Chapter 381: This Dunk Deserves a Perfect 10.
February 9—The NBA trade deadline had arrived.
The Indiana Pacers made the first move of the day, pulling off a three-team trade with the Pelicans and Magic:
- Pacers: Sent Isaiah Thomas (injury-plagued) to the Pelicans and received Elfrid Payton.
- Magic: Sent Elfrid Payton to the Pacers and got Jameer Nelson along with a future lottery-protected first-round pick.
- Pelicans: Sent Jameer Nelson and the lottery-protected first-round pick to the Magic, acquiring Isaiah Thomas in return.
Elfrid Payton, who had been a key developmental piece for the Magic, was averaging 13 points, 4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game this season. Known for his defensive skills and playmaking, Payton's glaring weakness was his lack of shooting, drawing comparisons to Michael Carter-Williams.
The Magic decided to trade him because guards with his skill set were less valued in the modern, three-point-centric NBA. Additionally, this was the final year of his rookie contract.
For the Pelicans, their motive was clear: they needed a clutch scorer for critical moments.
The Pacers, on the other hand, wanted someone to ease Paul George's playmaking burden. At this stage, George was still better suited as an off-ball wing player.
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors also made a move, sending Ben McLemore (signed on a mid-level deal last summer) to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Ersan İlyasova.
İlyasova, 30 years old and standing 6'10" (2.08m), had played 46 games for the Hawks this season (starting 40). He was averaging 10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1 steal per game, while shooting 36% from three on 3.7 attempts per game.
The Cavaliers, however, remained quiet at the trade deadline. Derrick Rose had returned from injury in early January, though his form had dipped slightly compared to the season's start. During Rose's absence, Dejounte Murray had emerged as a capable rotation player, leaving the Cavs with enough depth at the point guard position.
More importantly, JR Smith had regained his form, earning his spot back in the starting lineup in January. With the rotation stable again, and despite Wade's dip in form compared to last season, the Cavs' overall depth had returned.
By now, the Cavaliers had closed the gap with the Celtics to just two games in the standings.
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February 17—The 67th NBA All-Star Game opened in Cleveland.
This marked the first time Cleveland hosted an All-Star Game, making the city livelier than ever. Thanks to Han Sen's impact, Cleveland's sports industry had flourished in recent years. Several commercial streets had sprung up around Quicken Loans Arena, fully equipped to handle an influx of visitors.
This day became one of the city's most prosperous in history.
As the hometown star, Han Sen made appearances at various events throughout the weekend. Nikola Jokić, Cleveland's rising star, was also a frequent sight.
Although few people knew it, Han Sen would be leaving Cleveland this summer. The Cavaliers were already subtly preparing for his departure, with Jokić poised to inherit the mantle as Cleveland's new face.
Of course, Jokić—grinning cluelessly—was entirely unaware of this plan. All he knew was that these All-Star festivities were exhausting, and he couldn't wait for them to end so he could get some rest.
For the All-Star Weekend, Han only participated in the All-Star Game itself. However, he also received a special invitation to serve as a judge for the Dunk Contest.
Traditionally, active players weren't selected as judges, but Cleveland lacked historic dunking stars to draw from. With Larry Nance Jr. competing, his father, Larry Nance Sr., couldn't serve as a judge either.
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Given Han's reputation as the greatest Dunk Contest champion in history, there was no questioning his credibility. Additionally, after Han's legendary duel with Zach LaVine years ago, interest in the Dunk Contest had waned, just like the All-Star Game itself.
Han's presence as a judge brought fresh attention to the contest—and it worked even better than expected.
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On the second night of All-Star Weekend, during the Dunk Contest, the crowd at Quicken Loans Arena went wild when the judges were introduced.
Han waved to the crowd, clearly in high spirits. As a contestant, your fate was in the judges' hands. But as a judge? You held the power.
This year's Dunk Contest featured some serious talent:
- Derrick Jones Jr. (hometown favorite), who had helped lead the Kings to their best season in years and was pushing for a playoff berth.
