Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell will compete in the Verizon Slam Dunk contest during NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles after Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon left because of a hip injury.
REPORT: Celtics exploring deals for Marcus Smart
Mitchell will play in the Rising Stars Challenge, but will no longer take part in the Skills Challenge. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder out of Louisville was the No. 13 overall pick and leads the Jazz with 19.7 points per game. He tops all rookies in points and 3-pointers made (115).
Mitchell has been one of the biggest surprises of the class. He's in the running for Rookie of the Year.
Mitchell will join Indiana guard Victory Oladipo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. and Dallas rookie guard Dennis Smith Jr. in the dunk contest.
This would have marked the third consecutive Slam Dunk appearance for Gordon, whose runner-up finish to Zach LaVine in 2016 included three straight perfect scores of 50.
Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon will not play tonight at Miami due to a strained left hip flexor. It is the fourth straight game he has missed.
— Orlando Magic PR (@Magic_PR) February 5, 2018
In addition, Gordon has withdrawn from the Slam Dunk contest at NBA All-Star Weekend.
In his fourth season, Gordon is averaging career highs of 18.4 points and 8.3 rebounds. He has already set a career high for 3-pointers made in a season with 79. Gordon has scored at least 40 points in a game twice this season -- the first Magic player to do so since Dwight Howard in the 2010-11 season.
