Joel Embiid

With the paint seemingly walled off, a 7-foot defender in his airspace, and every white jersey on the court keyed in on his every movement, the New York Knicks’ goal of forcing Joel Embiid to consider a more passive approach appeared to be going according to plan — that is, until they recognized who the recipient of his pass attempt would be. With his blend of basketball IQ and physical traits coalesced into one of the NBA season’s most awe-inspiring demonstrations, the former Most Valuable Player begins his sequence with a quick brainstorm from the midrange area, testing Mitchell Robinson’s restraint with a pump fake from the free throw area. Prompt in his pivot after Robinson leaves the ground, Embiid elegantly steps through, showcasing his creativity by tossing a self-served alley-oop off the glass and back into his direction for a breathtaking one-handed poster flush over OG Anunoby’s helpless frame. Though ultimately falling short of victory in Game One, the Philadelphia 76ers superstar was both resilient and resourceful in his performance on April 20, 2024. Gritting his teeth through injuries, Embiid proved successful in his goal of opening the postseason with a bang, contributing 29 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a pair of 3-pointers.