Anthony Davis

Already amidst the No. 1 scoring season in his Hall of Fame-bound 13-year career, Anthony Davis didn’t necessarily need another environment prompting an even higher level of play, but on November 15, 2024, the NBA Cup provided just that. Well-known for his work on the In-Season Tournament’s stage just one year prior, Davis — able to visualize victory, even from 28 feet away — finds himself uncovered with Victor Wembanyama’s defense cheating towards the painted area. Letting one fly with confidence, Davis drops a 3-pointer, his second over a four-minute late-game span, allowing the Los Angeles Lakers a one-possession lead in the game’s final moments. The nine-time All-Star kept a hand in seemingly every play imaginable during Los Angeles’ crunchtime clash against the mettlesome San Antonio Spurs, highlighted by a game-winning assist just a handful of plays later. One-of-a-kind in his performance on the road, Davis’ eruption made way for 40 points (on 14-of-26 shooting), 12 rebounds, two assists, one swipe, two blocks, and a pair of cold-blooded triples.