After narrowly losing out to Zach LaVine in an epic 2016 Slam Dunk Contest, Aaron Gordon returned last year hoping to make up for it.

However, the Orlando Magic star produced an underwhelming display in New Orleans and surprisingly fell in the first round.

But Gordon does not want to be remembered for his failed attempt at the Smoothie King Center and will be participating for a third consecutive season later this month.

The NBA announced that the high-flyer will be one of the contestants in an impressive field which also includes Indiana Pacers All-Star Victor Oladipo, Los Angeles Lakers big man Larry Nance Jr. and exciting Dallas Mavericks rookie Dennis Smith Jr.

Gordon has declared that this will be his last dunk contest and is looking to make up for his disappointment from last year.

"Of course I feel like I have unfinished business. Regardless of what happens in L.A., that’ll be my business finished with the dunk contest," Gordon told The Orlando Sentinel's Josh Robbins.

"The fact that it’s in L.A. - that’s really what made me want to do it: just to go back to California.

"It’s put on for people from California. I spent a lot of time growing up in L.A. I spent a lot of time growing up in the Bay (Area). So it’s going to be a lot of fun. It feels right."

The 22-year-old is putting some ideas together but, most importantly, he'll need to pull them off, as a repeat performance will see him bounced in the first round again with some stiff competition.

"I’m just going to make some dunks this year," he said. "I’ve got a couple of things up my sleeve. I’ve got a couple of dunks in the bag. I always have some. I’m going to come out and show off my athleticism and show off my body control."

In his first few campaigns in the league, the power forward was largely regarded as just an athletic dunker but he's had a productive season in Orlando and has shown more to his game.

He's averaging career-highs of 18.4 points and 8.3 rebounds and could earn himself a big contract this summer as a restricted free agent.

Gordon has a lot more confidence on the floor these days and he'll hope to translate that in the dunk contest at Staples Center and finally get his hands on the award he craves.