With nearly two decades worth of experience flying around the perimeter as a defensive pest, it’s only fitting that P.J. Tucker remembers some of the ways to combat it on the offensive end. Showcasing his IQ out of the high post, the Miami Heat forward reads the Portland Trail Blazers defense, shifting two different players with a subtle ball fake before whipping a smooth behind-the-back feed to a teammate for an easy bucket. Even without their two All-Stars, Tucker ensured his team would be in good hands, stepping up with 14 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block in a 115-109 win on January 5, 2022.

P.J. Tucker

P.J. Tucker threads behind-back dime along baseline to cutting teammate

Getting down the floor is one thing, capping off the play with a hungry defense in hot pursuit is something else entirely. Memphis Grizzlies rookie Desmond Bane keeps his focus as he pushes the ball up the floor then ducks under a soaring defender for a nice reverse layup on January 1, 2021.

Desmond Bane

Desmond Bane pushes pace in transition, ducks around defense for off-balance two

After all this time, Andre Iguodala can still get above the rim to finish an alley-oop. The Miami Heat veteran cuts to the hoop against the Toronto Raptors and throws down a lob from Kendrick Nunn. Iguodala finished with 13 points in the January 20, 2021 contest.

Andre Iguodala

Andre Iguodala cuts along the baseline to throw down alley-oop

As long as the lob is anywhere near the rim, Bam Adebayo will do the rest. After setting a screen for Duncan Robinson, the Miami Heat center reaches back to catch and finish an alley-oop against the Dallas Mavericks. Adebayo finished with 19 points and 11 boards in the January 1, 2021 contest.

Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo works two-man game with teammate for alley-oop

When the dunk is unbelievable, you gotta check the tapes. Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo rolls hard into a gap after setting a screen, catches the ball with a runway in front of him then explodes for a massive one-handed throwdown as Indiana Pacers defender Domantas Sabonis rushes from the help side. Despite a whistle on the floor, the officials ultimately ruled Adebayo’s throwdown fair game and he finished with 16 points in the March 31, 2021 win.

Bam Adebayo extends over and past charge attempt for poster slam

Positioned to make an instant impact with the size and athleticism he brings to the Dallas Mavericks, it was Dereck Lively II’s motor down the stretch that shined in his debut. Embroiled in a tight, fourth-quarter battle between division rivals, Lively II battles for position on the glass with fellow rookie Victor Wembanyama, deflects the ball to a teammate, then loops back around to the hoop to throw down a putback slam off a miss. Lively II recorded a double-double in his first game as a pro, dropping 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting and added 10 boards in the October 25, 2023 win.

Dereck Lively II

Dereck Lively II battles for fourth-quarter putback in first NBA game

With a reputation of doing a bit of everything to help his team in the win column, it’s no surprise that Olivier-Maxence Prosper was willing to battle for his first NBA basket. After calling for a skip pass from a teammate, Prosper loses one defender with a pump fake, drives hard along the baseline and absorbs help-side contact en route to two points. The Dallas Mavericks rookie finished the November 12, 2023 contest with four points.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper

Olivier-Maxence Prosper soars along baseline for first career bucket

On a team headlined by superstars, there’s no shortage of opportunities for Drew Eubanks to punish distracted defenders. After setting a screen for Kevin Durant at the three-point line, causing every opponent in the vicinity to collapse on the 13-time All-Star, Eubanks rolls seamlessly into the paint, gathers the rock and plants a poster dunk on a late help-side defender. Eubanks scored 13 points in the Phoenix Suns victory on November 15, 2023.

Drew Eubanks

Drew Eubanks rolls to the cup for poster dunk on late defender

With multiple walls’ worth of posters already to his name, Jaylen Brown is a threat to wreak havoc above the rim anytime he touches the rock. After catching a pass in the corner and losing his defender with a pump fake, the Boston Celtics All-Star does just that. Challenged at the rim by three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, Brown swiftly but emphatically avoids the contest and throws down a hammer. Brown racked up 26 points and seven boards in the November 6, 2023 battle.

Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown drives baseline for poster on Rudy Gobert

Do it as long as Shaun Livingston did and it starts to look easy. Sailing smooth in the final quarter of what would go on to be the largest postseason blowout in franchise history, the Golden State Warriors veteran strings an in-and-out, behind-the-back combo together to leave James Harden planted in the dirt. The perpetually smooth Livingston tallied nine points and four rebounds in the Western Conference Finals victory on May 20, 2018 and would go on to win the third and final ring of his NBA career.

Shaun Livingston

Shaun Livingston freezes defender with handle at perimeter

The alley-oop to Ayton! Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton catches the lob and throws down a ferocious two-handed slam against the Dallas Mavericks on August 13, 2020. Ayton’s massive dunk helped lead his team to victory and propel the Phoenix Suns’ perfect 8 - 0 record during the NBA’s restart in Orlando.

Deandre Ayton

Deandre Ayton soars through the paint for alley-oop

Steph Curry’s shooting and scoring abilities get their just praise — but how about some love for the way the Golden State Warriors star gets his buckets? Granted an opportunity to strike from the corner, Curry sets his sight on the rim, splitting two defenders with a smooth behind-the-back maneuver, then finishes at the cup with a layup. The four-time champion scores two of his game-high 24 points on the play while also chipping in six rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and five triples in his squad’s 111-101 win on November 18, 2022.

Steph Curry

Steph Curry wraps ball around back to evade defender for scoop shot

Marketplace

P.J. Tucker

Desmond Bane

Andre Iguodala

Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo

Dereck Lively II

Olivier-Maxence Prosper

Drew Eubanks

Jaylen Brown

Shaun Livingston

Deandre Ayton

Steph Curry