- Donovan Mitchell, a rising star from the Jazz.
- Larry Nance Jr., carrying on his father's legacy.
- Aaron Gordon, a familiar face from his legendary battles with Han and LaVine, looking to finally claim the crown.
This lineup was considered one of the strongest in recent years.
The contest began with a bang.
Donovan Mitchell kicked things off by setting up a second rim behind the backboard. This setup hadn't been seen since JaVale McGee dunked on two hoops simultaneously years ago.
Mitchell opted for a creative move, hitting the backboard of the second hoop before catching the ball for a windmill dunk.
While the creativity and difficulty were high, the dunk lacked visual impact. Han gave it a 9—his first score of the night. Mitchell earned 48 points, a solid start.
Next up was Larry Nance Jr., who paid homage to his father with a single-arm windmill dunk.
The crowd erupted, especially given Larry Nance Sr.'s connection to the Cavaliers. However, Han wasn't one to give extra points for nostalgia. He gave an 8, leaving Nance Jr. with 44 points.
Derrick Jones Jr. was third. Even before his attempt, the crowd roared—his pregame dunks during warmups had already made him a fan favorite in Cleveland.
Jones didn't disappoint. He brought out Alex Caruso as his assistant, who lobbed the ball off the backboard. Jones soared, catching the rebound mid-air, leaping over Caruso, and finishing with a between-the-legs dunk.
The arena exploded. Han nodded in approval. "This kid's dunking skills are maxed out," he thought.
Han awarded his first 10 of the night, and Jones earned the contest's first perfect score.
Finally, Aaron Gordon stepped up.
Gordon enlisted Evan Fournier for his first attempt. Fournier awkwardly bounced the ball off the side of the backboard, but Gordon managed to catch it mid-air and finish with a one-handed, 360-degree dunk.
Despite the poor pass, Gordon's adjustment and execution were flawless. Han gave another 10, and Gordon secured his first perfect score of the night.
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The first round revealed the hierarchy: Jones Jr. and Gordon were the clear frontrunners.
The second round saw no surprises. Jones scored 49 points with another signature between-the-legs dunk, while Gordon delivered a breathtaking reverse dunk after leaping over Fournier—reminiscent of Han's iconic "Scorpion Tail" dunk. Gordon earned his second perfect score.
Fans began to realize that this Dunk Contest was shaping up to be something special. Even Han grew serious, knowing the finals would be intense.
The finals began with Jones Jr., who delivered his best dunk of the night: a baseline sprint into a 360-degree, between-the-legs slam. It showcased his incredible bounce and earned him yet another perfect score.
Now, the pressure was on Gordon.
When Aaron Gordon stepped onto the court, the arena erupted.
Why? Because Gordon had brought back the Orlando Magic mascot, Stuff the Magic Dragon!
Though this wasn't exactly a tribute dunk, the camera naturally cut to Han Sen on the sidelines.
In that moment, fans were transported back to the legendary dunk contest years ago, as if the competition was still ongoing.
Stuff stood beside the basket, holding the ball in his hand.
Gordon sprinted from the baseline, leaped over Stuff to grab the ball from above the mascot's head, and completed an aerial between-the-legs dunk.
Turns out, between-the-legs dunks aren't exclusive to Derrick Jones Jr.!
More than that, this dunk showcased exactly why Gordon was such a fan favorite. His physique was like a human tower, and once he took off, it was as if pure muscle was flying through the air.
Gordon also knew how to amplify the visual impact of his dunks. After switching the ball between his legs, he spread his legs mid-air to an incredible 120° or more, creating an unforgettable display of athleticism.
Han Sen gave him a perfect 10, tying Gordon with Derrick Jones Jr. once again.
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Jones Jr. stuck to his bread and butter—another between-the-legs dunk. But this time, the difficulty was turned up to eleven.
He enlisted not one, but two assistants—Alex Caruso and Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma, being taller, held the ball high above his head.
