Aaron Gordon will not be healthy enough to compete in the NBA All-Star Dunk contest, the Orlando Magic announced Monday afternoon.
Gordon needs more time to heal from a strained left hip flexor. The injury will also keep him out of the matchup against the Miami Heat on Monday night, as well as Orlando's home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday at the Amway Center.
"I was hoping to be healthy enough but there's no real reason to push it," Gordon said after the team's shootaround on Monday in Miami. "I'm actually more focused on getting more wins for Orlando. We don't have a lot of wins. That's my main concern."
Gordon would have been one of the favorites to win the contest, set in Los Angeles this month during All-Star weekend. He was the runner-up to Zach LaVine in 2016, a performance that included three straight perfect scores of 50.
Gordon's speed and creativity would have made for an entertaining show. Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is expected to replace Gordon, the NBA announced.
An added appeal for Gordon this year is that he is a native of San Jose, Calif.
"I would have loved to do the dunk contest, especially in L.A., but Numero Uno is getting wins for Orlando," Gordon said.
Gordon, a forward, is set to miss five consecutive games because of the hip flexor. As one of the team's best players, Gordon is understandably frustrated sitting on the sidelines watching his team struggle.
The Magic have the league's worst record at 15-36.
"It's definitely something where you feel you can go, but when you do it locks up on you," Gordon said. "You have to make sure I'm all the way right and my strength comes back before I'm all the way back."
There is no timetable set for his return.
