A Treatise On K.J. McDaniels’ Spike, Or, HOLY SH*T K.J. MCDANIELS

Any block connoisseur will tell you that the absolute worst blocked shot is one that goes out of bounds. Don’t spike the ball into the stands, that just gives the opponent another chance to score. Tip the ball to a teammate, catch it if you can, but don’t just give it back to them. That gives them time to reset, to catch their breath, maybe even draw up a play for an easy basket.

At the moment of KJ McDaniels’ spike and Greivis Vasquez’ subsequent reckoning with his own mortality, none of that mattered, because you know what? Fuck it, that was awesome. There will be plenty of time for McDaniels to learn, to keep the ball inbounds by snaring it mid-air or deflecting it to a teammate and igniting the break. For now, let him be ferocious and brutal and menacing and pee-your-pants terrifying. 

And here’s the thing about that spike (and spike is absolutely the right word because block does not do it justice. Block is innocent and bland and mundane. It is ordinary. Spike is aggressive and volatile and imposing and may make you crap your pants): even if it let the Raptors maintain possession, think of the intimidation factor that accompanies something so vicious. Vasquez, or any other Raptor for that matter, might hesitate for a split-second the next time they see McDaniels bearing down on them, which is just enough time to throw them out of rhythm and force a reset. We should actually be applauding Vasquez for such heroism and courage, for not shrieking in the face of death. I wonder his life started flashing before his eyes: was it when McDaniels spiked the ball, or did it actually happen before that, when McDaniels started his jump? And what did Vasquez see? Was he happy with his achievements? Did he wish he could have done more with his life? Did he regret not telling that one girl in 10th grade that he loved her?

Like, holy shit. Look at how fucking high McDaniels gets. The best part: he seems to reach the apex of his jump, then realizes he may not be able to block the shot, so he swings his left arm down, as if swimming freestyle in the air, and it gives him just a little bit more lift. Don’t tell me that’s an optical illusion or that it’s basically impossible, I don’t care. K.J. McDaniels straight up flew, and don’t you dare try to prove otherwise.