LeBron James

The list of scenarios opponents hope to avoid when playing the purple-and-gold runs quite long. In losing a race in transition, the Utah Jazz, inevitably, managed to run into two of them at once: the Los Angeles Lakers during In-Season Tournament play, and LeBron James with a head of steam in the open floor. In Year 22, and still a top-of-the-world presence when focused in on a fastbreak opportunity, James breaks into a full sprint, helping Los Angeles exploit a three-on-two advantage before Drew Eubanks can get adjusted. Taking a temporary break from his trademark tomahawk, James pulls a switch-hand lefty jam from his arsenal, propelling the Lakers to both a 19-point lead and eventually, a 7-0 all-time record in NBA Cup contests. Orchestrating an alley-oop connection to his fellow All-NBA teammate just one possession prior, James made aerial attacks a go-to on November 19, 2024, as he compiled a 26-point, 12-assist double-double — ninth-most in NBA history — alongside two rebounds and a 3-pointer.