At the moment, I am not quite sure if the basket counted, or if it had any effect on the game (according to one YouTube commenter, the score was 52-40 at the time).  But does it really matter?

Regardless of whether this full-court, bounce pass, alley-oop buzzer beater counted, or whether it had any impact on the final score, I still can’t help but be awfully impressed by it.

Check it out.

Hat Tip – [Reddit]

James would go on to have a big game, as he recorded 35 point during the Heat’s 97-93 victory.  Of those 35 points, none were more impressive than the following two.

Check it out.

McGee didn’t see much wrong with his choice of finish, but his coach and teammates did.  In addition to benching McGee, Wizards head coach Flip Saunders and some of the Washington players had some interesting thoughts to share with reporters regarding McGee’s antics following the game.

Here is a look at what some of the Wizards had to say:

Flip Saunders:  “We’ve got to get to where those plays, you know we identify with meat and potato basketball, playing hard, setting screens, playing the right way and not highlight type things and we’ve been saying that many times. You know we have some players that look for highlights rather than substance.”

John Wall: “A dunk is a dunk. I would rather seen him do a regular dunk.  We’re down. We’re 1-11. 1-12 now. So there’s no point in doing any kind of excitement, but he made the basket and that’s all that counts.”

Maurice Evans: “Obviously, it’s a little disappointing. We’ve had this on a team I played on in the past where we showboated a little bit.  I think that’s something people will look at. We’re already struggling to get wins; we don’t need to put targets on our back. That’s something JaVale knew and recognized and understood once he was in the locker room. I think that’s something he’ll learn from.”

Andray Blatche: “I don’t know. That’s his thing. He’s a dunker. I don’t really care for it. It’s nothing bad or good to me.”

As for McGee, he didn’t see things in quite the same manner as his coach and teammates.  He had the following to say after the game:

“Apparently, if you get a fast break and throw it off the backboard in the third quarter, and you’re 1-11, you’re not supposed to do stuff like that.”

So what do you think?  Is a self-alley-oop a little overboard for a player on a 1-12 team?  Or is McGee simply trying to have fun on the court and entertain the paying fans in the process?

Take a look at the video below and we’ll let you be the judge.

Hat Tip – [Washington Post]

Was it Rondo’s best alley-oop pass this year?  That question remains up for debate, but I can assure you that somewhere in America there is a coach from Rondo’s past who is watching this video and saying to his players, “See! I always told that Rajon to use his head!”

Hat Tip – [Dime Magazine]

Rajon Rondo took part in that game, and despite not having Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett or any of his other Celtics teammates there to help him out on the court, he was still able to use his brilliant passing ability and awareness to find Kenneth Farried with this no-look, over-head alley-oop pass.

Check it out.

Hat Tip – [USA Today]

And it appears as though we have now come full circle, as Kevin Durant is back in the highlight reel with yet another summer league alley-oop.  This one came during last night’s Nike Pro City game in New York.

Between his thunderous slams and his slick-shooting 66-point performance at Rucker Park a few days back, it appears as though Durant could be entering the 2011-12 NBA season at the peak of his game…

…if there even is a 2011-12 NBA season.  Only time will tell.

In the meantime, here is a look at the alley-oop.

Hat Tip – [Slam Online]

Derrick Rose

While this will almost certainly be the first, last and only highlight we see that involves Kobe Bryant feeding a pass to teammate Derrick Rose in our lifetime, it may also be the last highlight reel play we see from any NBA player, or players, for a long time.  So enjoy it while you still can.

Hat Tip – [Ball Don't Lie]

Check it out.

Hat Tip – [The Basketball Jones]

In case you haven’t heard yet, Blake Griffin dunked over a car at the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, and the TNT camera crew almost missed it.

The Clippers’ high-flying rookie got off to a hot start with an incredible 360° two-handed tomahawk slam, but he stumbled on his second dunk, missing several times before throwing down a last second desperation dunk.  He would claw his way out of the first round in a rather undeserving fashion, but he made up for it with his final two dunks.  The first had Griffin bury his arm through the rim and hang, à la Vince Carter in 2000.

As for the clincher, Blake Griffin would bring out the big guns for that.

It started when the 2011 Kia Optima cruised out onto the court.  It was followed by members of the Crenshaw Select Choir, who sang “I Believe I Can Fly.”  And after all that build-up, it was Griffin’s turn to fly, as he leaped over the front hood of the car and threw down a Baron Davis threw-the-sunroof alley-oop with two hands.  That would earn him the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest Championship over the Washington Wizards’ JaVale McGee.

There were plenty of great dunks during this year’s competition.  Here is a look at five of them, beginning with Blake Griffin’s over-the-car slam.

Blake Griffin’s 360° dunk.  It’s too bad he couldn’t finish it the first time.

DeMar DeRozen’s “Showstopper” dunk earned him a 50, but it wasn’t enough to put him into the final.

JaVale McGee dunked on two nets at once.  It only took him about ten chances.

The most underrated dunk of the night came from Serge Ibaka, who took off from beyond the free throw line.

The NBA’s Spite Slam Dunk Contest is set to take flight tonight in Los Angeles, and the energy building around this year’s event couldn’t be much more electric.  Not since Vince Carter was chosen to participate in 2000 has there been so much hype surrounding the event, and it is all because of one man…

His name is Blake Griffin.

The Los Angeles Clippers’ super-rookie has taken the league by storm this year, averaging 22.8 points per game and 12.6 rebounds per game, but what has caught the attention of most players, coaches and fans of the league is the style in which Blake has recorded many of those points – with his high flying dunks.

We are hoping the former first-overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft has more highlight reel dunks in store for us tonight.  He gave us all a little sneak preview during last night’s Rookies vs. Sophomores game, but I have a feeling that his best is yet to come.

Here is a video of last night’s bounce-pass alley-oop from John Wall to Blake Griffin, in case the GIF above was not enough to fully satisfy you.