This article was supposed to propose an argument that the three point contest should head-line the NBA All-Star Saturday Night. The opening would have consisted of a walk through the contests of the past highlighting the most memorable moments and remind everyone that the glory days are in fact just memories. The article would have pointed out how the dunk contest is dead and there is nothing left to see. There was a whole section dedicated to the reigning MVP and his team’s ground breaking season which has featured the best three point shooting in the history of the NBA. The budding rivalry between Steph Curry and Klay Thompson would carry the Saturday night festivities next year. It would have been pointed out that Golden States NBA version of the spread offense trademarked by a roster full of players shooting 40% and above from beyond the arc. In the spirit of the new-age small ball phenomena taking the league by storm, it seemed to be time to let the Splash Brother’s headline the NBA’s Saturday night and bring back the electricity from years past.
Then Aaron Gordon put the ball under his legs while dunking over the Orlando Magic mascot. He literally sat in mid-air before slamming the ball through the hoop with authority. Before any of us had a chance to gather our thoughts, Zack Levine wind-milled from the free-throw line.
From that moment forward NBA fans received one of the most incredible shows in slam dunk history. Lavine and Gordon engaged in a dunk-off that will forever paint them in the pages of slam dunk contest history. This performance ranks right next to Vince Carter–Tracy McGrady and Michael Jordan-Dominique Wilkins.
The dunk off gave us everything from mascots spinning on hover-crafts to a monster through-the-legs jam from the free-throw line and even a little controversy in the end. Aaron Gordans final dunk was a gravity defying tomahawk, double-clutch between the legs, reverse slam. The dunk could have easily received a perfect score which would have forced yet another round in this epic battle. However, a couple judges were unimpressed and Lavine goes on to win with his through-the-legs dunk that left the crowd wondering whether or not he had a jet-pack under his jersey.
With the revival of the slam dunk contest, and the birth of a three-point contest rivalry, the NBA’s Saturday Night All-Star festivities have been revitalized. At the end of the night it’s hard not to be excited about the possibilities for next year. Will Lavine become the second Seattle native to win three slam dunk competitions? Will Aaron Gordon, who may have had the best dunk of the night with his under-the-legs mega slam return to make another run at the title? The Splash Brothers are tied at one three-point contest trophy apiece. Both scored 27 in the final round to take home the hardware. Who will take home the hardware next year? 2016 brought us the possibility of two epic rivalries. How will the actual All-Star game stack up to what we just witnessed? Perhaps next year All-Star Saturday should headline the whole weekend.
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