That’s pretty corny, to be honest
When Aaron Gordon got traded to the Nuggets, he needed to pick a new jersey number. The 00 he wore with the Magic was already claimed by Markus Howard, a rookie on a two-way contract, and JaMychal Green had No. 0. So instead of going with the No. 11 he wore at Arizona or the No. 32 he wore in high school, Gordon picked a number he’d never worn before: 50. The reason is pretty silly.
According to Katy Winge of Altitude Sports, Gordon’s new number was inspired by the two times he came up short in the dunk contest.
Gordon and Zach LaVine had a classic duel in the 2016 dunk contest, but LaVine won in sudden death with a between-the-legs dunk from the free-throw line that he improvised on the spot. Gordon sought redemption in 2020 but was defeated by Derrick Jones Jr. after the judges awarded Gordon a measly 47 out of 50 for his jam jumping over Tacko Fall.
The snub didn’t sit well with Gordon, who had gotten perfect scores on his first four dunks, and he said he was done participating in the dunk contest.
“We’re here to do four dunks. It should be the best out of four dunks,” he told reporters later. “I did four straight 50s—five straight 50s. That’s over. It’s a wrap. Let’s go home. Four 50s in a row in the NBA Dunk Contest? It’s over. I don’t know. Who’s running the show?
“It’s a wrap. I feel like I should have two trophies.”
Gordon even produced a 19-minute documentary, which came out in December, about the 2020 event. It’s full of black-and-white and slow-mo shots of Gordon prepping for the contest. At one point, he reads a poem about how he wants to win.
It’s totally understandable that Gordon would be disappointed he didn’t win after the two stellar performances he had but it’s still a little silly that he’s dwelling on the 2020 dunk contest 13 months later. Like Gordon said, it’s just four dunks.
Does anyone really care who wins anyway? The subjective opinions of five random former players judging the event are the least interesting thing about the contest. It’s an event designed to be relived for years on YouTube, regardless of who actually takes home the trophy. In fact, Gordon losing the 2020 contest might have made it more memorable than if he had won. His getting a 47 for his jump over Fall was what made the dunk an instant classic.
The loss still clearly bothers Gordon, but he believes he may have made a lasting impact on the dunk contest without winning it.
“I have some fears that I ruined the dunk contest, that people aren’t going to want to do it anymore,” he told USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt before this year’s contest.
The best of SI
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Around the sports world
The Patriots are reportedly considering trading for Jimmy Garoppolo. … Former Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka says he decided to return to Japan because his family didn’t feel safe in the U.S. … Derek Jeter’s Tampa mansion, where Tom Brady lived last season, reportedly hasn’t gotten a single bid after more than three months on the market.
Finally, a buzzer beater in the men’s tournament
Prayers up for Lonnie Walker
Norman Powell lined up with the Raptors in his first game against Toronto
At least he got some exercise
The overhead angle here is outrageous
Homer announcers are an endangered species
Ja Morant jumped over a dude
Minnesota-Duluth and North Dakota played the longest game in NCAA tournament history (nine minutes shorter than a 2015 conference tournament game, though)
A walk-off pickle!
In other base-running follies …
Aussie rules football player Jimmy Rowe made his AFL debut for the club his dad, Stephen, played for and Stephen was on the call for his first goal
Now there’s the old Blake Griffin
Not sports
Monks at a French monastery have nearly three tons of cheese in their basement because the pandemic means no visitors are buying it. … The mysterious theft of a rare pine tree at the University of Wisconsin has been solved. Three guys admitted to doing it as part of pledging a frat. … France is seeking to have the baguette awarded UNESCO heritage status. … The stupidest controversy of the weekend was Lil Nas X’s “Satan shoes.”
Pretty spooky
A good song
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