Grail Seekers February

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Missed shot attempts seldom make one’s highlight reel, particularly ones in the game’s opening minute. But, as Stephen Curry raced the floor, eager to introduce the NBA’s fastest-paced team to its perfect deep-range complement, the make-or-mess result mattered much less than the underlying message: the Association’s new fearless, limitless sniper had officially arrived. A game-changing offensive hub from his career’s literal first play, Curry — with an added step or five behind the 3-point line in future seasons — immediately demonstrated what would someday solidify his Hall of Fame candidacy. Accurate on anything leaving his hands, be it a trademark pull-up or a pass to keep the Golden State Warriors’ team-first offense energized, Curry’s debut proved memorable, especially during a 12-point, six-of-six shooting flurry during a final-quarter comeback attempt against the Houston Rockets. Unknowing of his starting role until hours before October 28, 2009’s tip-off, Curry electrified nonetheless, capturing 14 points (on 7-of-12 shooting), seven assists, and four steals (three in the first seven minutes). Wearing the “Curry” name proudly in creating league history’s 24th-ever father-son tandem, the No. 7 pick set the rookie pace as the Rookie of the Year runner-up, with every award his imagination could conjure arriving years later.

Steph Curry

The Golden State Warriors have seen their fair share of 40-foot, game-winning daggers in front of the home crowd from a former NBA Most Valuable Player; Nikola Jokić simply made sure it wasn’t the one they expected. One assist shy of another triple-double, the Denver Nuggets superstar decided that overtime wasn’t in his plans, catching an inbounds pass with four seconds remaining before getting just close enough to launch a contested, 39-foot rainbow off the glass for an exhilarating victory. Sharing the floor with multiple stars, the Nuggets’ transcendent big made his case as the game’s best on January 4, 2024, tossing in 34 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, and a pair of 3-pointers.

Nikola Jokić

The Shai Gilgeous-Alexander breakout tour rolled on with yet another clutch bucket. The 2023 first-time All-Star laid the groundwork for his future selection as he haunted the Portland Trail Blazers with a game-winning baseline fadeaway over Justise Winslow as time expired. The emerging star capped an incredible performance with a game-high 35 points that included a flawless 14 for 14 showing at the foul line while also chipping in six assists and two blocks as his Oklahoma City Thunder picked up a 123-121 win on December 19, 2022. Gilgeous-Alexander finished fifth in MVP voting in his fifth pro season, and his 31.4 points per game was the fourth-best mark in the league. He was one of just six players to average 30 points or better in 2023 and led the NBA with 669 free throws made. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

To make one’s claim as perhaps the greatest, longest-enduring statistical talent in the NBA’s history, it’s only inevitable that at some point, a trademark, career-defining signature move will come about. Over a seven-second span, LeBron James introduced the Memphis Grizzlies to two of them from his toolbox over the last 22 seasons. Plenty capable of soaring with the best of them, even at an advanced age, James commands the highlight reel’s investment, first by punishing Memphis’ disorganized transition defense through a powerful, go-to tomahawk jam. Recognizing Desmond Bane’s desire to offer a quick rebuttal, James — one step behind in his defensive tracking — hustles into the angle needed for a chasedown block, flawlessly sending a two-way message early into December 15, 2024’s game. The first game back was a productive one for the multi-time Most Valuable Player, as he stuffed the box score with 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, one steal, two blocks, and three 3-pointers, ultimately steering victory against a familiar foe.

LeBron James

Challenged by what became one of the 2024-25 season’s great rollercoaster battles, the Detroit Pistons reaped the benefits of having a soon-to-be-named All-Star floor general, capable of locating angles to attack from both high and low. Described by his head coach as “the complete package” after December 16, 2024’s win over the Miami Heat, Cade Cunningham certainly looked the part, delivering what became his season’s sixth triple-double amidst a chaotic battle. Mapping Motor City's success in a battle that miraculously offered both 19-point fourth quarter leads and eight-point overtime deficits, Cunningham’s presence was all-encompassing, as he lofted up alley-oop lobs, open-floor break starters, and ever-crafty buckets of his own. Only a few nights sleep removed from resetting a previous career-high with 15 assists on December 7, Cunningham, evidently, entered Little Caesars Arena ready to eye both teammates and new history. Well-deserved in earning a first-ever Eastern Conference Player of the Week nod thereafter, the Pistons’ new franchise face introduced a 20-point, 11-rebound, 18-assist, one-block, three-triple contribution to the stat column, helping secure a resilient come-from-behind win for his efforts.

