Derrick Jones Jr.

Jones defeated Aaron Gordon in the 2020 Slam Dunk Contest on the final dunk — a victory that remains controversial among fans who felt Gordon deserved co-championship, but which cemented Jones' reputation as one of the most explosive humans to play basketball.

He was born in Palmdale, California — the same high desert city outside Los Angeles that produced multiple professional athletes, giving him a built-in connection to the Clippers' fanbase.

Jones went undrafted in 2016 despite his extraordinary athleticism — a miss that he has used as motivation throughout his career, making the most of every opportunity to prove NBA scouts wrong.

His nickname 'Airplane Mode' was given to him by teammates who marveled at how he seemed to disconnect from normal physical laws when leaving the ground — a name that captures his vertical game perfectly.