For an elite class of NBA dunkers, including one Jalen Johnson, soaring above the rim is actually the easy part. Doing it at speed through contact is a different beast altogether. After rolling into an open lane out of a screen for Trae Young, the third-year Atlanta Hawks forward gathers his momentum in the paint and plows through multiple overly optimistic shot challengers for a classic poster. Johnson finished the October 27, 2023 contest with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Jalen Johnson

Jalen Johnson smashes through multiple Knicks for poster slam

When you can change lanes on a dime, the floor opens up for you. Atlanta Hawks wing Bogdan Bogdanovic pushes the ball up the floor, loses his Oklahoma City Thunder defender with a behind-the-back move and drives into the paint for a floater on March 18, 2021.

Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanović slashes way to paint for floater

With an impressive 7-foot-3 wingspan and intriguing defensive versatility, Mouhamed Gueye is well-equipped to make the most of his early NBA action. Monitoring a rival ball carrier while simultaneously denying a kickout pass to the corner, Gueye flashes over to disrupt a drive attempt and force a turnover in an Atlanta Hawks victory on October 29, 2023.

Mouhamed Gueye

Mouhamed Gueye comes up with steal in first NBA appearance

Returning to face off against the team that drafted him, Saddiq Bey left it all on the court against the Detroit Pistons. Pushing the pace after an Atlanta Hawks rebound, Bey shuffles into position beyond arc, corrals a pass then buries a transition three-pointer. Bey planted 19 points on his former squad in a November 14, 2023 victory.

Saddiq Bey

Saddiq Bey pulls up for transition triple in return to Detroit

Heads up hoopers make plays on both ends of the floor. Atlanta Hawks rookie Onyeka Okongwu picks off a pass into the high post on defense then gives the ball up to a teammate in transition, covers the length of the floor and caps off the play with a massive alley-oop. Okongwu racked up 11 points in the April 2, 2021 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Onyeka Okongwu

Onyeka Okongwu breaks up pass, works give-and-go for transition slam

With the offensive gravity of a celestial body, Trae Young can manipulate a defense from anywhere on the court. Attacking into the paint off the dribble, Young attracts the attention of four defenders before whipping a side-arm pass from under the basket out to a waiting Dejounte Murray for three. Young racked up 23 points and 10 assists in the Atlanta Hawks win on November 1, 2023.

Trae Young

Trae Young wires side-arm kickout pass whie soaring through paint

When Cam Reddish starts feeling it from beyond the arc, he’ll let you know. The second-year Atlanta Hawks forward tracks down an offensive rebound under the hoop, darts out to the corner, then side-steps into a smooth triple. Reddish finished with 21 points in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on July 3, 2021, connecting on six-of-seven from downtown.

Cam Reddish

Cam Reddish buries 6 of 7 triples in 2021 Conference Finals

Pair John Collins’ 6-foot-9 frame with his uncanny leaping ability and there’s no such thing as ‘out of reach’. Igniting both the crowd and his teammates, Collins puts it all on display, leaping into the air to intercept a Detroit Pistons pass, then working a 3-on-2 fastbreak with his runningmates ahead of a demonstrative alley-oop slam. Collins kept the highlights coming all night in a 122-104 triumph on October 25, 2021, with 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.

John Collins

John Collins intercepts pass then takes off knowing alley-oop is coming

Take your eyes off the lob threat and he’ll make you pay. As the Toronto Raptors scramble to defend in transition, Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela heads straight to the rim and calls for an alley-oop. Capela finished with 23 points and 16 boards in the February 6, 2021 win.

Clint Capela

Clint Capela heads straight to the hoop for alley-oop slam

Following a couple of seasons spent at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, Saddiq Bey now finds himself making major contributions in a postseason race. The Atlanta Hawks’ trade deadline acquisition continued to make an impact off the bench against the Washington Wizards as the third-year forward dutifully tracked a missed John Collins attempt from downtown and hammered home the powerful put-back slam with one hand. Bey made 6 of his 10 shots — including 3 for 5 behind the 3-point line — en route to 17 points, six rebounds and three assists against the Miami Heat on March 6, 2023. 

Saddiq Bey reads ball off the rim for putback slam

When the big man has a full head of steam in transition, it’s best to get out of the way. Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela powers through an unset Detroit Pistons defense for an easy dunk on December 28, 2020.

Clint Capela runs the floor, attacks gap in transition defense with slam

Put ‘em on skates, Trae! Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young shakes off multiple defenders with some nasty ball handling before dropping the sweet layup against the Denver Nuggets on January 6, 2020.

Trae Young torments Nuggets defenders with ball on a string

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Jalen Johnson

Bogdan Bogdanović

Mouhamed Gueye

Saddiq Bey

Onyeka Okongwu

Trae Young

Cam Reddish

John Collins

Clint Capela

Saddiq Bey

Clint Capela

Trae Young