Cade Cunningham

One of the beauties of the NBA’s season-by-season award race is that, for perceived “frontrunners,” it sometimes only takes a magical month for a once-uncrowned challenger to announce entry into the race. Assuming the message could be heard over one of his rim-bending jams, Kel’el Ware, some might say, used an eye-opening January stretch to introduce himself to the Rookie of the Year conversation. A force to be reckoned with during his first-ever start, the Miami Heat’s multifaceted center settles into a triple-threat stance above the 3-point break, ultimately thinking better of a perimeter attempt. Ambitious in his rim-run after electing to handoff-and-roll, Ware parlays the free path into a ferocious, one-handed opening-quarter jam. The Portland Trail Blazers would prevail on January 21, 2025, but for 2024’s No. 15 pick, the results spoke for themselves. Ultimately leading all rookies in points (208) and rebounds (111) in January, Ware enjoyed a high point against Portland, tallying 20 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks, and two trifectas.

Kel'el Ware

Dunk of the year alert! As the owner of some of the NBA’s flashiest slams over the past four seasons, Ja Morant showed the Indiana Pacers there’s plenty more where those came from when he found a seam in the defense on a drive to the basket before he wound up and threw down an overpowering tomahawk jam. The arena-shaking dunk gave the Memphis Grizzlies a 20-point third quarter lead, and Morant’s 23 points and 10 assists helped the Grizzlies win their ninth consecutive game, a 130-112 display of dominance on January 14, 2023.

Ja Morant

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

Item one on Jayson Tatum’s Christmas wish list: reign supreme over a fellow Eastern Conference heavyweight. It was indeed a happy holiday for Tatum’s Boston Celtics, as the four-time All-Star pump faked his initial Milwaukee Bucks defender out of his shoes before he found Marcus Smart all alone in the corner. Smart dished it right back to a cutting Tatum, who finished the play with bravado when he landed a highlight-reel slam over Giannis Antetokounmpo. Tatum’s consistent dominance in his sixth season has kept the Celtics at the top of the East, and his 41 points — including a 20-point third quarter — on 14 of 22 from the field to go with seven rebounds, five assists and three steals led his team to a festive 139-118 win on December 25, 2022.

Jayson Tatum

Already one of the finest scorers of his generation, it was only a matter of time before Damian Lillard did something only seven other players in NBA history have accomplished. The seven-time All-Star put together a historic performance for the ages against the Houston Rockets as he lit up the defense with a barrage of 3-pointers, including one from the logo. Lillard also got the crowd on its feet with a strong drive to the rack that he finished with a monster one-handed throwdown. The 11-year veteran posted 41 points by halftime and finished the contest with a staggering 71 points on 22 of 38 from the field, 13 for 22 from downtown and a perfect 14 for 14 at the foul line while also chipping in six rebounds and six assists in the 131-114 win on February 26, 2023. Lillard became the eighth player in league history and second this season to score 70 in a game. The 71 points and 13 treys were both career-highs and Portland Trail Blazers franchise records.

Damian Lillard

Devin Booker hung the third-highest scoring total of his career to date on the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Phoenix Suns needed every single one of them. With his team trailing by 24 points in the third quarter, the three-time All-Star activated heat check mode and was especially effective on strong drives to the basket. Whether in one-on-one matchups or taking on multiple defenders, Booker drew fouls three times while getting an assortment of runners, floaters and layups to drop. Booker rallied his team all the way back as he dropped 58 points — 36 during the second-half comeback — on 21 of 35 from the field while adding six rebounds, five assists and six triples in 12 attempts in the 118-114 victory on December 17, 2022.

Devin Booker

Jaren Jackson Jr. is a capable game-wrecker on both ends of the court — sometimes even in the same sequence. The Memphis Grizzlies’ first-time All-Star came away with a steal against the Los Angeles Lakers but the best was yet to come as Jackson Jr. trailed the play up the floor before pouncing on a missed John Konchar floater and hammering home a pulverizing putback slam over Anthony Davis. The emerging fifth-year forward and two-way threat tallied 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocks as the Grizzlies outscored the Lakers by 15 in the second half en route to a 121-109 victory on February 28, 2023.

Jaren Jackson Jr.

There was never a doubt who would take the final shot in a tie game for the Indiana Pacers. There was even less doubt where the basketball would end up after it left his hands. Tyrese Haliburton showed the Miami Heat that he’s got ice water flowing through his veins when he dribbled across halfcourt, shook his defender loose and pulled up from way downtown to bury a game-winning trey with 4.1 seconds to play. The first-time All-Star in 2023 showed why he was worthy of such an honor as Haliburton lit up the Heat for 43 points — the first 40-point game of his three-year career — while also chipping in seven assists and a franchise-record 10 3-pointers in Indiana’s 111-108 victory on December 23, 2022.

