WATCH: Aaron Gordon & Zach LaVine’s Flamboyant Dunks at the 2016 NBA Dunk Contest
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via Getty
Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic going up for a dunk over the Orlando Magic mascot during the 2016 NBA Dunk Contest as part of 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 13, 2016 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
The 2016 NBA Slam Dunk contest witnessed one of the most creative and explosive dunks. Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine came up against each other in the Championship round to produce one of the best Dunk Contests ever. The contest is worth remembring with the 2020 All-Star weekend approaching.
The contest initially consisted of Zach LaVine (Minnesota Timberwolves, Aaron Gordon (Orlando Magic), Will Barton (Denver Nuggets), and Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons). Drummond and Barton were eliminated after the first two rounds. LaVine and Gordon then put forth a display of some eyecatching dunks.
Even an overtime period wasn’t enough to separate two artists showcasing their skills. Both kept notching 50s until Gordon’s score eventually fell short by three points.
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“LaVine went through the legs from the free-throw line. That’s insane,” Gordon had said after the contest. “That’s why the trophy is with him and not with me.”
The scores:
| Player | Team | Round 1 | Round 2 | Finals | Sudden Death |
| Zach LaVine | Minnesota Timberwolves | 50 | 49 | 100 | 100 |
| Aaron Gordon | Orlando Magic | 45 | 49 | 100 | 97 |
| Will Barton | Denver Nuggets | 44 | 30 | – | – |
| Andre Drummond | Detroit Pistons | 36 | 39 | – | – |
That was a historic event………
— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) February 14, 2016
2016 NBA Slam Dunk contest
At 21, LaVine became one of the youngest to win the Slam Dunk contest. He dedicated the win to former Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders after the contest.
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Taking nothing away from LaVine, Gordon can consider himself to be unlucky to have missed on the winners’ trophy. Many felt Gordon deserved to win the contest for the kind of performance he had put in.
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I’m sorry but no dunk contest is ever going to top this one 🤐 pic.twitter.com/6IPfmU1RjN
— Ball Is Life 🏀 (@BaIIersOnly) January 31, 2020
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Four years later, fans are excited as Gordon gets into the 2020 Dunk Contest. This time, he will compete against Dwight Howard of Los Angeles Lakers, Derrick Jones of Miami Heat and Pat Connaughton of Milwaukee Bucks.
The 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest is scheduled for February 15 at the United Center, Chicago.
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