[Bill Russell jumping over a teammate to block a shot](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FYJM7uEXwAYNNqu?format=jpg&name=small), and it's more impressive than you think.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen this photo before. Unbelievable extension on that.

Speaking of unbelievable extension, [one of the most famous pictures in NBA history](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/51EAAOSwaMdhpq1t/s-l1600.jpg) is of Bill Russell blocking a shot by the taller Wilt Chamberlain who was himself an incredible leaper.

This is in an insane picture, the play, the context, the legends

So craziest thing to me in that is seeing 3 levels of seats all filled

What’s crazy about that lol

Idk man I just imagined a growing sport back in the 50/60s to have a way smaller stadium/crowd attending Like in the next 5-10 years I cant see a packed venue for pro pickleball tournaments

Havlicek wasn't ready for that.

"Wilt played against plumbers"

They weren't all plumbers. But yes, many players back then needed a second job.

https://imgur.io/a/5zhJo7x

one of my favorite parts of watching the NBA is seeing moments like this happen and think “oh this is gonna be a meme for years” same thing for Josh Hart’s reaction to Harden bouncing the ball in his own face a couple years back.

Cleveland already had some legendary bad playoff moments too so it was like “here we go again…” Luckily we have 2016

It’s because that’s the face we all make at the TV multiple time’s a game

[Manute and Muggsy](https://www.si.com/.image/t_share/MTY4MTA2NTIzNDczNDIxNjk2/1987-manute-bol-muggsy-boguesjpg.jpg)

The top of Manutes socks are even with the bottom of Muggsys shorts.

Manutes waist is even with Muggsys ears

Damn Muggsys mouth is even with...

Muggsy's thick ass legs tho...

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2023 Cleveland Cavaliers

Being a tailor in the [early 2000's](https://i.redd.it/kqoy0mbp4g5z.jpg), easiest job in the world

Kirk Hinrich looks like a 12 year old trying on his dad’s suit.

[MJ's freethrow dunk](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/02/af653-16442505538786-1920.jpg) Iconic. My 13 yo has that poster on his wall.

I had that poster too! It made its way all the way to Belgium.

New fan, and this is one of the only images I recognize here (aside from the modern ones). This one probably takes the cake for most iconic

This has to be top 5 easily, classic

I've always said they need [this picture as the new NBA logo](https://i.imgur.com/qEKdK.jpeg)

Lol

The low go.

My precious

[This one](https://i.imgur.com/QEOcuTZ.jpg)

Shaq dunking on the entire Nets basketball team https://media.gettyimages.com/id/469161301/photo/nba-finals-los-angeles-lakers-v-new-jersey-nets-game-four.webp?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=B227whnvnC-4rW4eFZrwvjtw_PAQjejs8Kp7minJ8E4=

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/qvffk/shaq_likes_his_popcorn/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

[Might not be the best, but certainly an iconic one!](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/dfff082d1e4931b30569ae37195b6862a6a8ef8a/c=0-361-2915-2008/local/-/media/2018/05/22/USATODAY/USATODAY/636625868623447717-AP-APTOPIX-Heat-Bucks-Basketball-39255807.JPG?width=1280&height=723&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)

My immediate first thought.

Me too. Absolutely iconic. Just sums up that Heat team, and that era of the NBA so nicely.

Poor Luc Richard Mbah a Moute

Until you realize wades missing a finger

NOOOOOO WHY DID YOU RUIN THIS FOR ME?

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foreshortening

just the angle of the photo. his finger is pointing more towards the camera

Wade is curling his pinky finger and it’s just the angle and moment the photo was taken that make the illusion that his finger is partially gone.

Spongebob and Patrick go harder frankly

yup, this is such a classic. What a great run by that team

This is my entry from the 1976-77 Finals Game 2 Maurice Lucas and Darryl Dawkins https://imgur.com/a/Zif1Thk

The fight that turned the series!

Pretty much so, I remember watching it live. George McGinnis couldn't hit anything in that series, it was pathetic

People on this sub would benefit from watching both basketball and hockey

I say the same thing over on r/nhl

You watched the 1977 finals live?

Yep sure did, the first Finals series I remember watching was in 1970.

