Keyonte George

Long before tipoff had even arrived on December 13, 2024, the talk of the town in the NBA, understandably, had centered around the long-awaited return of Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant. Knowing that every eye in Salt Lake City would, at some point, be fully attached to No. 35, Keyonte George took pride in ensuring that observers took note of the player sneaking behind him, also. Assigned the reasonably-unwanted task of defending a pair of Phoenix Suns forwards during a disadvantageous one-on-two fastbreak, George — in the ultimate example of heart over height — prepares himself for a fearless leap. Trusting his 6-foot-4 frame against both Durant’s 6-foot-11 stature and a head-of-steam drive, George discovers the perfect angle, sending the jam attempt away and out of bounds for a highlight swat. Locked in throughout the night, George, even in a loss, presented himself as a standout in the star-studded game, recording 18 points (on 6-of-13 shooting), six rebounds, nine assists, one steal, two blocks, and three 3-pointers.