Is this the coolest in-game photo ever taken?

[nikster]

Is it a trap if the hand, ball, and backboard are all touching for an instant? That was the case if you watch in slow motion. He was swiping his hand across parallel to the backboard but did have the ball between his hand and the backboard, all touching, for a split second.

I feel like that split second wouldn't be in the spirit of the rules but who knows. I don't think I've ever seen that called

Oh I know they aren't going to call it on Lebron but that's the rule. I thought it was goal tending at the time and still do. Asterisk ring!

Still think thats an impossible call to make in real time. I've seen tons of backboard blocks that have had an instance like that. Ive never seen this call, its not a "Lebron exception"

[jehosafats]

Not sure if this is the coolest, but one of my favorites.

Baptized

[nikster]

Russell jumping over Havlicek to block a shot at the rim:

That's ridiculous. Probably told his teammates not to bother defending close to the basket, they'll just get in his way

[nikster]

That second one is so impressive. The Vertical height on the jump, the completely outstretched body. Feels like his hand is 15 feet in the air

[jehosafats]

[Bob Ross]

Great thread some awesome shots

[NbaAllDay]

This came to my mind

This is the GOAT photo in this thread so far.

It has just about everything you want.
- Great composition and colouring
- Aethitically pleasing and Lebron/Ring/Central board all are aligned
- Give you that "this is my house" feel, and also an iconic feel with the banners in the background
- Everyone looks paused in the background, as if he is just floating there for an extra moment

Then you add the fact its a GOAT caliber player, he is in his mid to late 30s and still getting up that high.

The list goes on really, I know that seems a bit sappy but it jumps out far more than any other pic I have seen recently and becomes even better when you look at it more.

[clyde21]

not in game but are Dr J's hands even real? or is that a baby basketball?

[OldSchoolNoBull]

Shaq after completing the Kobe alley-oop in 2000 WCF Game 7. His expression. One of the most classic moments of the entire Shaq/Kobe era.



John Starks dunking on MJ and Horace Grant at the end of 1993 ECF Game 2. We won the series but Knicks fans will always have that moment.


The Charles Smith game. Not sure if this is THAT play or not. It might be.


Dikembe Mutombo's famous reaction to eliminating the #1 seeded Sonics in the first round in 1994.



Taj Gibson dunking on D-Wade in 2011 ECF Game 1. It was for us what the Starks dunk was for the Knicks fans...an incredible highlight in a series we lost. (This photo is embellished a bit, but it looks cool.)

[NbaAllDay]

I feel like that split second wouldn't be in the spirit of the rules but who knows. I don't think I've ever seen that called

Oh I know they aren't going to call it on Lebron but that's the rule. I thought it was goal tending at the time and still do. Asterisk ring!

Still think thats an impossible call to make in real time. I've seen tons of backboard blocks that have had an instance like that. Ive never seen this call, its not a "Lebron exception"

We are here to celebrate awesome pictures and there are some people still trying to find a way to diminish Lebron based on a photo.

Gotta respect how deep he is in their heads I guess.

[OldSchoolNoBull]

And an assortment of MJ pics I haven't seen in this thread yet:

My brother had this poster on the wall in his room in the early 90s. Loved it. It's very early Jordan, as evidenced by the cursive jersey - that was gone by 1987.


His windmill - nearly horizontal - dunk from the 1987 dunk contest.


This is the photo used for the cover of Jordan's "Come Fly With Me" video. It's awesome.


The Shot vs Cleveland, 1989.



Dunking on Patrick Ewing in the 1991 First Round:



Michael vs Magic.


A couple of shots from the Double Nickel game. I like these because the #45 jersey+MSG immediately lets you know what game it is.



A random crazy layup I came across from the late 90s.


Older Jordan's trademark "calm" fist pump, after hitting the game winner of the 1997 Finals.


That famous shot of Scottie helping him off the floor at the end of the Flu Game.


The 1998 shot has been posted already, but this is when he and Rodman forced the turnover right before the shot.

[billy bremner]

I cannot think of a single thing that would improve this picture. Dr. J looks like angel ascending to basketball heaven.

When I first started playing basketball for a team at 5 years old that poster was on the wall of the shoe shop. I was amazed by it, and have been a Sixers fan since then.

Thats funny, i have the same story. Started playing ball round 10 years old for my neighborhood team. Our coach had a small sports shop, and had a big poster of Doc on the wall. From that moment i was a sixers fan, It must have been 1980

[Jhawk03]

I'd have to delete my account in order to explain.

[SA37]

Made me think of this:

[SerialChiller]

come on

This is definitely my personal favorite

[Kawaii Leonard]

Is it a trap if the hand, ball, and backboard are all touching for an instant? That was the case if you watch in slow motion. He was swiping his hand across parallel to the backboard but did have the ball between his hand and the backboard, all touching, for a split second.

I feel like that split second wouldn't be in the spirit of the rules but who knows. I don't think I've ever seen that called

Oh I know they aren't going to call it on Lebron but that's the rule. I thought it was goal tending at the time and still do. Asterisk ring!

So is this another Asterisk ring too?


Another no call? I guess it is Jordan.

Watch on YouTube

Pretty sure that ‘rule’ has been phased out a long long time ago. Pinning it against the board during chase-down blocks happen all the time in transition. Get real.

[Jamaaliver]

For the win?

[antonac]

And this one contends for first because it's a picture that defined how he became GOAT.

To me, the moment was great but the photo is bad.

couldn't disagree more. This photo is what you would show aliens to help them understand the human fascination with sport.

It's not about Jordan being great, it's about a thousand hearts hanging on a moment. you don't have the audience so well focused if the photographer doesn't understand this. If anything the context actually diminishes the photo as the outcome being so well known takes away what makes the photo great.

[Castle Black]

[Sedale Threatt]

And this one contends for first because it's a picture that defined how he became GOAT.

To me, the moment was great but the photo is bad.

couldn't disagree more. This photo is what you would show aliens to help them understand the human fascination with sport.

It's not about Jordan being great, it's about a thousand hearts hanging on a moment. you don't have the audience so well focused if the photographer doesn't understand this. If anything the context actually diminishes the photo as the outcome being so well known takes away what makes the photo great.

Bingo. It's less about Jordan, although that's obviously a big and great part of it, but all those individual fans and their expressions. I work at a sports web site and we actually had a big blown-up copy of this picture hanging up before we moved offices. You could spend all day just examining the crowd. For example, there's a little kid in a Bulls jersey among all those Jazz fans in there somewhere with his arms raised and a look of pure excitement/anticipation on his face. And on and on and on. It's iconic.