5 best dunks of the 2016-17 NBA season

5. Kevin Durant vs. Indiana Pacers

There are three sensational plays that Golden State makes in this one sequence, and Kevin Durant was in the right spot to finish it off with aplomb. It’s almost unfair that this team has so much talent at it’s disposal, and the Pacers would be the first to let you know that.

First, I’ll explain why this isn’t higher, because a play like this is exceptional in many ways. The glaringly obvious reason is because the Pacers are already down by 30 in the first couple minutes of the third quarter. Wait, that can’t be right…triple checks the score… Yes, that is what it says. I can’t imagine the Pacers were giving their best efforts at this point. In addition, Durant isn’t challenged by anyone. But let’s not focus on the negative.

The Warriors control the tip from a restart. With a streaking Stephen Curry running down the court, Draymond Green launches a pass that would rival the best pass of Derek Carr’s career thus far. The ball softly lands into Curry’s outstretched arms while already in the air, and, in one smooth motion, lobs the ball off the backboard to the onrushing Durant. He makes no mistake in flushing it down the net.

Durant also catches the ball one-handed, it being his non-dominant one. I’ll sometimes drop an object moving it from “A” to “B” with both hands, so catching a ball off the backboard in the air with only one is not lost on me. The teamwork leading up to the spectacular finish makes it all the more enjoyable.