Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry has naturally creative instincts as a passer, with the patience and skill to improvise and make a pinpoint dime. He scoops up an errant feed, takes a slight dribble and lofts a beautiful, two-handed, over-the-head dish to a wide open Jordan Poole for a breakaway slam. Curry dropped a game-high 10 assists to go along with 24 points, six rebounds and three steals in a road matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on November 14, 2021.

Steph Curry

Steph Curry scoops loose ball, throws backward outlet pass over his head

The only thing more satisfying than scoring a career-high in points is doing so in a close, hard-fought win. In the second of two straight All-Star seasons, Jeff Malone was in the zone against the New Jersey Nets, catching a long outlet pass from a Washington Bullets teammate and beating the only defender in his path by going up strong for an and-one layup. Malone made sure that his squad would not be denied, pouring in 48 points along with four rebounds and seven assists in Washington’s narrow 117-114 victory on March 4, 1987.

Jeff Malone

Jeff Malone draws contact on the break in career-high 48-point night

They don’t call him “The Unicorn” for nothing! On this play, Dallas Mavericks big Kristaps Porziņģis shows off a few of his best skills, rotating over and using his 7-foot-3 frame to reject a shot before pushing the ball up the floor to set up an alley-oop for teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. in transition. Porziņģis had 17 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and a block in a narrow 102-99 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on December 7, 2021.

Kristaps Porziņģis

Kristaps Porziņģis snuffs out a shot attempt then runs floor to toss lob

Five months before they would win their first NBA title, Aaron Gordon and the Denver Nuggets were already exhibiting peak cohesion. With the ball in his hands, Nikola Jokić crossed halfcourt and lofted a pass in the post to Gordon who immediately wrapped a behind-the-back dish back to the Joker for a contested layup over Bismack Biyombo. Gordon made all four of his field goals for 12 points to go with two assists as the Nuggets secured a 126-97 runaway victory over the Phoenix Suns on January 11, 2023.

Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon flips give-and-go pass around back for transition dime

From the moment he arrived in the NBA, LeBron James has feasted on errant passes, and here he does it twice. Rotating over to help cover a pick-and-roll, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar hustles into a passing lane to corral a steal, setting himself up for a one-man transition and a baby windmill slam. Not done yet, the future Hall-of-Famer follows up by picking off another pass on the way to an easy two-handed jam. James was on his game in the 106-96 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on January 25, 2022, tallying up 33 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.

LeBron James

LeBron James steals ball and dunks on consecutive possessions

Kayla McBride is a threat from anywhere on the court. The Minnesota Lynx forward sizes up her perimeter defender with a series of dribble moves before stepping back into a quick-release triple from way behind the line. McBride finished with 12 points in the September 12, 2021 victory against the Indiana Fever.

Kayla McBride

Kayla McBride pulls up for triple to beat shot clock

With a nudge from Brittney Sykes, the Washington Mystics stamped their ticket to the 2023 postseason with a little extra momentum. In a late-season game against the New York Liberty deadlocked at 88 with less than a second to play, Sykes eschewed overtime for a game-winning buzzer beater when she corralled an inbound lob from Natasha Cloud and smoothly flicked in the clutch shot while suspended in midair. Sykes’ heroics prevented the Liberty from claiming the postseason’s top seed and set up a showdown between the two squads after Washington’s thrilling 90-88 victory on September 10, 2023. Sykes produced a team-high 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Brittney Sykes

Brittney Sykes converts game-winning lob to beat Liberty

When you’re facing a size disadvantage, sometimes a soft touch high off the glass can be your best friend. Working off an inbound pass, Norman Powell shows the way to do it, speeding to the rim and tossing in a high-arching finger roll over the outstretched arms of a bigger Dallas Mavericks defender. The LA Clippers guard chipped in 19 points, six rebounds and six assists in a 112-105 matchup on February 10, 2022.

Norman Powell

Norman Powell drives through the paint, sinks contested runner

Kawhi Leonard’s sheer power is tough to beat. The LA Clippers forward sets up New York Knicks sophomore RJ Barrett with footwork in the corner, then attacks baseline and muscles his way into the paint for a one-handed slam on January 31, 2021.

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard drives baseline, muscles way to easy dunk

Good things come to those who run the floor. Detroit Pistons guard Frank Jackson sprints up the sideline against the Cleveland Cavaliers, ropes in an outlet pass in stride then rises up for a massive two-handed slam in transition. Jackson put up 20 points in the April 19, 2021 victory.

Frank Jackson

Frank Jackson runs the floor for slam in transition

After missing a jumper that could have put the game away, Nia Coffey made up for it with a defensive gem on the ensuing possession. The Atlanta Dream forward put her length on display when she hurtled out to the corner to land a clutch block on Myisha Hines-Allen’s 3-point attempt with 37.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Instead of the Washington Mystics cutting the Dream’s lead down to two points, Coffey’s squad was able to close out Atlanta thanks to her solid all-around performance of 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks and four triples in a 80-73 triumph on July 30, 2023. 

Nia Coffey

Nia Coffey hustles off own miss, makes clutch block in final minute

From undrafted free agent to Hollywood — the Austin Reaves story just keeps getting better. The second-year guard continues to evolve into a key contributor for the Los Angeles Lakers as he turns defense into offense by picking off an errant pass against the Portland Trail Blazers and finishing with a transition slam. Reaves posted a season-high 22 points on 7 of 10 shooting to go with five rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal in the Lakers’ 128-109 victory on November 30, 2022.

Austin Reaves

Austin Reaves picks off pass, takes off down court for two-hand slam

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