Aaron Gordon

Even with nearly a decade having passed since his jaw-dropping aerial display in the 2016 Slam Dunk Contest, Aaron Gordon remains both willing and capable of putting in jams that would equal the number on the back of his jersey. Eyeing one final score to officially extinguish the Boston Celtics for good, the Denver Nuggets align in a defense’s worst nightmare, with Gordon camped along the baseline in the dunker’s spot, and his two-time Most Valuable Player teammate in the high post. Fierce in his rim-run after his teammate’s shot bounces off the front iron, Gordon tracks the ball down with one hand, scooping it in mid-air before throwing down a ferocious putback flush, bringing the entire arena to its feet. Invaluable in helping Denver defend home court in the potential NBA Finals preview on March 7, 2024, Gordon made a second home in the paint, finishing with seven dunks on the way to a 16-point, nine-rebound, one-steal outing.