Tyrese Haliburton

First, he broke ankles. Then Jalen Brunson buried a backbreaking jumper. With his New York Knicks holding a six-point overtime lead, Brunson goes for the dagger when his slick handles send a wobbly Alex Caruso to the hardwood, leaving the prized free agent addition all kinds of room to knock down the open 3-pointer. Brunson’s fingerprints were all over the Knicks’ fifth consecutive victory, as his 30 points on 11 of 21 shooting plus seven assists were a major catalyst in the 128-120 decision on December 14, 2022.

Jalen Brunson

Don’t let your guard down when Dejounte Murray is on the prowl. The Cleveland Cavaliers took their time pushing the ball up the court and learned a humbling lesson in nonchalance as Murray sprung into action and picked off a lazy Darius Garland pass near halfcourt before landing a high-flying fast break throwdown on the other end. Murray has dazzled in the Atlanta Hawks’ backcourt after spending his first five seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, and his 25 points — 15 in a torrid second quarter in which he made seven straight shots — on 11 for 19 shooting along with nine rebounds and eight assists were too much for the Cavs to overcome in his squad’s 136-119 victory on February 24, 2023. 

Dejounte Murray

LeBron James running the break is a sure sign to get your popcorn ready. The King was off to the races after he scooped up a loose ball on the defensive end and passed off to an in-transition Dennis Schröder, whose eyes lit up when he realized he and James had the Charlotte Hornets’ defense beat on a 2-on-1 fast break. Schröder lobbed an alley-oop to his superstar teammate, who wowed the Charlotte crowd with a high-flying reverse windmill slam. James shot 16 for 26 for a game-high 43 points while mixing in 11 rebounds and six assists in a 121-115 Los Angeles Lakers victory on January 2, 2023. During a season when he became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, James was named an All-Star for a record-tying 19th time. 

In his first home game following a long injury absence, Steph Curry gave the fans -- including 55 Top Shot collectors from the Strength in Moments fan community -- their money's worth. An All-Star for the ninth time in 2023, Curry was especially clutch in the fourth quarter and overtime against the Milwaukee Bucks, hitting three huge 3-pointers in the final two minutes of regulation, including one that tied the score with 19 seconds left. Curry then preserved the tie and sent the game to the extra session when he landed a critical block on Jrue Holiday's driving layup attempt. Of course, Curry wasn't done as he nailed an overtime trey that put the game out of reach — his 36 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and six triples guided the Golden State Warriors to a 125-116 win on March 11, 2023. The four-time champion became the all-time Warriors leader in field goals made in 2023 while also tying an NBA record with his seventh 50-point game after the age of 30.

It sure didn’t take long for Kevin Durant’s winning touch to be felt by the Phoenix Suns. In just the third time suiting up for his new team, the 13-time All-Star reminded the Dallas Mavericks why he’s one of the most clutch shooters in league history. After the Mavs took a late two-point lead on an alley-oop from Luka Dončić to Dwight Powell, Durant beat Tim Hardaway Jr. off the dribble before pulling up and burying a game-winning midrange jumper from the elbow with 12.1 seconds remaining. Durant’s game-high 37 points, along with seven rebounds and three assists, allowed the Suns to stay unbeaten since his arrival in a 130-126 win on March 5, 2023. Durant moved into the top-20 on the NBA’s career scoring list in 2023.

Kevin Durant

For one night Jaylen Brown’s facial protection mask turned him into a superhero. Brown ran the break with Malcolm Brogdon following his teammate’s steal until Brogdon dumped it off to Brown for a gravity-defying throwdown over San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili. Even without Jayson Tatum in the lineup, Brown still led the Boston Celtics to one of their most dominant victories of the season — a 137-93 rout on March 26, 2023 in which he posted 41 points, 13 rebounds and three assists. An All-Star for the second time in 2023, the seven-year veteran posted career-best averages in points, rebounds, minutes and field goal percentage all while leading his squad to 57 wins, the most for a Celtics team since 2008-09.

Jaylen Brown

It took 11 seasons and part of a 12th, but Kyrie Irving finally secured his first game-winning buzzer-beater. Irving walked it off against the Toronto Raptors when he eluded Fred VanVleet’s defense just long enough following an inbounds pass to create enough separation to launch a step-back 3-pointer that delivered the Brooklyn Nets their fifth consecutive victory. Irving scored a team-high 32 points on 13 of 22 from the field and mixed in three rebounds and five assists in the 119-116 triumph on December 16, 2022. Named an All-Star for the eighth time in 2023, Irving has now made multiple appearances for three different teams — Brooklyn, the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers — while his 32 points and 15 assists in the 2023 All-Star Game were both records for a Dallas Mavericks player.

