Mikal Bridges was perfect — for one quarter, anyway. Less than a month after he was acquired from the Phoenix Suns in the Kevin Durant trade, the Brooklyn Nets’ new leading man showed again that he’s more than capable of being the top offensive option on an NBA team. Bridges torched the Charlotte Hornets during a scintillating first quarter, capping off the dazzling frame with a strong drive to his left that he finished with a tough baseline fadeaway. Bridges completed the period having gone 9-for-9 for 19 points and ultimately scored a game-high 33 points to go with eight rebounds in Brooklyn’s 102-86 win on March 5, 2023.

Mikal Bridges

Mikal Bridges beats buzzer with fallaway jumper in 19-point quarter

A well-timed backdoor cut goes a long way. Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney lures his defender out to the perimeter then blows by him into the paint and throws down an easy dunk in a January 27, 2021 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kevon Looney

Kevon Looney cuts backdoor for two-handed slam in the paint

As his third NBA season approached its conclusion, there were plenty of things to be excited about for Deni Avdija. The third-year Washington Wizards forward made tremendous developmental strides during the 2022-23 season and showcased how far his game has come in one impressive sequence. After grabbing a defensive rebound, Avdija went coast-to-coast as he first faked a pass to an in-transition Kristaps Porziņģis before seemingly deciding to opt for a layup attempt in traffic. Then at the last minute Avdija pivoted back to his original plan and dropped a phenomenal over-the-shoulder dish to a trailing Porziņģis for the uncontested slam. Avdija — who set career-highs in points, rebounds and assists per game — posted 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a strong all-around effort against the Toronto Raptors on March 26, 2023. 

Deni Avdija

Deni Avdija slips transition dime over shoulder to trailing teammate

Keep your head up on defense and the offensive opportunities present themselves. Phoenix Suns wing Mikal Bridges sizes up a risky LA Clippers pass, moves to intercept it then works a textbook give-and-go with teammate Devin Booker before finishing the play with a two-handed alley-oop in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on June 20, 2021.

Mikal Bridges throws down give-and-go alley-oop in 2021 Conference Finals

It doesn’t take much to get your opponent out of position. Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell hits his Phoenix Suns defender with a ball fake on the perimeter, then blows by him for an easy dunk before he can recover on January 30, 2021.

Dwight Powell

Dwight Powell puts defender on the floor with fake before slam

It only took three games for Jakob Poeltl to make an enormous impression in his second stint with the Toronto Raptors. Poeltl was drafted by the Raptors and played his first two seasons in Toronto before a four-and-a-half-year detour with the San Antonio Spurs. He made his way back north of the border at the trade deadline and lit up the Orlando Magic on both ends, including an emphatic rejection of Moritz Wagner’s driving layup attempt. Poeltl made 15 of his 17 shots from the field for a game-high 30 points along with nine rebounds and six blocks in Toronto’s 123-113 victory on February 14, 2023. 

Jakob Poeltl

Jakob Poeltl redirects dunk attempt in monster performance

Stick with the play and make it happen! San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl reaches way back to haul in an outlet pass just in time to rise up and bang one on the Portland Trail Blazers on January 18, 2021.

Jakob Poeltl corrals outlet pass just in time for transition slam

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