Zach LaVine Responds to Ja Morant, Teases Another NBA Dunk Contest Appearance

Ja Morant teased that he might want to try the NBA Dunk Contest after Mac McClung made NBA history by winning his third straight on Saturday night, and Morant wanted to see Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon return to the event as well.

As LaVine, at least, sounds like he might be game:

McClung has become the patron saint of the Dunk Contest, and for good reason—he continues to innovate and blow the competition out of the water. On Saturday night, he received perfect scores on four of his dunks, becoming just the fourth player to ever receive four 50s. The others were LaVine (2016), Gordon (2020) and Derrick Jones Jr. (2020).

"I was extremely honored to be a part of this weekend," McClung told reporters after the win. "I genuinely love this contest, and [I'm] just very appreciative."

But while the Dunk Contest has become the McClung Show, LaVine and Gordon put on a performance for the ages back in 2016.

LaVine was the defending champion after winning it in 2015, and was the favorite to repeat. But Gordon brought the heat, forcing a pair of dunk-offs to decide it. The event even had controversy, as Gordon's final dunk of the night surprisingly received just a 47 from the judges.

LaVine left no doubt on his final dunk, hitting a between-the-legs jam from the free-throw line to seal his second consecutive victory.

It wouldn't be the last time Gordon was a controversial runner-up—he also finished second in 2020 behind Jones.

As for LaVine, he's one of just five NBA players to ever go back-to-back, alongside McClung, Nate Robinson (2009-10), Jason Richardson (2002-03) and Michael Jordan (1987-88). His return to challenge the modern king of the contest, McClung, would be appointment viewing.

And if the explosive Morant chose to participate as well, it might just break the Internet.