Kyrie Irving

Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, Tyrese Maxey is a walking bucket. The Philadelphia 76ers guard shifted into a reserve role against the Brooklyn Nets but still produced like he was in the starting five. With his team holding a four-point lead late in the fourth quarter, Maxey gave Philly some breathing room when he drained a step-back 3-pointer over Nic Claxton that undoubtedly made backcourt mate James Harden beam with pride. Maxey led the team in scoring with 27 points, connecting on 6 of 9 treys while adding three rebounds, five assists and two steals in the 137-133 win on January 25, 2023. Maxey averaged better than 20 points for the first time in his three-year career, and became the third player in franchise history to score 40 points in a game before the age of 23. Maxey also tied a franchise record with nine made 3-pointers in a game.

Tyrese Maxey

Joel Embiid may have scored the game-winning bucket, but the fourth quarter belonged to James Harden. All four of Harden’s 3-pointers came in the final period, two of which were of his patented step-back variety, and the 10-time All-Star also scored from midrange and at the rim with the help of his renowned handles on his way to 18 in the quarter. Harden also had the assist on Embiid’s winning jumper with 5.1 seconds remaining and at one point scored 16 straight points for the Philadelphia 76ers over a 3 ½-minute stretch. Harden led the way with 31 points and also posted six rebounds and 11 assists in Philly’s thrilling 118-117 victory on January 14, 2023. Harden’s 10.7 assists per game led the league for the second time in his career, and his 38.5 percentage on 3-pointers was his best season from downtown since 2012. 

James Harden

With his second season almost in the books, Franz Wagner and the Orlando Magic continued making strides toward improvement. Following a point-blank miss from Wendell Carter Jr., Wagner had his teammate’s back when he picked Jaden Ivey’s pocket at halfcourt and raced the other way for an epic one-handed throwdown. Wagner tallied 16 points, five rebounds, eight assists and three steals in his squad’s 128-102 win over the Detroit Pistons on April 2, 2023. Orlando’s 34th and final victory of the season was the franchise’s most since the 2018-19 campaign. Wagner raised his points, assists and steals per game averages from year one to two while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from downtown. 

Franz Wagner

At the rate Darius Garland was scoring he likely could have played four more quarters. The 2022 All-Star picked up right where he left off the preceding season with a sizzling performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Garland came up with a steal on the defensive end and beat the second-quarter buzzer with a straightaway 3-pointer despite being flanked by multiple defenders. And he was far from finished, registering the first 50-point game of the 2022-23 season with a career-high 51 — 27 of which came in the final period — while also converting a personal-best 10 triples. Garland added six rebounds and two steals on November 13, 2022, becoming the fourth player in franchise history to score at least 50 in a game. Garland shot a career-best 41 percent from downtown in his fourth season while leading the Cavs to their first playoff berth since 2019 and most wins in a season since 2017.

Darius Garland

Dunking on two Los Angeles Lakers is better than one. Domantas Sabonis went to work in the post against Lonnie Walker IV, blowing by him with relative ease before taking flight and hammering home a one-handed slam over Walker and help defender Thomas Bryant. Sabonis recorded his ninth straight double-double and second triple-double of the season with 13 points, 21 rebounds and 12 assists, guiding the Sacramento Kings to a 134-120 win on December 21, 2022. An All-Star for the third time in four seasons, Sabonis led the league in rebounding and double-doubles in 2023. He also finished second with 14 triple-doubles and joined Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić as the only NBA players with double-digit triple-doubles during the 2022-23 campaign.

Domantas Sabonis

A DeMar DeRozan midrange jumper with the outcome hanging in the balance? Game over. The veteran Chicago Bulls shooting guard found his sweet spot in the closing seconds of a one-point game against the New York Knicks, confidently rising up and draining the game-winning bucket over Quentin Grimes with 0.1 seconds on the clock. DeRozan tallied 25 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and two steals in Chicago’s exhilarating 118-117 road win on December 23, 2023. An All-Star for the sixth time in his 14-year NBA career in 2023, a season in which he became the 50th player in league history to score 20,000 career points.

