There’s a certain level of geometry involved when creating space at the NBA level. Picked up out of a screen on the perimeter, Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter sizes up the defender in front of him, blitzes past him after a series of crossovers but then calmly spins and pivots into a stepback jumper. Hunter finished the November 1, 2023 matchup with 23 points, seven rebounds and a pair of steals.

De'Andre Hunter

De'Andre Hunter sizes up defender and spins into stepback jumper

Ben Simmons’ ambidextrous skill set never gets old. The Philadelphia 76ers guard drives his way into the paint, hits Boston Celtics center Daniel Theis with a ball fake then brings the rock around to his other hand to finish the play with hook shot on January 22, 2021.

Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons penetrates into the paint, switches hands to get layup to fall

It took Luke Kennard less than two months to make history with the Memphis Grizzlies. Acquired from the LA Clippers at the trade deadline, the sixth-year guard authored one of the best shooting nights of his career against the Houston Rockets. Kennard showed zero hesitation when he collected a pass from Ja Morant and immediately buried a catch-and-shoot triple, one of his franchise-record 10 3-pointers of the night. Kennard matched a career-high with 30 points, connecting on 10 of 11 treys while becoming the second player in NBA history to score 30 points all on 3-pointers. The Grizzlies made a franchise-record 25 triples, and Kennard added three assists in 24 minutes off the bench in his squad’s 151-114 triumph on March 24, 2023.

Luke Kennard

Luke Kennard pours in franchise record 10 treys on just 11 attempts

While Devin Booker has never been shy about firing from long range, he deployed a different mode of attack against the Sacramento Kings. The three-time All-Star began the possession by feeding Jock Landale inside. Soon after, when the rock found its way back out to him, Booker blew past Trey Lyles with his left on a drive before sidestepping Chimezie Metu to convert an underhanded scoop shot with his right. Booker shot 13 of 20 — all from inside the arc — while mixing in five rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 120-109 Phoenix Suns win on February 14, 2023.

Devin Booker

Devin Booker soars through the paint for acrobatic finger roll

It’s not everyday that you see an emphatic alley-oop block, but Landry Shamet — normally a feared three-point shooter — shows some versatility with this key defensive play. Shamet hustles back in transition, meeting a Houston Rockets big at the apex, and rejects an alley-oop dunk attempt with authority. The sharpshooter ended the night with six points in a dominant 26-point Phoenix Suns win on November 14, 2021.

Landry Shamet

Landry Shamet bats alley-oop lob pass out of the air

After staking his claim as the NBA’s best late-game scorer in the regular season, it was only right that Chicago Bulls star guard DeMar DeRozan have that opportunity in the postseason. Up three with 30 seconds to go in Game 2 of the First Round, the five-time All-Star called his own number, attacking the rim with aggression on the way to a cold-blooded game-clincher over and around the Milwaukee Bucks defense. DeRozan was spectacular, tallying 41 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks in the 114-110 victory to even the series at one game apiece on April 20, 2022.

DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan puts Bulls on back, pours in 41 points in 2022 Playoff win

Donovan Mitchell is a master of time and space — the rest of us just have to deal with that. The Utah Jazz guard sizes up Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas as the clock ticks down at the end of a quarter, then darts over to his right for an epic side-step triple as the buzzer sounds. Mitchell finished with 30 points and 10 dimes in Game 5 of his team’s Round 1 victory on June 2, 2021.

Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell sidesteps into quarter-ending fadeaway in 2021 Playoffs

You don’t thrive as long as Paul Millsap has without mastering a shooter’s touch around the basket. The Denver Nuggets forward drives against Miami Heat center Kelly Olynyk then lays up a bucket in a January 27, 2021 victory.

Paul Millsap

Paul Millsap attacks the paint, gets running layup to fall with soft touch

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De'Andre Hunter

Ben Simmons

Luke Kennard

Luke Kennard

Luke Kennard

Luke Kennard

Devin Booker

Devin Booker

Landry Shamet

DeMar DeRozan

Donovan Mitchell

Paul Millsap