Aaron Gordon decided to give the Dunk Contest another try at All-Star Weekend this year after being unsure if he was going to participate after putting the world on notice in the 2016 contest with Zach LaVine.

Lavine and Gordon unleashed everything in their arsenals against each other. There were 360-degree dunks, free throw line jumps, powerful slams from the baseline and more. Fans got everything they asked for in this contest.

Air Gordon tried to capture the same magic but had some mixed results to show for it after a creative dunk involving a drone went wrong and wasted most of his attempts. He displayed frustration and the completed dunk was still pretty great, but he didn’t win.

After that experience, he decided that he probably won’t be participating in 2018 and that other younger players will step up in his absence. Gordon did provide fans with the most memorable contest of the entire decade and he is well within his right to sit down and enjoy it as a fan.

Meanwhile, in games for the Orlando Magic, the former Wildcat is giving crowds glimpses of that raw athleticism every time he steps foot on the hardwood.

The club’s trade of Serge Ibaka allowed him to move back to power forward and the move is only fostering more thunderous slams.

Last night during a 115-107 win against the Brooklyn Nets, Elfrid Payton decided to throw one of his signature lobs to set up the high-flyer for a fastbreak jam. He angled the pass off the backboard and Gordon leapt from inside the foul line to throw it down.

One problem: he left his shoe behind. Missing shoes have become more common in the NBA as Mike Miller famously hit a shot in the Finals without one in 2013, but literally jumping out of them is something that nobody has seen before.

The Magic’s young core hinges on developing talent like AG and last night's win showed what he can do when he’s not being played out of position as a small forward. As an explosive dunker, he thrives near the rim where his considerable talents can be used getting high percentage shots.

2017’s season is almost over and Orlando is pretty far out of playoff contention, but they have something to look forward to next year as this core continues to grow together. Gordon will be there leading the charge along with Payton.

Hopefully with some newer shoes next time.