Jones Jr. sprinted, leaped, grabbed the ball mid-air, and performed a between-the-legs dunk while soaring over both assistants.
The crowd went wild.
Han Sen exchanged glances with the other judges, all of them realizing that this contest had just reached a new level of intensity.
Now, the pressure was on the judges.
If they awarded a perfect score, it would mean either Jones Jr. would claim the title or the contest would head into overtime.
But how could they not give a perfect score for such a flawless dunk?
After a brief moment of silent communication, Han and the other judges unanimously gave Jones Jr. a perfect 50.
This pushed Gordon into a corner.
Moments like these are the ultimate test of an athlete's composure.
Han's eyes shifted to Gordon.
As a "traveler", Han only remembered Gordon's 2016 showdown with Zach LaVine, where Gordon had failed to win the title. Now, it was time for Gordon to prove he deserved to be champion—with a champion-caliber dunk.
Just like Han had done back in his day.
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For his second dunk, Gordon once again turned to Stuff the Magic Dragon for help.
This time, Stuff wasn't stationary. He stood on a hoverboard, spinning in circles near the basket.
Gordon timed his approach perfectly, sprinting, grabbing the ball from Stuff's hand, tapping the back of his head in a tribute to Karl Malone, and finishing with a spinning 360° dunk.
When Gordon nailed the dunk on his first attempt, the crowd erupted once more.
This was one of those "perfect 50" dunks.
Had Gordon performed this dunk earlier, the title would've already been his.
The judges began revealing their scores for Gordon's second dunk.
One by one, the perfect 10s rolled in.
Han Sen, as the final judge, also gave a 10.
With the arena buzzing, this year's dunk contest was officially heading into overtime—just like the iconic showdown Han had participated in years ago.
Classic moments often arise when least expected, and this year's contest was shaping up to be one of the greatest since Han and LaVine's epic duel.
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Overtime was even tougher for the contestants.
Why? Because most players don't prepare specific dunks for a tiebreaker. They're forced to rely on moves they can execute consistently.
Jones Jr. went first.
He decided to honor LaVine with a high-difficulty dunk—a windmill from the free-throw line.
His execution was smooth and seamless.
But there was one small flaw—his takeoff wasn't quite from the free-throw line. He stepped a foot inside.
Replicating LaVine and Han Sen's legendary free-throw line duel is no easy task.
Han gave him a 9, and Jones Jr.'s dunk earned a total score of 48.
This score all but guaranteed that the champion would be decided by Gordon's next dunk.
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When Gordon stepped back onto the court, Stuff the Magic Dragon was nowhere to be seen.
It was clear that Gordon hadn't anticipated an overtime round either.
Despite the lack of a mascot, Gordon called on Evan Fournier to assist once again.
The setup was similar to his earlier baseline dunk—Fournier lobbed the ball off the backboard.
This time, Fournier delivered a perfect pass. Gordon sprinted, caught the ball mid-air, and executed a graceful reverse dunk with a glide and a hangtime-filled finish.
The dunk was smooth and showcased Gordon's incredible flexibility. While it wasn't as visually striking as the two final-round dunks, it still displayed a high level of difficulty.
After the slow-motion replay, the camera panned to the judges on the sidelines.
All eyes were on them—they would decide the winner.
The first four judges revealed their scores: 10, 10, 9, and 10.
Finally, it was Han Sen's turn.
The entire arena fell silent, holding their breath.
If Han gave a score below 9, the title would go to Derrick Jones Jr. If he gave a 9, the contest would head to a second overtime. And if he awarded a 10, the championship would belong to Gordon.
A 9 was what fans secretly hoped for, as neither dunk quite lived up to the heights of the earlier rounds.
But after a moment's consideration, Han revealed his score:
It wasn't just for this dunk—it was a recognition of Gordon's overall performance. He had truly earned the title of dunk contest champion.
The crowd erupted in applause as Gordon was crowned the winner of this unforgettable dunk contest.