DeMar DeRozan

Tari Eason learned a valuable rookie lesson: challenging Jarrett Allen inside will likely end in rejection. Eason thought he was a step ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers defense in transition but Allen had other ideas as he tracked the Houston Rockets forward into the lane and landed an epic block at the rim. The swat was part of an impactful night on both ends of the court for Allen as he shot 8 for 11 and posted team-highs of 24 points and 14 rebounds while also blocking three shots in Cleveland’s 108-91 triumph on March 26, 2023. As a team, the Cavs had the No. 1 defensive rating in the NBA, and Allen’s rim protection, rotational movement, timing and active hands made him one of the league’s more impactful two-way big men — he also shot better than 60 percent from the field for the fifth consecutive season.

Jarrett Allen

New season, same uniquely dominant Zion Williamson. In the the first half of the New Orleans Pelicans’ season opener, the two-time All-Star splits a double-team of Memphis Grizzlies defenders for a poster dunk on the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, then returns on the very next possession to beat everybody down the floor for an emphatic transition alley-oop. Williamson, whose combination of size, speed and sheer athleticism continue to defy physics in Year 4, finished the October 25, 2023 victory with 23 points and seven rebounds.

Zion Williamson

With a signature victory well within his sights, Trae Young decided to show the Phoenix Suns what it means to have “eyes like a hawk.” Burdened with figuring out how to contain a four-time scoring champion in transition, the Atlanta Hawks star positions himself perfectly, cutting into the dribble attempt for a steal before taking off in transition to drop in the game-clinching 3-point bucket. Helping guide the Hawks to a third consecutive win in front of their hometown crowd, the All-Star floor general was predictably on-point, freezing the Suns in the form of a 32-point, 15-assist, three-steal, one-block performance along with seven 3-pointers on February 2, 2024.

Trae Young

In persevering his way through a season in which his resilience has been tested and his body has been banged up, it was only fitting that Donovan Mitchell produced one of the 2023-24’s season’s most brilliant passes without even needing his eyes. Leading by 20, and already on the way to a memorable scoring performance, the five-time All-Star picks a most creative way to get his teammate involved, speeding through the lane with a quick gather step before wrapping a perfectly-angled no-look around a defender’s back to set up a teammate for a 3-pointer. Having little issue ramping up his play against a like-minded Eastern Conference contender, Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers were exceptional in a wire-to-wire, 40-point win on January 17, 2024. A star on the night, Mitchell exploded for 31 points (on just 19 shots), five rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and four 3-pointers.

Donovan Mitchell

Unaware at the time of just how revolutionary he would become as the Association’s first prep-to-pro talent in two decades, Kevin Garnett, before his debut, described expectations for himself to be “very high.” November 3, 1995’s box score against the Sacramento Kings would confirm the Minnesota Timberwolves’ soon-to-be-superstar’s field goal percentage to be just the same. Presenting an appetizer of what his Hall of Fame career would eventually involve, the ever-versatile Garnett showcased a soft around-the-rim touch, a quick, accurate inside-the-arc release, and potential as an otherworldly defender. Unintentionally paying homage to a previous prep-to-pro legend, Garnett’s flawless efficiency —  four-for-four — headlined a eight-point, one-rebound, one-assist outing in 16 minutes. Garnett, remarkable enough to prompt a veteran teammate to personally defer playing time in favor of his could-be greatness, rode the momentum to a sixth-place Rookie of the Year finish and standout averages in points (10.4), rebounds (6.3), steals (1.1), and blocks (1.6). Deemed too risky an investment for some risk-averse GMs, the 1995 No. 5 pick parlayed opportunities into an All-Star nod by Year Two, a 2003-04 Most Valuable Player award by Year Nine, and a solidified legacy as a top-shelf power forward by career's end.

Kevin Garnett

Don’t allow Rudy Gobert’s reputation as a generationally-great gameplan wrecker on defense fool you; his contributions on offense remain just as consistent. Locked into a heated, midseason battle in which the winner would take sole possession of the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed, Gobert had something up his sleeve for his familiar foes, using an assortment of pivots and physical bumps to clear his path for a rim-shaking contact flush. As consistent a double-double as the NBA has to offer, the Minnesota Timberwolves star was again unfailable in the win over the LA Clippers on February 12, 2024, offering up 17 points, 11 rebounds, and four rejections.

