THE LION
  • Home
  • News
    • Editors 2023
    • Prefects 2023
    • School News >
      • Community Service
      • MUN
      • Duke
      • Arts
      • School Trips
      • Reading Week Reviews
    • Advice for the IB
    • World News
    • Other News
  • Commentary
    • Politics/Current affairs
    • Medicine
    • BUSINESS & ECONOMICS
    • technology
    • science and environment
    • History
    • OPINIONS
  • Features
    • Poetry
    • Lions' book recommendations
    • Guide to
    • Fashion and trends
    • How-to
    • ART, MUSIC & LITerature
    • Reviews
    • Curiosities
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    • Quizzes
    • Student council candidates interviews
    • Short Stories
  • Sports
    • School Sports >
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Volleyball
      • Athletics
    • Sports News >
      • NBA
      • NFL
      • Formula 1
      • Olympics
      • World Cup
      • Other News
    • SPHSL >
      • SPHSL Results
      • SPHSL Pictures & Highlights
    • Rancho >
      • Rancho Results
      • Rancho News
    • House Updates
    • Schedule
  • Photography
    • Global Print
  • Audiovisual
    • The Lion Network
    • The Lion Insight
    • Feed The Lion

SPORTS

2016 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

4/1/2021

0 Comments

 
By R. Behar
Picture
During the pandemic, myself and probably many other NBA fans have reminisced about past highlights, games, playoff runs and many other NBA moments. However, no event is as memorable or as hyped as the NBA slam dunk contest during the All-Star weekend. Over the past years and decades, we’ve seen multiple hall of famers and even bench players compete to determine who possesses the most impressive, explosive and artistic dunk package. Therefore, when the 2021 all-star weekend was announced, and the slam dunk contest participants were beginning to be selected all basketball fans were looking forward to the event. However, one can properly say that the excitement building up to the contest was highly exaggerated and did not correlate to the quality of the event. The line-up of Obi Toppin, Anfernee Simons and Cassius Stanley seemed interesting however many underwhelming dunks, low scores and missed dunks led to overall disappointment. Therefore, in the spirit of nostalgia we will venture into the golden age of the 2010’s dunk contests; the 2016 NBA dunk contest.
 
The 2016 dunk contest is undoubtedly one of the best dunk contests in the history of all-star weekends. The line-up of Aaron Gordon, Zach Lavine, Andre Drummond and Will Barton was promising as Zach Lavine aimed to be the back-to-back dunk champion. The first round started off with average dunks by Andre Drummond and Will Barton. However, with a behind the back dunk, which sent the crowd roaring, and a free throw line alley-oop dunk, the reigning champion sealed his ticket to the second round. However, the underdog, Aaron Gordon also demonstrated glimpses of greatness. His under-leg reverse dunk and an under-leg dunk while jumping over a mascot ensured Aaron Gordon a score of 94 (of 100) thus advancing to the final round. The stage was set…
 
The final round of the dunk contest was the one that encapsulated all of us. With a dunk in which Aaron Gordon grabbed the ball off of the hands of his mascot, spun in mid air with one hand behind his head he sealed himself a 50, challenging Zach Lavine to beat that dunk. The reigning champion responded by throwing the ball to himself while performing the same dunk in response to Gordon. However, the absurdity of the next dunk would send the stadium into turmoil. Gordon’s under both legs dunk over the Orlando Magic mascot became an iconic dunk. The announcers and players proceeded to exclaim that “It’s over!!” But the reigning champion would not go down easily. Lavine’s resilience was proven when he leaped from the free-throw line made a windmill with the ball and then dunked it. No one had seen such a back-and-forth exchange of dunks like this before. Into the sudden death round Aaron Gordon made a windmill reverse dunk which was quickly matched by an under leg reverse dunk from under the rim by Lavine. Both players acquired perfect scores and the contest continued. As many believed we had a tie, the Orlando Magic player performed an impressive tomahawk dunk with the ball going over his head then under his legs. However, he was only given a score of 47; Lavine had his opportunity. Of course, the reigning champion guaranteed his title with a free-throw line under leg dunk which shocked the entire building. The best dunk contest of the decade was unique and truly memorable.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Basketball
    Football
    Futsal
    Issl
    Little 8
    Polo
    Project Gold
    Rancho
    School
    SPHSL
    Sports Day
    Tennis
    Volleyball

    Archives

    February 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    September 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017

  • Home
  • News
    • Editors 2023
    • Prefects 2023
    • School News >
      • Community Service
      • MUN
      • Duke
      • Arts
      • School Trips
      • Reading Week Reviews
    • Advice for the IB
    • World News
    • Other News
  • Commentary
    • Politics/Current affairs
    • Medicine
    • BUSINESS & ECONOMICS
    • technology
    • science and environment
    • History
    • OPINIONS
  • Features
    • Poetry
    • Lions' book recommendations
    • Guide to
    • Fashion and trends
    • How-to
    • ART, MUSIC & LITerature
    • Reviews
    • Curiosities
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    • Quizzes
    • Student council candidates interviews
    • Short Stories
  • Sports
    • School Sports >
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Volleyball
      • Athletics
    • Sports News >
      • NBA
      • NFL
      • Formula 1
      • Olympics
      • World Cup
      • Other News
    • SPHSL >
      • SPHSL Results
      • SPHSL Pictures & Highlights
    • Rancho >
      • Rancho Results
      • Rancho News
    • House Updates
    • Schedule
  • Photography
    • Global Print
  • Audiovisual
    • The Lion Network
    • The Lion Insight
    • Feed The Lion