5 best dunks of the 2017-18 NBA season

LeBron James is, hands down, one of the best in-game dunkers in the league. Nearly every game he throws down a dunk that few other humans that have ever lived are capable of executing. His combination of size, speed, quickness, explosiveness, and strength are unparalleled, and it shows up on dunks like this.

It’s still early in the game, but James knows he has an opportunity once he sees Damian Lillard over-commit on a screen, deterring Al-Farouq Aminu from staying on James’ hip as he drives into the paint. Jusuf Nurkic has shown in the past that he’s willing to dish out punishment on James, and he correctly decides to rotate over to meet James at the rim. What happens next may surprise you.

James leaps into the air, switching the ball from his left hand to his right, and his head is nearly at the level of the rim at the climax of his jump. Nurkic has jumped, extending his left hand to deflect the ball out of James’ hands if possible. James turns off the gravity in the gym, continues to rise up and over Nurkic, and throws down the powerful jam, causing J.R. Smith to momentarily lose control of his body functions as the rest of the Cavs bench celebrates as the Trail Blazers dribble the ball down the court as the game continues.

It’s a spectacular dunk, a spectacular celebration, and worthy of a top 5 award.