Zach LaVine is done throwing it down solely for the sake of entertainment.
Winner of the last two NBA all-star slam dunk competitions, the Timberwolves guard declined an invitatiton to participate in this year’s competition, according to Basketball Insiders. That means he won’t have the opportunity to join Nate Robinson in having captured three straight dunk contest crowns.
It’s a sad day for basketball fans. The UCLA product came out of seemingly nowhere (but if you knew about his exploits in high school you weren’t suprised) to win the event. He followed that back up by besting Orlando’s Aaron Gordon in what will go down as the competition’s most fierce back-and-forth ever last year.
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It’s a flying shame (Get it? I’ll see myself out in a few) that the 6-5, 185-pounder won’t be on hand on All-Star Saturday in New Orleans, because Gordon will be. Seeing those two go at it again would’ve been a treat. The display they put on last year was a site to behold.
2016 NBA All-Star dunk contest: LaVine vs. Gordon
LaVine is enjoying the finest season of his pro career. He’s Minnesota’s third-leading scorer behind center Karl-Anthony Towns (22.4 ppg) and Andrew Wiggins (22) at 19.2 points per game to go along with 3.4 rebounds and three assists while shooting a shade above 40 percent from 3- point range.
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The news LaVine won’t be in the dunk conteset is particular bummer given the preview he gave us via social media, busting out a 360 from the free-throw line in a November practice.
Oh well, there will we’ll just have to remember the good times. Vince Carter’s 40th birthday. Maybe, like Sean Gentille once begged, he’ll reach back into his “Half Man, Half Amazing”/Air Canada bag and rock out like it’s 2000.
Keep your fingers crossed.
