• gandarf @startrek.website
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    10 months ago

    Hi, here from ‘all’. Saw a few posts about this play.

    Can someone explain the relevance of this dunk to me? I see LJ doing an OK dunk. And look around like he slayed a dragon or something afterwards.

    That’s it.

    What’s special about this that someone, like myself – who doesn’t follow basketball at all – might understand?

    • IronRain@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Welcome!

      The first thing you need to consider is that he exploded from just inside the free throw line (which is 15’ from the hoop), which is insane to begin with. Two, he finished with contact over a strong and lengthy Paul George (although he didn’t contest), which is even more impressive. Three, he elevated even higher than necessary, making him float longer in the air for aesthetics. Fourth, and I can’t stress this point enough, he did this at the ripe old age of 39 years old. Paul George is 6 years his junior. Most 39 professional athletes are sitting on the bench, cheering on their decade(s)-younger teammates, ready to cash in their league pensions.

      Paul George also sidestepped at the very last second, preventing this poster dunk from being even more embarrassing for him.