LeBron’s Leap, McGrady’s Nine.

"First off, respect to the guys out here tonight. This contest? Historic. Twenty points couldn't even make the finals, and twenty-seven wasn't enough to win. That's the bar we set."

The crowd roared as Han gestured toward Thompson and Curry.

"Klay. Steph. You two? You make the game better. Every shot we take, every record we chase — it's all part of something bigger. And this? This is what we live for."

He let the applause wash over him, then leaned into the mic with a grin.

"But Steph…" Han turned toward Curry, his voice playful yet pointed. "You asked if we were all just playing for second tonight."

The audience held their breath.

"Funny thing is — you might be right."

The crowd erupted in laughter, a mix of cheers and playful jeers. Curry shook his head, grinning as he clapped along.

Han straightened up, his tone growing more reflective.

"And one more thing," he added. "Records? They're made to be broken. Just don't get too comfortable — because we're not done yet."

The ovation hit like a tidal wave.

Even Curry and Thompson, the two fiercest competitors of the night, couldn't resist. They stood and clapped, their admiration genuine.

Han's speech was brief but hit every mark — part celebration, part challenge. It reminded everyone why he wasn't just an All-Star player, but an All-Star personality.

The Three-Point Contest had been electrifying. But for the fans, it was just a prelude.

Because what came next?

The night's main event — perhaps the highlight of the entire All-Star Weekend — the Dunk Contest.

Fans had waited over a decade for this. LeBron James in the Dunk Contest. It was the question that had lingered for years. And now, finally, they would see the answer.

What kind of show would he put on?

Could Zach LaVine, last year's champ with his graceful aerial artistry, defend his crown?

And most of all… what kind of jaw-dropping, gravity-defying dunks would Han Sen bring?

The anticipation inside the arena was palpable, the atmosphere crackling with excitement.

Riding the momentum from the Three-Point Contest, Kenny Smith decided to crank things up even more.

He turned to Steph Curry, who was sitting courtside after narrowly missing a repeat title, and asked, "Steph, who's taking the crown tonight?"

Curry gave a thoughtful shake of his head, the crowd hanging on his response.

"It's tough," Steph began. "Logically, LaVine should win again. He's got the experience, the grace."

Then, with a grin, he added, "But my gut? My gut says Han will be the dunk king."

"Why's that?" Kenny pressed, leaning in.

Steph's grin widened. "Dunker's intuition."

The crowd erupted in laughter. Even after losing, Curry knew exactly how to win the moment.

But on social media? Not everyone was laughing.

LeBron fans weren't happy. Why hadn't Steph mentioned LeBron? Wasn't he the greatest in-game dunker ever?

The chatter online only fueled the hype.

Back inside the arena, the judges were introduced.

The panel featured legends: Shaquille O'Neal, Dikembe Mutombo, George Gervin, Magic Johnson, and Tracy McGrady.

But there was one glaring omission.

Everyone knew who should've been sitting on that panel in Toronto.

Vince Carter.

His absence wasn't just noticeable — it was symbolic. The wounds from his departure still hadn't healed. Toronto wasn't ready to welcome him back.

It was the contest's only flaw.

---

When the contestants made their entrances, the crowd roared with excitement.

First up was Aaron Gordon.

His pre-dunk declaration perfectly fit his underdog narrative.

"After tonight, a lot more people will know my name."

The crowd responded warmly. It took guts to stand on that stage, especially against such massive stars.

Next came Zach LaVine.

Tradition would have the reigning champ introduced last. But this year? Tradition went out the window. This wasn't just any Dunk Contest.

"I'm bringing my best tonight," LaVine said, his quiet confidence shining through.

The fans knew what he was capable of. His performance last year was legendary.

Then came LeBron James.

His declaration was true to his character.

"Winning or losing isn't the most important thing. I just want everyone to enjoy the show."

The crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Say what you want about LeBron's career choices — finally stepping into the Dunk Contest deserved respect.

Finally, it was Han Sen's turn.

