The controversy overshadows the victory of Derrick Jones Jr in a Slam Dunk Contest of madness

Each year, we wonder if the dunks competition will keep its promises. With the exception of 2016 in Toronto, we got used to being disappointed. But that night, Derrick Jones Jr and Aaron Gordon plunged the United Center into hysteria, chaining dunks crazier than each other. And yet, we leave empty-handed. The dunking competition was back, but the jury deprived us of a firework ending.

“We’re here to make four dunks and that should be the best score on these four dunks,” railed Aaron Gordon after the contest. “I got four 50 in a row, five 50 in a row. It’s finish. Repack everything, we go home. Four fifty in a row in a dunking contest, it’s folded … But I don’t know. Who makes the decisions ?!? “

Before this controversy, Jones Jr had started the final by passing a “Rider” over two people with unprecedented amplitude and power. Gordon answered him with a 360 °, or rather a 180 °, above Chance The Rapper for the third time that evening.

Gordon above the 2m28 of Tacko Fall

Jones Jr then goes into another dimension with another “Rider” over someone after having recovered a pass against the board! Unimpressed, Gordon catches a pass against Markelle Fultz and leaves in a magnificent 360, worthy of what he had achieved in Toronto to send the contest in overtime. Perhaps the most beautiful dunk of the evening!

For both competitors, the third dunk resulted in a new 50, this time generous. On the fourth round, the jury opened the door to Aaron Gordon by giving a 48 to Derrick Jones Jr on a windmill with a 20 cm support in front of the free throw line, in a style similar to Zach LaVine.

To make sure he won the competition, Aaron Gordon decided to try everything for everything. “I wanted to jump over Shaq but he didn’t want to when I wanted to do this for the fans,” explains Gordon. “As a result, everyone started saying” Tacko! Tacko! And I said to myself “OK, let’s go.” The biggest guy in the room. Jumping over a 2m28 guy is not an easy thing and they put me, 47? Seriously, stop. What is that ? “

Did Dwyane Wade Favor Derrick Jones Jr?

So there will be a lot of questions about the jury’s decision, and the note from Dwyane Wade, Heat legend and teammate of Derrick Jones Jr last season. It is rumored that the jury had agreed to give 48, and Wade did not follow the instructions, penalizing Gordon … ” We figured there was a tie. We were gone for equality. But some of us didn’t do what we said. I do not know who Regretted Common.

At the same time, what can’t be taken away from Derrick Jones Jr. is that he delivered a well-crafted contest, with six impressive dunks. We almost forget that he achieved all of this on his 23rd birthday! “Being able to do this on my birthday is really special. It’s a story I’ll tell my kids someday, ” launched it. ” I was ready. I knew all the dunks I was going to try, even if it was in overtime. Everything was planned. “

Aaron Gordon will never come back

However, when he received his 48 and saw Aaron Gordon fetching Tacko Fall, Jones Jr was not calm. “It was hot because this is a dunk that I have been doing since high school and I know it’s worth a 50,” he regrets about his windmill taking support near the line of throws. “But when Aaron passed his dunk, he hit Tacko’s head so I knew they couldn’t give him a 50. I would have totally respected their decision if he had given him another 48 and so we could have attempted another dunk. “

After his overtime defeat in 2016 against Zach LaVine and his failed competition in 2017, it is the last straw for Aaron Gordon. We will never see him again in a dunks contest. “It’s over, over. I should have two trophies! It’s finish, ” he laments. “My next goal will be to win the 3-point shooting competition. “

One thing is certain, there will be no jury problem.

1st dunk

Derrick Jones Jr. – Rider above two people with crazy amplitude and power – 50

Aaron Gordon – passes over Chance The Rapper in 360 ° – 50

2nd dunk

Derrick Jones Jr .. – catches a pass against the board, jumps over a guy and ends up with the rider of crazy power – 50

Aaron Gordon – catches a pass against Markelle Fultz and leaves in 360 ° with one hand, second try – 50

3rd dunk – Sudden death

Derrick Jones Jr .. – grabs a pass against the edge, and ends up riding it – 50

Aaron Gordon – Rider over Chance The Rapper – 50

4th dunk – Sudden death

Derrick Jones Jr .. – windmill with support just behind the free throw line – 48

Aaron Gordon – dunk above Tacko Fall – 47

1st dunk

Dwight Howard – 360 one-handed second try – 41

Derrick Jones Jr. – windmill above a Bam Adebayo far from the circle, second try – 46

Pat Connaughton – Dumble pump above Milwaukee Brewers player Christian Yelich, first try – 45

Aaron Gordon – Rider overturned with madness, second try – 50

2nd dunk

Dwight Howard – Superman returns with a custom jersey in honor of Kobe Bryant and a Mamba Mentality ball. Jameer Nelson, his former teammate, passes the ball to him from behind the board, first try – 49

Pat Connaughton – Dunk above Giannis, tap the board and convert his dunk – 50

Derrick Jones Jr. – 360 reverse rider with hang time and extraterrestrial amplitude – 50

Aaron Gordon – dunk above Chance de Rapper in 360 in bottom line – 50

Interview conducted in Chicago.

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