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UPDATE: Feb. 3, 10:39 a.m. — Bucks F Pat Connaughton has committed to the Dunk Contest, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Monday morning.
Milwaukee’s Pat Connaughton has committed to invite to the NBA Slam Dunk contest at All-Star weekend in Chicago, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Aaron Gordon, Dwight Howard, Derrick Jones Jr., Connaughton so far set.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2020
I was going to start this off with a “White Men Can’t Jump” reference, but after reviewing some of Connaughton’s work, I’ve opted to leave it out. Connaughton has hops. I think he’ll bring a little bit of an old school style and we know he’ll try and get teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo involved somehow. Connaughton doesn’t have many breakaway dunks in which he does some crazy reverse 360 slam. He does have this:
Update: Zach LaVine kind of needs to join the dunk contest at this point. He was snubbed as an All-Star reserve to many and the host city needs someone to represent them during All-Star Weekend. Plus, you could end up with an incredible Aaron Gordon-Zach LaVine rematch in the finals. Peep the video below for their battle back in 2016.
Orlando Magic F Aaron Gordon has committed to the 2020 NBA Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend in Chicago, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Thursday.
Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon has committed to the NBA Slam Dunk contest at All-Star weekend in Chicago, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Gordon joins Dwight Howard and Derrick Jones Jr. as commitments so far.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 30, 2020
Gordon will join Dwight Howard and Derrick Jones Jr. in the competition, so we’re just waiting on the final contestant. Ja Morant has already turned down the contest, unfortunately. Gordon’s most memorable dunk contest moment was his showdown against Zach LaVine in 2016. LaVine ended up winning, but you be the judge as to who had the best dunk.