Rudy Gobert

Towards the end of a podcast appearance alongside his NBA idol, Brandon Miller, just weeks removed from being drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, acknowledged that individual goals weren’t something he’d considered ahead of Year One. Though the No. 2 pick would later render it irrelevant by fulfilling goals of a different kind —  field goals — Miller recognized only one objective in the lead-up to his professional career: longevity. One season in, it’s safe to say that the smooth-shooting highflyer has, fittingly, gotten off on the right foot. Showcasing NBA-ready poise from Day One, Miller amazed, even during a season mired by injuries and roster shake-ups. The Hornets’ swingman’s flight proved particularly high from late-January to season’s end, when he swept the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors and metamorphosed into a nightly 20-point threat. With handwriting already inked into Charlotte’s franchise record books, the third-place Rookie of the Year finalist flashed superstar-type traits, ranking No. 2 among rookies in scoring (17.3), No. 4 all-time among first-year players in 3-pointers (184), and No. 1 in minutes played (32.2) setting the stage for a sophomore campaign in which Miller has his eyes, ironically, on a goal: the 2025 NBA Playoffs.

Brandon Miller

It’s only inevitable that for some players, a few games are required before the hard work from the offseason showcases itself in-game. Fortunately for the Atlanta Hawks on October 23, 2024, Onyeka Okongwu had the “early bird special” of sorts. Piecing together what would eventually become a career-high scoring performance on 2024-25’s Opening Night, Okongwu showcases one of the many scoring methods within his arsenal, redirecting his teammate’s misfired 3-pointer through the rim for a powerful putback jam. Ultimately the game’s No. 1 scorer heading into the halftime break, Okongwu’s aforementioned jam arrived in the second quarter, with Atlanta hoping to keep pace on the scoreboards against the Brooklyn Nets. Both team and individual success would quickly follow, as Okongwu — among the evening’s bonafide stars — produced 28 points (on a nearly-pristine 11-of-12 shooting), eight rebounds, and three blocks, creating one of the great games of his five-year career.

Onyeka Okongwu

As the Milwaukee Bucks battled to dig themselves out of an early-November hole, it was almost inevitable that, in guiding them out, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s play would command the last word. On November 30, 2024, “The Greek Freak” again opted for a box score display capable of leaving one speechless. Not far removed from a two-week span that offered a 59-point showcase, two 40-point games, and a pair of triple-doubles, Milwaukee’s megastar introduced the hapless Washington Wizards to his “greatest hits” of sorts, punishing the rim and anyone within its vicinity. Fierce jams and around-the-rim finishes arrived like raindrops during a thunderstorm; strict in adhering to a shot diet that saw all 15 buckets arrive from within an 8-foot range of the rim, Antetokounmpo’s message of aggression proved perfectly interpreted. All business throughout, Antetokounmpo — captaining the Bucks’ sixth-straight win — also recorded his career’s first-ever 40-point triple-double as he blended uncanny energy with unselfishness. The final tally included 42 points (on 15-of-24 shooting), 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and one rejection.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Behind on the scoreboards for much of the second half, the New York Knicks —  given just a 15.8 percent probability of a fourth quarter comeback — recognized that something needed to change. Cashing in on his opportunity to tap into something legendary, Jalen Brunson settled on a foolproof plan: a double-nickel performance. Questionable to even play beforehand, given a tightness in his calf, Brunson loosened both his muscles, and the screws in the Washington Wizards’ defense, unleashing the full toolbox in December 28, 2024’s overtime win. Quicker than a blink in his always-deceptive dribble, Brunson’s craftiness introduced soft-touch floaters, backbreaking pull-up jumpers, and ultimately, a takeover that encouraged 55 points, 42 of which arriving post-halftime. Unable to truly celebrate his 61-point masterpiece from a season ago, given the game’s result, Brunson had different plans on this night, resurrecting New York from a double-digit fourth quarter deficit. In tying for the second-most 50-point games in the Big Apple’s history, Brunson’s 55-point game went accompanied by three rebounds, nine assists, three 3-pointers, and sizzling efficiency from the field (18-of-31) and foul line (16-of-17).

Given the ninja-themed anime character choice and creativity of his Halloween costume as he strolled into the Delta Center, John Collins, perhaps left it immediately clear that the Spurs’ rim protectors stood no fighting chance on October 31, 2024. Hoping to string together the needed possessions to fuel the Utah Jazz’s late-game comeback attempt, the 6-foot-9 highflyer focuses on draining Sandro Mamukelashvili’s energy through nimble steps and a shifty handle. Free to attack after a whirlwind-like spin move opens a path to the rim, Collins turns the opportunity into a wicked one-handed poster flush, breathing temporary life into the arena. A comeback wasn’t in the cards for Salt Lake City during this late-night Western Conference clash. Collins, though, kept his early-season momentum rolling through a 14-point, 11-rebound, three-assist, one-steal, one-block showing, planting the initial seeds for one of his career’s most productive seasons.

