Steph Curry

Down by two with just 12 seconds remaining, Stephen Curry had just enough time to showcase both the appreciated and underappreciated parts of his dazzling game. Putting the onus on himself to get the game-tying bucket, the 10-time All-Star gets creative, disattaching the Los Angeles Lakers’ elite rim protector from his hip with a quick pump of the brakes before changing directions completely, moving into the now unoccupied area for a wide-open layup. Left with zero time to celebrate, the Golden State Warriors superstar locks in on defense, sacrificing his body to force a turnover and defensive stop, guaranteeing the overtime period in the process. Falling one bucket shy of a victory in a double OT duel that included 22 lead changes, Curry’s effort was herculean, with 46 points, seven assists, one steal and nine 3-pointers in the loss on January 27, 2024.