Just like during the Three-Point Contest, the arena erupted before he even spoke.

On social media, debates raged. Some fans claimed LeBron was still the greatest in-game dunker. Others insisted that Han Sen had taken that title from Vince Carter.

Han's in-game dunks weren't just highlight-worthy. They were art. His blend of power, grace, and creativity put him in a class of his own.

When the cheers finally died down, Han stepped up to the mic.

"I'm finally here."

Three simple words.

But they hit like a sledgehammer.

The arena exploded into a frenzy.

Last year, Han had pulled out of the contest at the last minute, leaving fans disappointed.

This year?

He was here.

And he wasn't just here to participate.

He was here to dominate.

---

The contest kicked off with Aaron Gordon.

At 6'8" (2.03m) with a 7-foot wingspan (2.13m), Gordon's build was remarkably similar to LeBron's.

But Gordon's raw athleticism? It was even more impressive.

Starting from the baseline, Gordon launched into his first dunk — a reverse windmill that began with the ball behind his head, dipped through his legs, and finished with a powerful two-handed slam.

The sheer difficulty and fluidity of the dunk stunned the judges.

After a brief moment of shock, the crowd erupted into deafening applause.

Gordon had set the bar high.

The judges awarded him a score of 48.

Boos echoed through the arena. The fans felt it deserved a perfect 50.

The judges' reasoning was understandable. With only two dunks in the preliminary round, giving out a perfect score too early would make judging difficult later.

Still, Gordon had set the tone.

Next up was Zach LaVine.

LaVine's dunk? Effortless elegance.

A self-lob from the baseline, followed by a left-hand through-the-legs, behind-the-back reverse slam.

It looked easy. Too easy.

LaVine was a master of making the impossible seem routine.

The judges awarded him a 50.

The contest was off to an electric start, and the pressure was on LeBron.

He stood courtside, deep in conversation with Kobe Bryant, before finally rising to his feet.

It was time to show the world what he could do.

Han Sen's eyes locked on LeBron James, curiosity piqued. He was genuinely interested in what kind of dunks LeBron would bring to the contest.

LeBron walked to the far side of the court, positioning himself for a long-distance run-up.

Watching him, Han could already guess what was coming.

A full-speed sprint from half-court, a powerful leap from just inside the free-throw line — and then, in mid-air, LeBron cocked the ball back and delivered a thunderous tomahawk jam.

The arena exploded.

Given LeBron's size and weight, pulling off a free-throw line dunk carried an incredible visual impact. The sheer power behind it was undeniable.

But for LeBron to use this dunk right off the bat? It was clear — he was feeling the pressure.

The judges didn't hesitate, holding up cards that read 50. A perfect score.

The crowd went wild.

Had it not been for Aaron Gordon's slightly undervalued opening dunk, every first-round dunk so far would've received a perfect score. This was unprecedented.

The fans' expectations? Completely blown away.

Now, the pressure shifted to Han Sen.

Han didn't seem fazed as he stood up, but he wasn't going out there alone.

To everyone's surprise, Nikola Jokić stood up with him.

The sight of Jokić walking toward the court with a basketball in one hand instantly sparked curiosity from the fans.

Approaching the hoop, Jokić placed the ball on his outstretched palm and held it out in front of him on the left side of the basket.

The crowd began to buzz.

It was obvious — Han was going for a grab dunk.

These dunks were notoriously difficult, requiring perfect timing, control, and explosiveness. The moment Han stepped back for his run-up, the arena buzz turned into deafening whistles and cheers.

Han did a quick stretch, cracking his elbow joints, then began his sprint amid the crowd's growing excitement.

He took off from just inside the free-throw line, snatching the ball from Jokić's palm in mid-air and whipping it into a massive windmill dunk.

For most players, a windmill grab dunk would already be a highlight.

But Han wasn't done.

The fans watched in awe as Han's leap carried him higher than expected — his head was level with the rim.

And the finishing touch?

