Orlando Magic Daily
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Aaron Gordon ranks as top dunker in NBA Live 18

ByPhilip Rossman-Reich|
WASHINGTON, DC -  MARCH 5: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a dunk during a game against the Washington Wizards on March 5, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC -  MARCH 5: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a dunk during a game against the Washington Wizards on March 5, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

NBA video game season is here as rankings from the game help us preview the season. NBA Live confirms was we know: Aaron Gordon is the best dunker.

Orlando Magic fans have had little reason to get excited for the upcoming release of NBA2K18 or NBA Live 18. Except for the all-time team in NBA2K18, that is. Even that team seems like it will rank among the worst of the all-time teams.

Indeed, if Magic fans are hoping to get a reprieve from a sometimes frustrating reality in basketball, the virtual world does not seem to offer that respite. The Magic, without a star or tons of shooting, do not translate well to the video game world.

Fans would be excused if they want to try building with someone else. Judging by their ratings in the upcoming NBA2K, about the only thing anyone will want to do with the Magic is to try to finish the rebuild using MyGM/MyLeague.

Things are not all lost for the virtual Orlando Magic, however. The team will still have one saving grace. And if the team plays as the optimists believe that first update will be a lot of fun too.

But when you open the box to the game, there will be one player to look forward to using.

A video game player appeared to get an early copy of NBA Live 18 and tweeted out the rankings for the top dunkers in the game. EA Sports appeared to confirm the list with an “Agree or Disagree” tweet. And it has Aaron Gordon at the top of the list as the best dunker in the game:

Both Aaron Gordon and Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine have 99 dunking abilities. After their back-and-forth Slam Dunk Contest two years ago, who could blame them? Even though both saw some setbacks last year.

For LaVine, it was his torn ACL early in the season that kept him from that desired rematch with Gordon at the All-Star Weekend. And for Gordon, it was playing out of position. He may have come around toward the end of the season, but his poor dunk contest (he was nursing a minor injury) definitely did not help his perception.

It did not matter. Gordon was good for a highlight dunk per game it seemed. He is easily one of the best in-game dunkers in the league. That is not going to go away.

When gamers pick up NBA2K or NBA Live when they officially become available to the public, they will be able to get their dunk on with Gordon.

As for Gordon’s actual rating? NBA2K rates him as a 78 overall rating, the same rating he finished last season at. That would put him just behind Nikola Vucevic for the best rating on the team.

Next: Orlando Magic Daily Podcast: What happens next?

Orlando will have its work cut out for it. But if Gordon is on the open floor, the Magic will create some digital highlights. And probably some real ones.