Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon is trying to use the dunk contest as leverage to be an NBA All-Star

Denver Nuggets Forward Aaron Gordon is eager to make the All-Star Game for the first time in his career and is looking to use his prowess as a dunker as leverage to get there. ” Gordon said in a recent Sports Illustrated interview:“I’m going to do a dunk contest.”

Gordon is a legend in the Slam Dunk Contest, but has never won an event. He lost to Zach LaVine in controversial fashion in 2016, widely regarded as one of the all-time greatest editions of the event, and in 2020 finished second again to another modern classic, Derrick Jones Jr. became. Slam Dunk In his contesting career, he broke the all-time record of his eight perfect dunks, more than Michael Jordan, and among the songs he released in 2020, NBA Commissioner Adam Even Silver claimed to have told him he should have won. Year.

The Slam Dunk Contest has taken a big hit since Gordon’s last appearance. Last year was so bad, in fact, that many commentators thought it might be time to scrap it for a while, as the league did in the late 1990s. He’s less than a month away from this year’s tournament, but the field is still not full and he’s already had to call Mac McClung from the G League to join him.

Gordon sees all of this just like the rest of us and knows that it would be a massive coup for the League if he joined. Play fair to Gordon for trying to pressure the league here because he might try to get. It’s hard to imagine the league wanting to get into that kind of business.

In terms of real merit, Gordon is not far off, but again, it’s hard to see it come to fruition. Averaging 16.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 58.8% shooting from the field and excellent defense, he is having one of the best seasons of his career and a strong first half for the Nuggets. a major factor in warfare. He finished first in the Western Conference, 32-13.

However, they don’t scream All-Star numbers, and there are just too many frontcourt spots. LeBron James, Nikola Jokic and either Anthony Davis or Zion Williamson would be in the top three as voted by the fans, and those numbers would be the frontcourt starting lineup. Then there are players like Paul George, Draymond Green, Jalen Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkenen, Domantas Sabonis and an injured Kawhi Leonard.

Gordon is in the mix, but he’s likely to struggle and fall short again.