Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon competes in the slam dunk contest during NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP/Gerald Herbert)
After a stellar showing in last year’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest, many believe that Orlando Magic swingman Aaron Gordon will captivate fans again and bring the spectacle to even greater heights this year.
But after a rather underwhelming showcase at the Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), the dynamic leaper said he would no longer participate in the event next year.
In a statement to Sport’s Illustrated’s Ben Golliver, Gordon explained his intentions to take a break from the high-flying competition.
“This event takes a lot out of you when you approach it as seriously as I do,” he said.
The 21 year-old forward, who many believed was robbed of the title against Zach LaVine last year, has been vocal about his strict preparations coming into the NBA All-Star weekend’s premiere event.
“He’s taking this year’s contest very seriously,” Graham Betchart, Gordon’s mental conditioning coach and dunk consultant, told Bleacher Report. “It’s been on his mind since the third grade.”
With LaVine sitting out the contest this year, Gordon was primed as the heavy favorite among contestants DeAndre Jordan, Derrick Jones Jr. and Glenn Robinson III.
NBA: Zach LaVine declines 2017 slam dunk contest invite—report
However, much to the surprise of many, Gordon missed majority of his dunk attempts and failed to reach the championship rounds after receiving the lowest score among participants.
Aaron Gordon: “I just wanted to do something new, something innovative. It didn’t go my way.”
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) February 19, 2017
Robinson eventually won the hardware in arguably one of the most lackluster dunk contests in history.
READ: Robinson III, Gordon, Porzingis win NBA All-Star events
TNT commentators, meanwhile, noted that a current foot injury appears to have sapped Gordon’s signature air time.
Throughout his performance, Reggie Miller kept pointing out that Gordon did not appear to have the same ‘bounce’ he had last year. Khristian Ibarrola/ra/jb