 2019 as they let the youngsters have at it.
The 2019 dunk contest field featured the youngest slam dunk participants in history. Champion Hamidou Diallo, Dennis Smith Jr., Miles Bridges, and John Collins, all were under 21-years-old. This year, we need some flair, experience and well the four of them in Chicago.
The only question mark is Zion. He won the High School Powerade Jam Fest and showed off his potential in his short summer league debut. The rookie said in an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols he’s not all in on the dunk contest.
“I don’t think I’m going to do [the dunk contest] to be honest, unless something changes my mind,” Williamson said.
Next. Chicago Bulls: Should the Bulls consider signing Jamal Crawford?. dark
A field with LaVine, Gordon, Mitchell sounds like a way to change Zion’s mind. Plus a field of those four sounds 10-times better than last years contest, respectively, and you can sign me up for LaVine or Zion if he decides to enter. Comment below and let us know you’re taking or who you want to be in the 2020 dunk contest.