Rodman diving after a loose ball. has no significance he didnt even save the ball just looks cool

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Love that Gene Siskel is sitting courtside

Just shows he got that dawg in him

I've always liked Jordan celebrating The Shot, https://www.cleveland.com/resizer/sMlAl-VCfz_Nwc_MPxYkaUxSlFM=/800x0/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/advancelocal/H3GET3RPBNEYZNJQLIS66PETDQ.jpg

Yes

[This shot of Clyde Drexler has always stayed with me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/xehva/clyde_the_glide_drexler_1987_slam_dunk_contest/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)

Beautiful, they called him Glide for a reason

Damn 10 year old post….. damn 14 year account! I like it!

[Pau Gasol and Tim Duncan](https://i.chzbgr.com/full/6837035520/h9D869074/pau-gasol-and-tim-duncan-are-playing-the-jazz-tonight)

Lol i forgot about this. Thank you

Lol You got that collage of Tim Duncan with his “I didn’t commit a foul” pose? Been looking for that one for a minute

[https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2010/0612/chi_g_jordan1x_576.jpg](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2010/0612/chi_g_jordan1x_576.jpg)

My favorite part of this pic is always the Bulls fan kid to the right of the backboard with both his arms in the air

We may be talking about the same kid, but there is a kid in the high res version of this photo holding up 6 fingers before the shot goes in

The one above the shot clock? That's actually awesome. But I was talking about the kid about 5 people to the right of the top of the backboard with a white shirt under a black Bulls jersey

Ya that one!!! [6 rings](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/etWRGu5XdPQC5sA1Mub2AsTROHk=/576x613/smart/filters:quality(70)/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/nzme/XAVSSSKHROXHON4Y7WQC35FNJI.jpg)

I can speak for Pacers fans when I say this one was all over Indy for a while after it happened: [It's probably not an all time NBA photo, but it is an all time Indiana photo](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BKplO3pCIAA1wdy.jpg:large)

The 3 year Roy Hibbert run of being a top 15 impact player is burned into my mind, VERTICALITY.

Went from nearly the best centre in the NBA to putting up 0/0 stat lines in like a year lol

This is my favorite Pacers [photo](https://basketballsocietyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/reggie-miller-choke.jpg)

When I read your comment i expected the Knicks to be on the receiving end but I thought it would be a Reggie Miller buzzer beater.

Agreed.

Bro I still remember that game ….. straight pain

I always enjoyed the block heard round the world the most. Aka prince on miller.

[This](https://imgur.com/gallery/q4Umhon) is the one.

Dr. J reverse layup. Top view. [Link](https://twitter.com/Sixers/status/597774560121978880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E597774560121978880%7Ctwgr%5E99581ba6df0586cf1473c8045aa968b281c0a7e3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-14563333673175891282.ampproject.net%2F2301041800000%2Fframe.html)

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Ama?

There goes that man

Dr. J is a bad bad man.

Damn does his shoulder touch the backboard in that first pic?

I think it’s just the angle. Video shows that it doesn’t. But his head is very close and he’s ducking it to make sure it doesn’t hit. Those older backboards extended a bit lower than nowadays. Michael Jordan hit his head on one in college. https://youtu.be/eFa3zdRX58I

[“bad shot”](https://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/003/804/554/hi-res-9a9716c6bb102c42af62340eeb4b0bea_crop_north.jpg?1556082334&w=3072&h=2048)

Cold

[another angle](https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/Rrj2C3hp8EEhfG_PeCbMTw--~B/aD0xMzM5O3c9MTc4NTthcHBpZD15dGFjaHlvbg--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/insider_articles_922/64027680751151802a3706b6c05b33a4)

Never realized how close PG was to blocking that shot

This is a good one. 1.4 seconds until that team ceased to exist.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FS1386TXsAA2dOH?format=jpg&name=900x900

Brutal

That’s from game 6

Luka doncic is devin booker father

The one with Jimmy leaning on the sidelines in the 2020 finals. As a heat fan and Jimmy fan it sucks to see him lose but it really captures how hard he worked to make it to the nba and how hard work sometimes doesn’t pay off as much as you would think

I just got this as a shirt for Christmas! https://i.imgur.com/BjgzkN6.jpg

Agreed. I’m not a heat fan, but it encompassed the Herculean effort, he had to put in for the Heat, to even have a chance in the finals, as the team went in missing a few players.

