Mario Hezonja had a Dunk of the Year nominee
By Kareem Gantt
New York Knicks forward Mario Hezonja has long posterized opponents. But in Cleveland, he had, quite possibly, the dunk of the year.
Mario Hezonja and the New York Knicks haven’t had a lot to celebrate this season. After all, they’re dead last in the NBA at 10-46, traded away their only marketable star, and have headed into the pit of NBA dispair.
In short, it’s been a brutal season in Gotham.
But, on Monday night in Cleveland, Hezonja breathed some excitement back on the Knicks bench, coming at the expense of Marquese Chriss. In the battle of two of the NBA’s dirtiest front-door rugs, Hezonja, who signed a one year deal with New York only to occupy the same spot he was in with his previous team (Orlando Magic), rose from the floor and delivered, what could possibly be, the dunk of the year.
It was 10:11 to go in the second quarter, and the Knicks were in a very familiar position, trailing by six. Dennis Smith Jr. pushed the ball down the court and passed it to Hezonja, who promptly drove past his man and, as he went airborne, cocked the ball past Indiana, and threw home a monster one-handed dunk over Chriss, who was immediately shell-shocked at what just happened to him.
The Knicks bench went crazy, which included a scene in which DeAndre Jordan was about to break one of his teammate’s backs.
Next. Luka Doncic isn't the only great NBA rookie in his class. dark
Dunks like Hezonja’s aren’t uncommon, mind you. If you recall, two months ago in a home game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Hezonja threw down a two-handed dunk over Giannis Antetokounmpo, and then, in a sign of ultimate disrespect, stepped over him.
Come to think of it? That could also score him dunk of the year, as it wasn’t over some NBA nobody, but over a potential MVP candidate.