2015 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Zach LaVine brought back life to a competition that went through gimmicks, team ups and just ridiculous stunts such as not even dunking the ball in a superman cape but instead, throwing the ball in the hoop.
LaVine soared through the air with ease in 2015 with little competition despite a valiant effort from Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo. Forgettable performances from guys like Mason Plumlee of the Brooklyn Nets and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks made it an easy competition for LaVine to win.
It’s easy to see why NBA champion and first time All-Star from the Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green, says that LaVine will win the title once again. Zach easily took home the crown putting down some nasty slams but to those who have followed LaVine since his high school days and even his time playing in the summer with the Seattle Pro-Am, some of these dunks have been done before in one way or another.
While LaVine has creativity, the ability to just soar in the air and the frame that makes it possible for these dunks to look so easy for him to put down, it also appears he has some stuff still in his bag that he hasn’t pulled out quite yet.
Just left @ZachLaVine slam dunk practice and……..OMG! Grab your popcorn cause he making a movie on Saturday ??
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) February 12, 2016
LaVine will need to pull out all the stops this year because there are three guys coming for his crown and one in particular that has gone up against LaVine before and knows what it takes to possibly beat him.
Will Barton, Denver Nuggets
Will Barton might be a top contender for the ‘Most Improved Player’ award this season but in the 2016 Slam Dunk Contest, he might be the guy with the least decorated dunk arsenal but he is the one guy who is similar to LaVine in size. He has put down some monster slams this season but as we’ve seen so many times in the past, in-game dunking is far different than dunk contest dunking for some guys.
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons big man and first time All-Star is the largest competitor in the field this season. There has been a checkered past with big men in the Slam Dunk Contest. You have the heroes like Dwight Howard, Jeremy Evans and Blake Griffin that won the contest with ease and then you have guys like Mason Plumlee, Serge Ibaka, Kenneth Faried, Tyrus Thomas and Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen who most people forget even competed in the event.
Andre Drummond, on the other hand, has a strong resume in dunk contests. Take a look at what he did during his time at UConn. Check out the below video starting at the 40 second mark and interestingly enough, his first dunk was a small ode to Toronto Raptors legendary dunker, Vince Carter.
Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic
Aaron Gordon was a favorite to compete in the slam dunk contest last season but due to a foot injury in his rookie season that he returned from shortly before the All-Star Weekend, the high flyer from the Orlando Magic wasn’t able to participate. Now, we will get Gordon in the contest against LaVine and it’s something that people have seen before.
Remember when Andrew Wiggins said he wouldn’t compete in the Slam Dunk contest this season partially because he was still salty about losing the McDonald’s dunk contest in high school? Well, guess who was also in that contest and isn’t mad about losing? Aaron Gordon.
Aaron Gordon won the Les Schwab Invitational Slam Dunk contest in high school and put on a show.
And of course, in college Aaron Gordon shut down the Arizona Wildcats dunk contest during their midnight madness.
Gordon’s go-to dunks heavily involve the immense power he has in his dunks. Without a doubt, expect to see his double pump dunk, something that he pulled out this season during a game. Gordon’s dunking style is a mix of power from Dominique Wilkins and finesse from Blake Griffin, two bigger dunkers that put the NBA on notice about the super athletic big man.
Gordon isn’t as big as Drummond and he doesn’t soar like LaVine but he might actually be the best dunker in the field, LaVine included.
While Zach will get all the love from the fans, media and even the judges, Aaron Gordon is the name I think people will not forget about once 2016 NBA All-Star Saturday Night comes to an end. Win or lose, Aaron Gordon has the resume to give Lavine a run for his money and potentially setup a future dunk contest rivalry, something the NBA has needed since the days of ‘Nique versus MJ.
