When he gets a head of steam in the open floor, New York Knicks forward RJ Barrett has proven there are few players he won’t try to rise up and slam on. The Los Angeles Lakers learn this the hard way, as Barrett uses some nifty quickness working downhill before rising up for an aggressive left-handed flush in heavy traffic. Barrett brought his A-game, with 36 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a 122-115 loss on February 5, 2022.

RJ Barrett

RJ Barrett plants transition slam on multiple Lakers

All season long, Fred VanVleet has been one of the NBA’s most consistent buckets with the Toronto Raptors. With a little airspace in transition, VanVleet shows his talent on the All-Star stage, pulling up for a smooth three-pointer. In his All-Star debut on February 20, 2022, VanVleet chipped in six points, three assists and two triples for Team LeBron.

Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet buries effortless deep triple in debut at 2022 All-Star Game

What could be better than recording your first career triple-double? A game-winning shot as the cherry on top. This fantasy turned into a reality for Royce O’Neale against the Portland Trail Blazers, going from inbound passer to hero as the Brooklyn Nets forward puts himself in the right place at the perfect time to tip in Kevin Durant’s missed jumper with under a second to play. The Nets needed every one of O’Neale’s 11 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to knock off the Blazers 109-107 on November 17, 2022.

Royce O'Neale

Royce O'Neale battles for game-winning tip-in vs. Blazers

Some of the best blocks are the ones that come through a mixture of IQ, perfect timing and a willingness to hustle. Sneaking down to help out his teammate, Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes puts on a masterclass of all of the above, swatting away a Los Angeles Lakers layup attempt from one of the game's toughest scorers. Barnes was on his game with 23 points, seven rebounds, three triples and a block in the 125-116 win on January 12, 2022.

Harrison Barnes

Harrison Barnes holds down the fort with low-post rejection

LeBron James can turn nothing into something with the flip of a switch. With a full head of steam, James makes a quick cross around one defender, then ducks into the paint and reaches back for an incredible, one-handed power dunk over Jaren Jackson Jr. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar was fully locked in with a game-high 35 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a January 9, 2022 matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.

LeBron James

LeBron James seizes lane in transition, crams on Jaren Jackson Jr.

With a head of steam and his mind set on scoring, there’s no angle Giannis Antetokounmpo can’t score from at the rim. With the clock ticking, the former league MVP shows off some of his best traits, getting into the lane in just one dribble and gathering to hit a difficult, over-the-shoulder finger roll in heavy traffic. Antetokounmpo was in prime form, with 40 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in a nail-biting 127-125 win over the Charlotte Hornets on December 1, 2021.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo spears through defense for game-winning reverse layup

Karl-Anthony Towns made Draymond Green pay for his costly late-game turnover. After Kyle Anderson stole a pass from Green in the closing seconds of a tie game, Towns buried an open catch-and-shoot 3-pointer with 11 seconds to play. Just like that, a quiet offensive night from the three-time All-Star ended with a loud bang to stun the defending champion Golden State Warriors on their home court. Towns produced 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and four triples in a clutch 99-96 victory for the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 26, 2023. 

Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns drills game-winning pull-up to take down Warriors

When compiling a list of things an NBA defender never wants to see, an athletic big charging with a head of steam is likely near the top. Providing an outlet for a teammate in a four-on-one situation, Sacramento Kings two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis shows what that looks like, taking a shovel pass and charging up for an emphatic jam over the Chicago Bulls defense. Sabonis tallied up 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists, helping guide a 112-103 win on March 14, 2022.

Domantas Sabonis

Domantas Sabonis punctuates second-chance opportunity with poster slam

Hoops fans were warned to expect the unexpected from Facundo Campazzo this season. The Denver Nuggets rookie penetrates against the Portland Trail Blazers, then curls a behind-the-back pass around his opponent, right to teammate Zeke Nnaji in the corner for a three on February 23, 2021.

Facundo Campazzo

Facundo Campazzo drives and kicks behind-back, no-look pass out for three

The first game-winning shot of Evan Mobley’s young career was worth the wait. Locked in a tie game with the Phoenix Suns, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ talented second-year forward puts himself in the right spot to benefit from a Donovan Mitchell drive to the basket. When Mitchell runs into traffic he spots a cutting Mobley, who calmly sinks a 14-foot pullup from just inside the foul line to deliver the Cleveland Cavaliers a thrilling win. Mobley had six points, eight rebounds and two steals in the 90-88 triumph on January 4, 2023.

Evan Mobley

Evan Mobley pulls up from the elbow for game-winning jumper vs. Suns

Whether it’s in the paint among the giants or along the perimeter against shooters, when it’s postseason basketball, few can quarterback a defense the way Draymond Green can. Setting the tone for a dominant defensive effort in Game 1, the former Defensive Player of the Year shows both athleticism and smarts, flying from one side of the court to the deep corner, blocking away a Dallas Mavericks three-point attempt, helping the Golden State Warriors open a 10-point first-quarter lead. Green’s box score was predictably versatile, with 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block in a sizable win on May 18, 2022.

Draymond Green

Draymond Green blitzes corner for closeout block in 2022 Conference Finals

Kevin Huerter of the Atlanta Hawks catches the ball in transition and throws the beautiful behind-the-back pass to John Collins who finishes with the monster slam on January 8, 2020.

Kevin Huerter

Kevin Huerter relays outlet up floor with behind-back lead pass

Marketplace