Luka Dončić is a talent so unique that even his triple-doubles make history. The four-time All-Star scored six points in the final 15 seconds of regulation, including an acrobatic and-1 putback followed by a purposely missed free throw that he corralled and turned into a circus shot that forced overtime with one second left. Dončić then scored seven of 11 overtime points, the highlight being a smooth fadeaway over Julius Randle that gave him 60 points on 21 of 31 from the field to pair with 21 rebounds and 10 assists. The 60 points were a Dallas Mavericks franchise record, and Dončić’s seventh triple-double of the season was the first 60-20-10 one in league history in the thrilling 126-121 victory over the New York Knicks on December 27, 2022.

Luka Dončić

Luka Dončić forces OT win in unprecedented 60-point, 21-rebound triple-double

Let ‘em know who you are, rook! In his regular season debut with the Memphis Grizzlies, Ziaire Williams is unguarded at the perimeter and makes the Cleveland Cavaliers defense pay by catching an outlet pass, squaring up and draining a three for the first bucket of his NBA career on October 20, 2021.

Ziaire Williams

Ziaire Williams buries three from corner in first NBA matchup

Back in action after missing the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals, reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart turned out in Game 2. Left unchecked in the corner against the Miami Heat, Smart calls for a pass, drives baseline against an aggressive close-out attempt then floats a feathery jumper over the backboard and into the hoop. Smart was dominant in the May 19, 2022 affair, dropping 24 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists while securing a win on enemy territory.

Marcus Smart

Marcus Smart lobs high-arching floater over backboard in 2022 Conference Finals

History hits different at home. Embattled in a heated Game 1 matchup against a Brooklyn Nets team once considered a title favorite, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum sent the loudest conceivable message to the basketball world watching, capping off an instant-classic display of ball movement with a game-winning, spinning layup off glass just as the final horn sounded on April 17, 2022. Tatum’s late bucket marks Boston’s first game-winning playoff buzzer beater on home soil in the franchise’s 75-year history.

Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum beats Nets with game-winning layup in first game of 2022 Playoffs

How’s that for a special delivery? Playing with the Splash Brothers for as long as he has, Draymond Green is more than comfortable getting creative on offense. The Golden State Warriors forward displays both his elite distributing ability and court vision against the Cleveland Cavaliers, corralling a pass on the wing before immediately dropping off a no-look, behind-the-back dish to a trailing Klay Thompson in the same motion. As usual, Green was at the center of everything the Warriors do, posting two points, nine rebounds, 13 assists and a steal in the defending champions’ 106-101 victory on November 11, 2022. 

Draymond Green

Draymond Green relays pass backward into the corner without having to look

The NBA playoffs call for greatness. Jimmy Butler answers. Scorching down the stretch in a hard-fought Game 2 battle against the Atlanta Hawks, the Miami Heat swingman pulls up for the smoothest dagger this side of the Bronze Age. Butler’s deep fallaway triple helped put the game out of reach for his ball club, giving him 45 points on the night and a critical victory on April 19, 2022.

Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler drains fallaway dagger in midst of 45-point night in 2022 Playoffs

When Klay Thompson’s on a heater, let him cook. The Golden State Warriors are happy to oblige as a vintage lights-out shooting performance from Thompson was just what they needed to snap an eight-game road losing skid to open the season. Against the Houston Rockets, the five-time All-Star grabs a pass from Steph Curry and lets it fly — one of his 10 made three-pointers in 13 attempts. Thompson exploded for a season-high 41 points on 14-for-23 shooting while adding four rebounds, three assists and two steals in Golden State’s 127-120 win on November 20, 2022. 

Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson buries 10th triple on 13 attempts in 41-point night

Jrue Holiday’s spatial awareness is first class. The Milwaukee Bucks guard gets out in front of the pack in transition, flags down a lead pass and manages to deftly bank in an off-balance reverse layup before the Washington Wizards can adjust on March 13, 2021.

Jrue Holiday

Jrue Holiday beats defense down floor, sinks off-balance layup

Life is all about balance when you’re Tyler Herro. The Miami Heat guard thinks quickly on his feet against the Houston Rockets, catching a pass in a precarious position along the baseline with his back to the basket. No problem for Herro, who fools his defender with a head fake one way before spinning in the other direction and flipping up a difficult layup that he converts in traffic. The possession was part of a huge night for the four-year veteran, who packaged a game-high 31 points with nine rebounds, eight assists and five three-pointers in Miami’s 97-95 victory on February 10, 2023.

Tyler Herro

Tyler Herro curls around defender for acrobatic reverse layup

Jaylen Brown did the prudent thing when confronted by one of the league’s preeminent shot blockers — he passed. The Boston Celtics’ two-time All-Star blows by his initial Brooklyn Nets defender on a baseline drive before a confrontation with Nic Claxton, whose eyes light up with hopes of a swat the moment Brown goes aerial beneath the basket. Instead of attempting the difficult reverse layup, Brown executes a perfectly-timed dump off to a cutting Robert Williams III for a two-handed slam. The Celtics ran circles around their Atlantic Division rivals, with Brown posting 26 points, three rebounds, three assists and seven three-pointers in 12 tries in Boston’s 139-96 victory on February 1, 2023.

Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown spins baseline to hand-off no-look dish to teammate

Not many men are capable of putting 7-foot Brook Lopez on a poster, much less someone six inches shorter than the veteran big man. Spencer Dinwiddie cares very little about height differences, as the Dallas Mavericks guard drives strong into the lane and takes flight before throwing down a ferocious one-handed dunk over the Milwaukee Bucks center. In addition to his throwdown, Dinwiddie’s night featured 15 points, four rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block on December 9, 2022.

Spencer Dinwiddie

Spencer Dinwiddie attacks through gap in defense for poster dunk on help-side

Without Joel Embiid and James Harden, it was up to Tyrese Maxey to steal the show against one of the NBA’s most pleasant surprises. The explosive Philadelphia 76ers guard blows by Kevin Huerter and charges into the lane to convert a difficult running layup over Domantas Sabonis while absorbing contact. The third-year pro was too much for the Kings to handle, as Maxey scored 32 points — 15 in a third quarter that the 76ers won by 16 points — while grabbing three rebounds and dishing out six assists to help Philly complete a perfect 5-0 road trip with a 129-127 victory on January 21, 2023.

Tyrese Maxey

Tyrese Maxey slips past Kings defense for sprawling, clutch layup

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