Instead of slamming the ball with his hand, Han jammed it into the basket with his forearm, stuffing his entire arm inside the hoop. Just like Vince Carter's iconic dunk.

In Toronto.

The moment hit differently. It wasn't just a tribute to Carter — it was an evolution.

Carter's legendary dunk had been a simple arm jam. Han? He'd added a windmill grab before doing the same.

The arena erupted.

It was as if Carter's spirit had returned to Toronto — but this time, better.

The judges didn't even deliberate. Another perfect 50.

Four competitors, four first-round dunks complete.

Three perfect scores.

"This might be the craziest Dunk Contest in NBA history!" Charles Barkley exclaimed from the commentary booth, his disbelief evident.

The contestants weren't the only ones feeling the heat now — the judges had just stepped into the spotlight.

With only two dunks in the preliminary round, two of the four competitors would be eliminated.

And choosing who to cut? Nearly impossible.

"I'm just glad I'm sitting here in the booth and not at the judges' table," Barkley quipped.

Shaquille O'Neal, who was one of the judges, suddenly didn't look so smug. Earlier, he'd bragged about his spot on the panel. Now? He looked like he was regretting it.

---

Aaron Gordon stepped onto the court for his second dunk — and he wasn't alone.

By his side was Stuff the Magic Dragon, the Orlando Magic's mascot, decked out in full costume.

The crowd watched in fascination as Gordon set up the play.

With a running start, Gordon leaped over the mascot, grabbing the ball from Stuff's outstretched hand. In mid-air, he twisted into a seated position, passing the ball under both legs before slamming it home.

One fluid motion.

The crowd? Stunned.

Han Sen? Completely speechless.

Even knowing this dunk was coming didn't prepare him for seeing it live. The power, the creativity, the execution — flawless.

The judges couldn't argue. 50.

Gordon's two dunks? A combined 98 points.

That meant one thing: Anyone who didn't score two perfect 50s wouldn't make it to the finals.

Next up was Zach LaVine.

For the first time all night, LaVine didn't look so relaxed.

He took a deep breath, then began his run-up from the corner.

As he approached the free-throw line, he took off, soaring through the air with a perfect windmill motion.

A windmill dunk — from the free-throw line.

The crowd? Jaw on the floor.

It instantly made LeBron's free-throw line dunk look mundane.

Even Barkley couldn't contain himself. "Is he even human?" he shouted.

The cameras zoomed in on LaVine, and his HS Panda 1 sneakers caught everyone's attention.

Under Armour was cashing in big time.

The judges had no choice. Another perfect 50.

Two dunks. Two perfect scores.

LaVine became the first to advance to the finals.

And that left Han Sen and LeBron James.

One of them? Wouldn't make it out of the prelims.

The tension in the arena was suffocating as LeBron James stepped onto the baseline.

For years, fans had begged him to participate in the Dunk Contest. Now, here he was — in the most stacked contest in NBA history.

LeBron stood on the baseline, ready to begin.

Standing under the hoop? His teammate, Channing Frye.

Frye wasn't holding a ball. He was just… standing there.

Confused murmurs rippled through the crowd.

LeBron started his approach, sprinting from the baseline.

As he reached the basket, Frye jumped, extending his arms as if to block LeBron's dunk.

What happened next? Nobody saw coming.

LeBron, in mid-air, contorted his body, avoiding Frye's block attempt with a mid-air twist, then completed the dunk.

The crowd? Silent for a beat, processing what they'd just seen.

Then? Pandemonium.

Even Han Sen stood there, wide-eyed. "He did what?"

The judges were visibly torn.

The dunk wasn't as technically difficult as LaVine's or Gordon's, but the creativity was unmatched.

One by one, the judges raised their scores.

10. 10. 10. 10…

The tension in the air was suffocating as McGrady took one last look at his scoring card.

And then…

9.

The arena gasped.

Any other night, McGrady might've given a perfect score.

But tonight? Not in this contest.

(End of Chapter)