When Kawhi Leonard is locked in on the rim, he’s getting to the rim. The LA Clippers forward takes his man off the dribble, drives into the paint, then rises up for a massive throwdown before help side defender Deandre Ayton can get high enough to stop him. Leonard finished with 27 points in the April 8, 2021 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard rises up and through contact for poster dunk on Deandre Ayton

Plenty of big men catch lobs like New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson but few throw them down with the same level of authority. Robinson cheats away from his Boston Celtics defender as teammate Elfrid Payton penetrates, then leaps through the air to catch and spike home a pass on January 17, 2021.

Mitchell Robinson

Mitchell Robinson sneaks past defender, throws down alley-oop slam

When Alex Caruso cuts backdoor, he’s dialed in on the rim. The Los Angeles Lakers guard loses his defender with an explosive cut, then grabs a pass from teammate Marc Gasol and rises up to punch one home on the Sacramento Kings on April 2, 2021.

Alex Caruso

Alex Caruso avoids challenge at the rim for emphatic slam

Even if you have the nerve to try to dunk on an elite rim protector well positioned in the paint, few are physically capable of pulling it off. Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets, no stranger to the impossible, attacks a gap in the Atlanta Hawks’ perimeter defense, eyes up world-class shot blocker Clint Capela in waiting, then reaches way back for massive tomahawk slam on April 11, 2021.

Miles Bridges

Miles Bridges drops instant classic hammer on rim protector Clint Capela

If Brandon Clarke gets above you on the break, duck and cover. The Memphis Grizzlies big man works a transition give-and-go with teammate Tyus Jones then leaps through the air to spike home an alley-oop in a January 11, 2021 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Brandon Clarke

Brandon Clarke runs floor for transition alley-oop

Knowing when to attack the defense is as important as knowing how. Denver Nuggets wing Will Barton eyes up an opportunity to drive on the Houston Rockets, even before he fully catches a pass from teammate Nikola Jokic, then drives straight down the middle to throw down on a late-adjusting defense on April 16, 2021.

Will Barton

Will Barton attacks opening in the paint for one-handed slam

Terence Davis can go over the defense, through it, or both. The Sacramento Kings guard leaps into orbit from outside the restricted area and meets resistance from Washington Wizards center Robin Lopez mid-air, but follows through with the dunk long enough to throw down at the rim on April 14, 2021.

Terence Davis

Terence Davis reaches way back for poster dunk on Robin Lopez

Chimezie Metu is the type of lob threat that will clean up anything above the rim. The Sacramento Kings center rolls straight to the hoop after setting a screen for Tyrese Haliburton then reaches way back to catch and punctuate an alley-oop pass against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 20, 2021.

Chimezie Metu

Chimezie Metu reaches back for emphatic alley-oop slam

When you catch the outlet pass in stride and there’s only a Hall of Fame shot blocker between yourself and the rim, there’s no time to belabor the decision. Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura catches a transition pass against the Los Angeles Lakers and immediately targets the rack, dunking through elite rim protector Anthony Davis on his way to two of his 12 points in an April 28, 2021 victory.

Rui Hachimura

Rui Hachimura runs floor to put Anthony Davis on poster

Aaron Gordon’s been training at high altitude his entire life. The Denver Nuggets trade acquisition cuts into the paint to connect with teammate Nikola Jokic, then leaps up and rotates mid-air for a reverse slam against the Orlando Magic on April 4, 2021.

Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon sneaks into position for reverse slam under the hoop

Stopping Jusuf Nurkic is tough enough when he’s on the ground, never mind when he’s air born. The powerful Portland Trail Blazers center cuts to the hoop after setting a screen for his teammate, catches an entry pass and heads straight to the rim for a thundering dunk on April 2, 2021.

Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkić soars through the paint for power dunk

There are plenty of ways that consummate veteran Jrue Holiday can beat you but give him an opportunity to storm down the middle and he’ll take it. The Milwaukee Bucks guard catches the Charlotte Hornets perimeter defense out of position and heads straight to the rim for a one-handed slam over the help-side defense on April 27, 2021.

Jrue Holiday

Jrue Holiday catches defense off guard with poster slam

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