Zach Lavine declines 2017 Slam Dunk Competition.

[ninjacookies]

Gee. Wonder why.

Was looking forward to more ways he could possibly perform an alley-oop in between the leg dunk.

[LeonfromNC]

Gee. Wonder why.

Was looking forward to more ways he could possibly perform an alley-oop in between the leg dunk.

Nothing else to prove

Or maybe he knows Aaron Gordon really won last year lol

[shaqfan2]

Watching it, I thought Aaron Gordon had it in the bag last year, lol.

[ninjacookies]

Or maybe he knows Aaron Gordon really won last year lol

Bingo.

IMO I think he knows his creativity can only go so far against a top dunk talent like Gordon.

He has all the ups in the world, but like Blake Griffin, their style dunking style is really only suited to a particular type of dunk.

[Yaz1966]

Jaylen Brown also declined

[shaner1]

Sheeesh. Maybe it's because nobody can beat him! Undefeated.

[Big Ben Fan]

Gordon was robbed last year imo, he had some original dunks!

I was watching some dunk contest highlights the other night and it had a couple of Lavine's dunks, I don't know why but his dunks didn't seem impressive to me.

I hope they get Nance Jr in the contest he's had some great dunks

[gameissued]

I say this would be a great year for Wiggins if he wants to do it.. otherwise if he waits he'll just turn into another LeBron who never did an NBA dunk contest.

[pingbling23]

Sheeesh. Maybe it's because nobody can beat him! Undefeated.

I think you and the judges are the only ones that have Lavine winning last year.

[CC_123]

Wiggins said he wouldn't do the dunk contest when Lavine was in it, so maybe this year will be the year! I'm not counting on it, but you never know.

[Duvalier]

Gordon was robbed last year imo, he had some original dunks!

I was watching some dunk contest highlights the other night and it had a couple of Lavine's dunks, I don't know why but his dunks didn't seem impressive to me.

I hope they get Nance Jr in the contest he's had some great dunks

According to ESPN, Nance Jr won't compete in the dunk contest unfortunately.

[AbraCalabro]

Agree with most of you guys, Lavine over Gordon was the biggest robbery since Brown/Kemp.

Collectively, last year's judges were ineptitude incarnate.

[rdleifriaf]

Agree with most of you guys, Lavine over Gordon was the biggest robbery since Jordan/Wilkins.

Fixed it for ya. :)!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mny1kAxF2zQ

[NeilCO]

As a Timberwolves fan, I was glad to hear LaVine didn't dunk all summer because he was focused on developing other aspects of his game.


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[ninjacookies]

As a Timberwolves fan, I was glad to hear LaVine didn't dunk all summer because he was focused on developing other aspects of his game.



KYgJXBuAzXs

[NeilCO]

KYgJXBuAzXs



Incredible.


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[Steveefranchise]

:eek::eek::mad::mad::mad::mad::eek::eek::eek:

[Wolves4Life]

Lavine won last year cause it dunks were harder. Gordon's dunks (while I can't do them) were more suited for a big guy which IMO helped Lavine. Hell Howard shouldn't of won when he did cause he didn't even dunk on the 12 foot rim. He threw it in the basket.

[sportzluvr1]

KYgJXBuAzXs

Lol, the only ceiling I see is at the top of the arena! Damn!:eek:

[ninjacookies]

Lavine won last year cause it dunks were harder. Gordon's dunks (while I can't do them) were more suited for a big guy which IMO helped Lavine. Hell Howard shouldn't of won when he did cause he didn't even dunk on the 12 foot rim. He threw it in the basket.

Lol what? How was Gordon's under the legs dunk any less difficult than anything Lavine did? He brought his knees all the way up, it was technically perfect. Most 2 guards can't pull off that dunk on a good day.

The alley off the spinning mascot was the most difficult dunk of the night. He grabbed the ball after he left the ground, the timing had to be absolutely perfect. Zach tried to copy the dunk to keep up, but it wasn't nearly the same.

[Wolves4Life]

Lol what? How was Gordon's under the legs dunk any less difficult than anything Lavine did? He brought his knees all the way up, it was technically perfect. Most 2 guards can't pull off that dunk on a good day.

The alley off the spinning mascot was the most difficult dunk of the night. He grabbed the ball after he left the ground, the timing had to be absolutely perfect. Zach tried to copy the dunk to keep up, but it wasn't nearly the same.

I don't think smaller players could do the dunks Gordon did which is why I said it was easier for him as a bigger guy. He made it look too easy which is why I say that.

[ninjacookies]

I don't think smaller players could do the dunks Gordon did which is why I said it was easier for him as a bigger guy. He made it look too easy which is why I say that.

I see what you mean, but Gordon had multiple dunks where he had over 40 inches in measured vertical. He is size combined with athleticism.

I can understand if all he did were vanilla dunks like Blake clearing the hood of a Kia (that was probably the worst dunk of all time), but all of Gordon's dunks were top tier difficulty no matter how you looked at it.

[Andy5]

The alley off the spinning mascot was the most difficult dunk of the night. He grabbed the ball after he left the ground, the timing had to be absolutely perfect. Zach tried to copy the dunk to keep up, but it wasn't nearly the same.

That's where I feel the judges stuffed up. Lavine did the same thing just without a mascot and the judges gave him a 50. It's good because in the end we got to see a couple more dunks (of which weren't appreciated enough by the judges).

[SteveO21]

Glenn Robinson III will be in the contest. He's been lobbying to be in since before last season. Dude can fly.

[Wolves4Life]

I see what you mean, but Gordon had multiple dunks where he had over 40 inches in measured vertical. He is size combined with athleticism.

I can understand if all he did were vanilla dunks like Blake clearing the hood of a Kia (that was probably the worst dunk of all time), but all of Gordon's dunks were top tier difficulty no matter how you looked at it.

Yeah, I thought the drunk was going to clear the car over the roof not the hood.

[ninjacookies]

Glenn Robinson III will be in the contest. He's been lobbying to be in since before last season. Dude can fly.

So we have GR3, Gordon and...? Anyone know?

Seems to me like another Zzzzz fest. Too many divas these days. Pretty soon we'll have a dunk contest with nothing but sixth men and UDFA's.

I still think the NBA needs to have at least one slot for a non-nba player. Just to light a fire under these guys and force them to step up and defend the name.

[Duvalier]

So we have GR3, Gordon and...? Anyone know?

Seems to me like another Zzzzz fest. Too many divas these days. Pretty soon we'll have a dunk contest with nothing but sixth men and UDFA's.

I still think the NBA needs to have at least one slot for a non-nba player. Just to light a fire under these guys and force them to step up and defend the name.

Rookie Derrick Jones from the Suns.

[Cervantes]

I vote for Vince.

[ninjacookies]

Rookie Derrick Jones from the Suns.

Lolque.

Welp. Guess there's always the 3 point competition, amirite?

[Duvalier]

Lolque.

Welp. Guess there's always the 3 point competition, amirite?

Yep...pretty much.

[BigSeph]

Glenn Robinson III will be in the contest. He's been lobbying to be in since before last season. Dude can fly.

I saw him get pinned on the rim the other night going for a dunk.

I've seen him miss several dunks when anyone's remotely near him, and get bailed out on a couple with foul calls.

If he's anything like his dad, his prime jumping days were in college. I don't expect him to make it out of the first round in a dunk contest.

[shaner1]

I think you and the judges are the only ones that have Lavine winning last year.

Hahaha! Well, I guess that's all that is needed to win it.

[k13]

I don't think smaller players could do the dunks Gordon did which is why I said it was easier for him as a bigger guy. He made it look too easy which is why I say that.

Of course they could. Google Lipek.

6'1 and does underneath both legs 360 and everything.
Lavine dunks were nothing special especially given his length/reach
Gordon got robbed.

If Lavine was 6' with a 6' wingspan then I would be impressed...

[LeonfromNC]

They should ask Kay Felder to be in it.

[joan1173]

Considering the judges were all former NBA greats, its hard to disagree with their judgement... At least we are able to say we witnessed one of the best Dunk Contests in the last 15 or so years!

Coming from somebody who can actually dunk and personally knows the difficulty of dunks performed by both Gordon and Lavine, it would've been almost impossible for the judges to take the Championship away from Zach. It was very refreshing to see a contestant not have to rely on props heavily in order to win the contest.

However it does sound like this year Air Gordon may be finally bringing himself one home, which makes me happy. :)

[SteveO21]

I saw him get pinned on the rim the other night going for a dunk.

I've seen him miss several dunks when anyone's remotely near him, and get bailed out on a couple with foul calls.

If he's anything like his dad, his prime jumping days were in college. I don't expect him to make it out of the first round in a dunk contest.

You make it sound like he can't jump, lol.

BIjfQ76ZJ-E

[IronMonkey415]

9.5 Dunk right there.
The way he spins while still elevating was so smooth.

[NeilCO]

I thought Gordon's dunks last year were better, but it's kinda ridiculous how people here act like LaVine's dunk were "meh" and it's not debatable. Both were incredible.


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[pingbling23]

Hahaha! Well, I guess that's all that is needed to win it.

Lavine gets the trophy, but Gordon has everyone's respect. Ask the players which they would rather have.

[AbraCalabro]

I thought Gordon's dunks last year were better, but it's kinda ridiculous how people here act like LaVine's dunk were "meh" and it's not debatable. Both were incredible.


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In all seriousness I don't think any one is trying to belittle LaVine so much as they are surprised that the superior dunks did not win the contest. Seems like Gordon could do whatever LaVine did, but I'm not sure about it the other way around.

I don't have a horse in the race, but the end result had me thinking about the same clear lapse in judgement as in the Lakers vs Kings back in 2002, although LaVine certainly holds more merit, whereas the judges had blinders on. From a guy that doesn't really follow the NBA anymore, I had to do a double take when I saw that Gordon was not crowned the winner.

[dasiegel]

I'm glad he declined, after a few years you see everything a guy can do and it's better to have a new face.