John Collins

Strict as always, in adhering to his long-range shot diet, Isaiah Joe had used his 3-and-D style to discover November 2, 2024’s game-winning recipe, long before he could’ve known it. Behind by a dozen, and thus, no longer able to merely trade baskets, the fifth-year swingman sets the standard, offsetting a teammate’s missed shot by reflexively intercepting a miscommunicated pass. Elevated into the top of his release before one could even say the word “steal,” Joe buries a 3-point bucket, offering the momentum the Oklahoma City Thunder needed to conquer the L.A. Clippers. A turnaround wasn’t far off as Oklahoma City — trailing by as much as 13 — used 22 forced turnovers and 16 3-pointers to flip the game on its head for a double-digit win. Among those helping the Thunder weather the early-game storm, Joe, shooting only 3-pointers, turned in 12 points (on four-of-eight shooting), alongside two rebounds and a steal.

Isaiah Joe

In his first statement after bringing D’Angelo Russell back to a place that once chronicled his All-Star season, the Brooklyn Nets’ GM made mention of his desire to welcome his smooth-scoring guard back with “open arms.” Committed to a goal of contributing on both ends and engineering Brooklyn’s second-half comeback bid, Russell ensured that the same phrase could apply to his defensive stance and intensity. Behind by seven, and in need of stops, the 10-year veteran takes the onus, mirroring Jamal Shead’s steps before stripping the rookie’s possession clean. Eyeballing a down-the-floor teammate before he even takes a step, Russell delivers a room service dime, completing a deficit-trimming defense-to-offense sequence. Facing a team hungry to end its skid, Brooklyn wouldn’t prevail against the Toronto Raptors on January 1, 2025.  Even so, Russell added to his lengthy list of productive showings against Toronto, percolating for 22 points (on 9-of-13 shooting), eight assists, one steal, two blocks, and two treys.

D'Angelo Russell

Separation was nearly impossible to come by for the Orlando Magic, as they wrestled through 12 lead ties and 10 lead changes over the first quarter-and-a-half against the pesky Brooklyn Nets. In recognizing his chance to finally provide said luxury for his team — both on the scoreboards and in the open floor — Jalen Suggs was anything but wasteful with his opportunity. Upper echelon in his ability to punish any lax passes opposing offenses might make, 2023-24’s All-Defensive Second Teamer takes his shot, blitzing the Nets’ center court handoff entirely to collect a steal. Unchased, and officially free to turn the Barclays Center into a one-man slam dunkoff, Suggs pirouettes into a 360 jam, encouraging celebration from his spectating teammates. Brooklyn’s best shot presented the shorthanded Magic with a formidable challenge, but through two-way play, victory was ultimately secured. Among the charge’s leaders, Suggs joined five other double-figure scorers with 12 points, alongside three rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one 3-pointer.

Jalen Suggs

Jordan Hawkins

In a battle between two talented-yet-unproven teams eager to catapult themselves into 2024-25’s playoff discussion, Grant Williams’ experience in high-stakes situations stood as a great equalizer. After falling behind by double-digits in the second half, the story appeared to be written for the Charlotte Hornets, who lost last season’s Rookie of the Year finalist just minutes into the second quarter. Still firmly believing in the Hornets’ chances of recording an underdog victory, Williams uses a pick-and-pop, leaving him uncontested atop the 3-point arc with only 45 seconds remaining. Unrushed, yet urgent, Williams uses a quick pump-fake and relocation before letting fly a go-ahead 3-pointer that ultimately served as the game-clincher. Heroic plays arrived in different forms for Williams, who matched his crunchtime triple with stout defense against the Houston Rockets’ stars, both on the perimeter and interior. By October 23, 2024’s end, he’d constructed a eight-point, four-rebound, one-assist, one-steal, one-block, two-triple tally.

Grant Williams

Two games into 2024-25, it was too early to tell if something special hung in the air at Barclays Center, as the Brooklyn Nets hoped to turn a home opener into its first win. Among the list of things it wasn’t too early for: Nic Claxton, soaring through the skies, sending shots in the opposite direction. Solidified in his status as a top-of-the-league shot blocker after finishing at No. 8 and No. 2 in total blocks over the prior two years, Claxton shades over as a help defender, knowing Bobby Portis’ tendencies. Skyscraper-like by the time he leaps, Claxton sends the hook shot attempt in the opposite direction, preserving the Nets’ slight second quarter lead. Such energy became paramount in securing an upset win over the Milwaukee Bucks, with Claxton needing all of 22 minutes to record a 10-point, 11-rebound, two-block demonstration on near-perfect efficiency.

