5 best dunks of the 2016-17 NBA season

2. Russell Westbrook vs. Houston Rockets

Even without the explosive slams, Russell Westbrook is one of the most fun players to watch in the NBA. The man is averaging a triple-double this year, for crying out loud. Without him, the Thunder are likely a lottery team. His mean mug is as funny as his in-game roar is terrifying. He also can throw down on just about anyone in the league.

Clint Capela is a 6-foot-11 center whose main, or only, attributes include blocking and dunking. Westbrook decided to challenge him on the former. Down by two with just over seven seconds to play, the Rockets are in foul mode while the Thunder have the ball out of bounds. Everyone in the building knows that Westbrook is getting the ball. Corey Brewer knows this, too, but is powerless to stay with the lightning quick guard. Westbrook fakes him out of his shoes and heads towards the basket.

All the Rockets need to do is foul to extend the game. Westbrook knows, but doesn’t care. Capela, bless his heart, attempts to do the right thing by stepping in front of this charging rhino and blocking his shot. It ends poorly for him, to say the least.

Westbrook is eight inches shorter than Capela, but you couldn’t guess that by watching this dunk.  What’s more remarkable, even more so than the height difference, is the fact that he finishes the dunk with his off hand. He goes up with two hands, expecting to be fouled, and at the last moment switches to his left to finish on the Rocket’s center. It also sealed the game for Oklahoma City, which gets extra points in my book. If Westbrook fails to win the MVP this season, he can take solace in this award…in which he also finished second. Sometimes life’s not fair.