The all-star weekend of the best basketball players in the world is supposed to be a relaxed and fun event. But after the NBA Dunk Contest there was gossip and the tragic death of Kobe Bryant still had an impact.
Chicago (AP) - basketball player Aaron Gordon was visibly frustrated.
The Orlando Magic winger had lost the Dunk competition again at the NBA All Star weekend and pouted after losing to Miami pro Derrick Jones Jr. that he would no longer take part in the prestigious showdown. "It's over for me. I think I should have two trophies, do you understand? I'm through now," said the 24-year-old on Saturday.
Gordon had already narrowly lost the most spectacular competition of the All-Star weekend in 2016 - at that time against Zach LaVine. Now, the top grade 50 was not enough for him five times in Chicago. In the second jump-off, Jones put in a 48, and Gordon sensed his chance: he showed an incredible jump over the 2.26-meter Tacko Fall from the Boston Celtics, tucked the ball into the basket, got only 47 points and lost.
"Come on. What are we doing here? I don't know which of the judges gave me 9. I'll find it," said Gordon after the controversial decision.
The all-star weekend in Chicago was also overshadowed by the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. In honor of the fatally injured superstar, the NBA announced that it would name the best professional award for the annual all-star game after Bryant.
"It seems very appropriate to us because nobody stood for an all-star anymore than Kobe Bryant," said league boss Adam Silver before the game of the best professionals in the North American league on Sunday evening. Bryant had 18 appearances in the NBA's All Star game. The legend of the Los Angeles Lakers had died in late January in a helicopter crash with his daughter and seven other people.
During the show events, both Bryant and ex-NBA commissioner David Stern, who died at the beginning of the year, had been thought about several times. Bryant himself has been voted the best actor in the All Star game four times.
Communication from the NBA
Dunk Competition NBA Report
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