Nic Claxton

The rarely-used celebration of choice, for LeBron James, may have required a metaphorical “dusting off,” but given his role as the late-game hero for a second consecutive night,  the 20-time All-Star’s comfort and command in crunchtime, unquestionably, remained as polished as ever. One bucket shy of navigating the Los Angeles Lakers through a competitive back-to-back set, the 40-year-old superstar prepares to match its energy with back-to-back 3-pointers, using first a pick-and-roll, encouraging a switch that presents a more advantageous isolation. Acutely aware of how respected his downhill drives remain, even in Year 22, James turns a could-be attack into an advantage, forcing Yves Missi to subtly retreat before burying a dagger trifecta. The game-clinching bucket encouraged James’ “Silencer” celebration, more frequently seen during his early-2010s South Beach tenure. Perfectly complementing his NBA Cup performance just one day prior, James turned a 15-point deficit into a come-from-behind victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, recording a 21-point, seven-rebound, five-assist, one-steal, two-triple effort on November 16, 2024.

Proving capable of turning any play into a must-see highlight during his NBA debut, Trentyn Flowers’ athleticism allowed him to hear his name over the L.A. Clippers’ loudspeakers on four different occasions during December 4, 2024’s game. In a great, poetic irony, the most memorable sequence of the bunch arrived as Flowers rose to a level higher than any Minnesota Timberwolves defender could match. Finding the recipe to first involve allowing his teammates to preoccupy Minnesota’s help defenders along the floor’s opposite side, Flowers — matched up against the defensively-gifted Jaden McDaniels — times a perfect cut, reaping the rewards through a springy alley-oop flush. Victory would elude the Clippers on this night, but Flowers nevertheless made himself a trending topic, routinely getting to the rim through athletic gifts. Drawing endorsements from his head coach during the postgame presser, the two-way talent added nine points and four rebounds.

Trentyn Flowers

Ignoring the entertainment associated with one specific post-up during their first head-to-head, Franz Wagner and his New York Knicks foe made it abundantly clear, regarding how willing they were to get physical if need be. Needless to say, though, when one puts together a career-best 32 points, there’s plenty of room for a bit of finesse and artistry, too. Blending both into December 15, 2024’s display, Wagner perfectly times a rim-running cut, catching Karl-Anthony Towns and the slowly-recovering Knicks defense unprepared. Unlikely to have the angle needed to easily lay the ball through, the Orlando Magic’s talented big opts for an acrobatic, underhand scoop shot, banking it through for an old-fashioned and-one. Orlando wouldn’t prevail on this night, but in between crafty play and three-level scoring, Wagner sat among the stars to remember, pouring on 32 points (on just 15 shot attempts), alongside six rebounds, two steals, and four 3-pointers.

Moritz Wagner

Stringing together enough defensive stops to leave a 13-point halftime deficit completely extinguished, the Detroit Pistons perhaps knew that the opportunity to “go for the jugular” and steal momentum entirely stood just one end-of-quarter sequence away. Always capable of fulfilling the dirty work along the defensive end, Isaiah Stewart gets the ball rolling, rotating over to send Cody Martin’s once-promising one-handed jam in the opposite direction. With control of the game at their side, and 18,866 cheering fans at their backs, Stewart’s teammates quickly parlayed the rejected dunk into a throwdown of their own, a boost that ultimately guided victory. In creating plays comparable to those in the early-2000s, “Dee-troit basketball” era, Stewart again reaffirmed his status as a top-tier rim protector. Beyond the box score in terms of his on-court influence, Stewart chipped in five points, seven rebounds, one steal, two blocks, and a triple on January 3, 2025.

Isaiah Stewart

Even in a lesser role, the world knew that Klay Thompson wasn’t lying in mid-November, when he reasoned that one “explosive night” was all he needed to settle into a vintage groove. As the scent of smoke began to fill the air through hot-shooting performances soon thereafter, the stage appeared perfectly set for a “fireworks show” on his old stomping grounds during December 15, 2024’s battle. Bordering on unstoppable from downtown throughout Round Two against the Golden State Warriors, Thompson discreetly strides the floor after Stephen Curry’s turnover, hoping to put a finishing touch on the Dallas Mavericks’ victory. Fully within view of his all-seeing superstar, Thompson buries a crowd-quieting triple, elevating Dallas’ late-game lead to 10. A measure of getback followed closely behind for Thompson, whose Mavericks fell one bucket shy of triumph in November’s nationally-televised duel. Turning the clock back entirely, the five-time All-Star finished with 29 points (on 9-of-14 shooting), alongside five rebounds, four assists, two steals, one block, and seven 3-pointers.

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