Blocks off the glass just hit different. Picking up reigning NBA champ Giannis Antetokounmpo at halfcourt, Philadelphia 76ers sophomore forward Paul Reed tracks the two-time MVP as he makes a break for the rim. Reed comes up big, swatting a layup attempt off the backboard for one of his two blocks on November 9, 2021.

Derrick Rose’s insane speed and athleticism has made him an underrated shot blocker at the point guard spot. The New York Knicks guard stays with his man off the ball and leaps to reject his layup into the baseline stands. The former MVP was very effective with 16 points and six assists off the bench in a December 2, 2021 matchup against the Chicago Bulls.

Guarding Paul George is no small feat, especially for a young player not used to his play style. George goes right at his mismatched rookie defender, flashing his handle with a crossover behind his legs, then pivots into a beautiful spinning jumper. The LA Clippers star flirted with a triple-double in a 119-115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on December 3, 2021, finishing with 19 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and two steals.

If you fail to put a body on DeMarcus Cousins when boxing out, an easy bucket is sure to follow. Cousins promptly sheds a smaller defender and positions himself for a mighty, one-handed putback slam. The Denver Nuggets veteran played a key role in 13 minutes off the bench in a 115-110 win over the Sacramento Kings on February 26, 2022, finishing with nine points, eight rebounds and two steals.

Picking up a 6-foot-8 Gordon Hayward when he’s headed to the rim with momentum is no easy task. Here, the Charlotte Hornets forward catches a long pass on the break, takes one big dribble and rises up for a forceful, two-handed slam over a defender at the rim. In the first game of the season, Hayward finished with 27 points, five rebounds and three assists in a 123-122 win against the Indiana Pacers on October 20, 2021.

Some of Zach LaVine’s most exciting slams come via action on the baseline. LaVine sizes up his defender, makes a swift spin move to get around him and goes up for a powerful, one-handed jam that rocks the rim. The Chicago Bulls All-Star contributed 26 points, five rebounds and three assists in a 126-115 victory over the Orlando Magic on February 1, 2022.

Draymond Green’s a true extension of his coach on the floor, able to make reads on the fly and adjust accordingly to create a positive result for his squad. Here, the Golden State Warriors All-Star brings the ball up, directs traffic and motions his teammate to cut to the basket in time for a perfect feed. Green dropped six points, pulled down seven rebounds and had six assists in a 126-112 win over the Washington Wizards on March 14, 2022.

Grind hard enough on defense and the offensive opportunities will present themselves. Houston Rockets forward Sterling Brown battles for a steal, then takes the ball all the way for a transition slam on April 9, 2021. Brown finished with 15 points in the game against the LA Clippers.

Klay Thompson may be one of the most feared shooters in NBA history, but he’s got other facets to his game he can contribute with as well. He showcases one here, leaking out on a fastbreak and facing a drive before dropping off a behind-the-back dish to a teammate for a score. Thompson played an all-around offensive game with 15 points, six assists and three triples in a 130-92 win over the Dallas Mavericks on January 25, 2022.

For Milwaukee Bucks guard Wesley Matthews, gritty 3-and-D play comes naturally. But, taking advantage of a hard closeout against the Orlando Magic, the veteran shows he’s full of surprises, drawing in a defender and setting up a teammate with a creative behind-the-back dime. Matthews also tallied 11 points and three triples in the 136-118 win on December 30, 2021.

How are mere mortals supposed to stop Dwyane Wade when he's barely contained by the very laws of physics themselves? After cutting backdoor and losing his defender just outside the paint, the Miami Heat superstar launches himself into low earth orbit to chase a wild lob, spins fluidly mid-air to collect the rock, then continues his rotation to complete the 180-degree spin and bank home an instant classic alley-oop. Wade finished with 37 points on the night, including his team's final 17 points, en route to a victory over the Detroit Pistons on February 12, 2006. 

Isaiah Stewart has his teammate's backs at all times. The Detroit Pistons big man provides some needed help defense, coming from the weak side to swat away an easy hoop on November 2, 2021.

To contend for an NBA title, it helps to have a gritty, hard-nosed veteran like Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder. Playing defense against a transition attack, Crowder puts that toughness on tape, completely ripping the ball out of an Oklahoma City Thunder player’s hands during a layup attempt. Crowder played to all his strengths in a 124-104 win on February 24, 2022, with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Momentum is a powerful thing. In the midst of an epic run, Phoenix Suns forward Torrey Craig pushes the pace in transition knowing that point guard Cameron Payne isn’t far behind him. Craig heads straight to the rack to throw down a high-arcing lob, sending an already fired-up crowd into a frenzy in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on June 7, 2021.

Despite sharing the floor with All-Stars on a nightly basis, Golden State Warriors rookie Jonathan Kuminga has shown that his athleticism and two-way potential aren't to be overlooked. Rotating over from the weak side, the 2021 lottery pick takes to the skies to send a Brooklyn Nets layup the other way for a highlight rejection. Kuminga did a little bit of everything, putting up seven points, six rebounds and one block in a 117-99 win on November 16, 2021.

Bigs that run the floor get rewarded. Sacramento Kings center Damian Jones hustles down the court as the Sacramento Kings transition the ball, then ducks behind the defense to throw down an alley-oop in a win over the Dallas Mavericks on May 2, 2021.

You love to see a rookie take on an MVP-caliber defender with no fear. New Orleans Pelicans neophyte Herbert Jones considers a shot on the perimeter then, seeing a path to the rim with only three-time All-Star and reigning MVP Nikola Jokić in the way, decides to take his chances. The rookie center comes up big, reaching up and over his defender’s outstretched arm for a one-handed jam on December 8, 2021.

With his 37-inch vertical, 7-foot-5 wingspan and spirited play style, there are few things Indiana Pacers big Isaiah Jackson can’t do athletically. Creeping into the lane on a pick-and-roll, Jackson shows the San Antonio Spurs what that means, taking a pocket pass and rising up for a ferocious contact jam in traffic. Jackson’s boxscore showed his potential, with 15 points, five rebounds and two blocks in a 119-108 win on March 12, 2022.

Fearless dunkers lay it on the line regardless of who’s in front of them, for proof, look at Memphis Grizzlies guard De’Anthony Melton. Melton shows elite athleticism to escape his defender, before driving to the rim and putting three-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns on a poster. Melton continued his solid season for the improved Grizzlies outfit with 19 points, three rebounds and three assists in a 125-118 win on November 8, 2021. 

The NBA is filled with feared rim protectors, but that won’t stop Damian Jones from attacking the rim. After an offensive rebound falls into his lap, the Sacramento Kings big man puts his 6-foot-11 frame and 37-inch vertical to the test against Portland Trail Blazers big Jusuf Nurkić. The end result? An authoritative one-handed jam that helps seal a Kings’ 125-121 victory on November 24, 2021. Jones stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, five rebounds, two assists and immeasurable energy in the process.