When you’ve got the mobility to move anywhere on the court, the defense has no choice but to honor it. LA Clippers wing Paul George takes advantages of exactly that as he drives through the paint, ditches his defender with an in-and-out dribble, collects the rock and throws down a slam in Game 2 of his team’s Round 1 matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on May 25, 2021.

Paul George

Paul George puts defender on floor with in-and-out move in 2021 Playoffs

Clock management at its finest. With 1.1 seconds left in the third quarter, LA Clippers forward Paul George calls for an inbound pass, shields the rock without touching it to avoid formally beginning the possession, then grabs it and promptly launches a buzzer-beating heave for three. George finished with 27 points and 15 boards in his team’s Game 3 win over the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals on June 24, 2021.

Paul George buries quarter-ending halfcourt heave in 2021 Conference Finals

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

Lose sight of what LA Clippers wing Paul George is capable of and he’ll be sure to remind you. Faced with elimination in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, George drives hard off a screen, loses his defender with a crafty behind-the-back move then pulls up for a triple. George finished with 41 points, 13 boards and six assists in the June 28, 2021 victory.

Paul George loses defender in 41-point game of 2021 Conference Finals

The best in the business know how to improvise on the fly — just ask Kawhi Leonard. The two-time champion and NBA Finals MVP triggers his backup plan on a strong drive to the basket, first thinking dunk before deciding on a difficult reverse layup to avoid having his attempt swatted by a trailing Kyle Kuzma. Leonard scored in a variety of ways, tallying a game-high 31 points along with nine rebounds and three steals as his LA Clippers staged a fourth-quarter rally to send the Washington Wizards to their ninth-straight loss, a 102-93 decision on December 17, 2022.

Kawhi Leonard drives baseline for methodical up-and-under layup

He really does make it look easy. Kawhi Leonard plays his defender off a Serge Ibaka screen, catches the feed and nails an effortless triple at the top of the key for his 10,000th career point in the NBA. Leonard’s LA Clippers held on for a W against the Chicago Bulls on January 10, 2021.

Kawhi Leonard cracks the 10,000-point plateau with catch-and-shoot triple

A masked Kawhi Leonard works San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson at the top of the key before silencing the defense with a textbook fadeaway jumper on January 5, 2021. Leonard finished the game with 30 points and 10 assists for the LA Clippers.

Kawhi Leonard works defender before pulling up from the elbow

Props to anybody willing to get between a full-speed Kawhi Leonard and the rim, but there’s nothing stopping the LA Clippers forward from getting to the rack when he wants to. The five-time All-Star battles for a steal against the Dallas Mavericks on one end of the floor then drives the length of the court to crown defender Maxi Kleber at the hoop. Leonard put up 26 points in Game 1 of his team’s Round 1 matchup on May 22, 2021.

Kawhi Leonard throws down poster slam on Maxi Kleber in 2021 Playoffs

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Paul George

Paul George

Kawhi Leonard

Paul George

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard