Aaron Gordon once again gets robbed in the Slam Dunk Contest

Aaron Gordon is now a two-time People’s Champ in the Dunk Contest.

Gordon, who in 2016 was the winner in the eyes of many when he was runner-up in an epic showdown with Zach LaVine, was once again robbed of the trophy. Gordon had another classic performance, getting perfect scores on each of his first five dunks.

Needing a 49 or better to win the dunk-off against Derrick Jones Jr., who got a 48 for his final dunk, Gordon brought out 7-6 Tacko Fall and jumped over him for what seemed to be the winning dunk. Instead, three judges gave him a 9 for a total of 47. That meant Gordon totaled a combined 297 of a possible 300 points and still lost.

I swear I was in the middle of writing the headline “Aaron Gordon wins Dunk Contest” when the scores were revealed.

This was a bigger robbery than 2016, with Gordon receiving perfect scores throughout until he delivered what should have been a competition-sealing dunk. In his first dunk, Gordon went between the legs for the reverse dunk...

For his second dunk, taking the place of Stuff, was Chance the Rapper, who AG hurdled...

AG then brought out the TikTok crew and again went over Chance...

His next dunk was one of the best in Dunk Contest history. Markelle Fultz tossed the ball of the side of the backboard to AG, who caught it one-handed and threw down the 360 dunk...

His fifth dunk was once again over Chance, again earning all 10’s...

That set the stage for what would be the final dunk between the two. Jones went with the windmill dunk from just inside the free throw line, earning a 48...

Every one in the building, including Jones himself, was shocked when the scores were released for Gordon’s dunk over Fall. One of the judges who gave Gordon a 9? Miami’s own Dwyane Wade, who this time last year was Jones’ teammate.

Gordon has now been part of two of the better Dunk Contests of all-time and has nothing to show for it. Jones had some classic dunks, as well, but I’m not sure how someone could get perfect scores on all four regulation dunks and still lose, but here we are.

Once again, in the eyes of many, Aaron Gordon is the true Slam Dunk champion. He just doesn’t have the trophy to prove it.

Dwight Howard, who was eliminated in the first round, brought out his old Magic teammate Jameer Nelson and his old Superman Cape. The two combined for an alley-oop like it was 2009...