5 biggest disappointments of the 2016-17 NBA season
By Dre Elder
Dunk Contest
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The mythical duel between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon in 2016 evoked comparisons to the famed battles between Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins in the late 1980’s. Though Zach LaVine ultimately captured his second dunk crown, many fans believe Aaron Gordon was robbed. The controversial end set the stage for the two aerial artists to run it back in the 2017 edition.
Fans salivated for a sequel that would never materialize. A few weeks ahead of All-Star Weekend, LaVine announced he would not participate in this year’s dunk contest. Aaron Gordon instantly became the overwhelming favorite versus a lackluster field.
Jaylen Brown and Johnathan Simmons were both invited to join the field and both declined. You knew the field was in trouble when a rookie and a player who once paid $150 to try out for the Spurs’ D-League team were opting out. DeAndre Jordan, Glenn Robinson III, and Derrick Jones Jr., rounded out participants’ list. Jordan was eliminated in the opening round after two ho-hum dunks, one of which included DJ Khaled as a prop.
Aaron Gordon’s use of a drone on his first dunk added intrigue, but he needed four attempts to finish it. Gordon failed to convert his second dunk after four attempts and was eliminated. The prohibitive favorite flopped and went 1-for-8 during his cringe-worthy performance.
With the big names out, the final round featured Glenn Robinson III and Derrick Jones Jr. At the time, Jones Jr. had just been called up from the D-League, but had YouTube fame. Ultimately, Robinson III leaped over three props and converted an impressive double-pump reverse dunk to secure the win.
Still, the 2017 Dunk Contest was largely a snooze fest. DJ Khaled can’t be the most famous face in a premier All-Star Weekend event. And let’s not even discuss the All-Star “Game.”