This may only be his second year in the NBA, but Andrew Wiggins has retired -- from dunking in exhibitions, at least.
Andrew Wiggins won’t do the NBA All-Star dunk contest because of the one he lost in high school
He lost the McDonald’s All-American contest in 2013 and has never recovered.
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
The 20-year-old Minnesota Timberwolves budding star refuses to challenge teammate and reigning Dunk Contest champion Zach LaVine this season or ever, despite this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend being held in Wiggins’ hometown of Toronto.
“I’m not doing it again,” he told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. “Maybe one day, but right now, I lost in high school and I thought I should’ve won ... ”
Wiggins is hearkening back to when he lost the dunk contest at the McDonald’s All-American Game to Florida commit Chris Walker.
This prolific dunker and last season’s Rookie of the Year is averaging 21 points per game this season, yet he’s still bitter about his one dunk contest experience.
He has a point. Look at this.
Here’s what he lost to:
Not bad, but not Wiggins.
The fear of getting robbed again is understandable, but it’s a shame, though. The NBA contest is much more fair than the McDonald’s. (Except in 2006 ... RIP Andre Iguodala.) If Wiggins were to compete, it would be the greatest comeback story since Jay-Z in 2006.
Imagine Wiggins striding onto his boyhood court and dropping one of these.
Everyone goes nuts. His fellow Torontonian, Drake, drops a new verse right there in honor of the moment. Wiggins beats LaVine and everyone else.
Just like that, the ghost of McDonald’s All-American 2013 would be vanquished. Redemption could be so sweet, if only Wiggins was willing to try.
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