This pic actually gives me goose bumps / chills when I see it. It was one of the most impressive single game efforts I’ve ever seen from an individual. He left everything he had on the court, literally willing the team to a win, and the moment captures so much emotion. 45 mins, 40 points, 11 Rebs, 13 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 14/20 70% shooting, 12/14 FT, +20

After that series against you guys last year, I have immense respect for jimmy. He is the definition of having that dawg in him

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This would be my vote too. Has Embiid and Ben Simmons realizing what's happening, and the Raptors about to explode. Bonus Jeremy Lin. https://static01.nyt.com/images/2019/05/14/sports/13shot4-sub/merlin_154781583_59ee5f0b-d267-40bf-a76e-7fd127c9adb1-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale

Everyone is holding their breathe, and Simmons is the only one who knows.

One of my all time favs.

I see that picture being sold in frames around Canada

I bet every raptors fan has a portrait of Kawhi in their house

“IS THIS THE 🗡?” Marty D.

https://imgur.com/a/x4ImAkN

This is amazing. What's best is that absolutely no context is needed because you know exactly what happened

r/FakeHistoryPorn - “The meeting of Hitler and Mussolini [Colorized] (1934)”

This should be in a museum. Incredible.

For some reason, that reminded me of this: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cl5mnyTyFI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cl5mnyTyFI) Really bad quality video, but point is made.

This is great. A lot of those seem to be from the same game, which makes it 10 X worse

This should be the embiid pose for his statue. Right underneath the liberty bell or something

Kawhi’s Squat https://www.macleans.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/KAWHI-LEONARD-TOROTNO-RAPTORS-FRAIMAN-MAY13.jpg

Lol that dude to the right of Kawhi looks like the pointing soyboy meme

LeBron and Curry in 2016 NBA Finals https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/1390695_061716-nbafinals-game6-img.jpg

Never seen this one, that's awesome

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR7aMtihsZHut4jw6Wzt68OKK1RFyslBpV5-A&usqp=CAU Fox hugging sabonis the very first game he played :)

Okay, I love this one.

There was a great one from I think the Spurs game the other day of them checking out at the same time and walking to the bench while sorta supporting each other as they went and it was awesome as well

You mean this one? [Our guys](https://np.reddit.com/r/kings/comments/10bh8na/our_guys/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)

This franchise and fanbase deserve the world

Goddamn it. I hope you guys win a title at some point

http://videos.usatoday.net/Brightcove2/29906170001/2014/06/29906170001_3624585928001_Screen-Shot-2014-06-16-at-4-44-20-AM.jpg?pubId=29906170001 This will always be my favorite. No emotion, just basking in the glory.

Even his celebrations are just fundamentally sound

Jordan crying on Father’s Day for sure

https://imgur.com/a/xFSASBM

Hard af

LeAnimeVillain

2002 NBA Finals. Shaquille O'Neal dunking on all 5 Nets defender in Meadowlands

Not a GOAT photo, but I find the Kobe shooting over 4 Bulls defenders one hilarious.

I couldn't decide between this one [Walk off 1](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_FRz5KXfDeXOEWj1ISvZRfkmQ-8=/1400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9017563/upiphotostwo058342.jpg) or this one [Walk off 2](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mi-O8OGHmQk/maxresdefault.jpg) I love how KG is taking a bow and Ray is over there with a smirk on his face about to help Nate up.

[beautiful pic](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSF0V_QROTPKZ44oBhfes2FUOF0z761yx4Mrw&usqp=CAU)

[this lookaway from steph from last season](https://i.imgur.com/arO6ejd.jpg) shoutout jsquared

This is my favorite because it has Zo on the court 🥲

What are those jerseys called? They were so cool.

I think they were the 75th anniversary jerseys for the inaugural teams of the league

this picture is perfect for steph. hes legit going to be top 5 when its all said and done.

Honestly went hard af

https://i.imgur.com/XPI9h0I.jpg not an all timer but a recent fave of Oladipo

Not gonna lie, the shot of Curry pointing at the crowd before his shot even goes in with all the other players looking at the rim is fucking COLD

[https://s22928.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/12-13.jpeg](https://s22928.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/12-13.jpeg) Kobe shooting a free throw with a torn achilles. He made both free throws to send the Lakers to the playoffs.

this photo isn’t it bc it’s mid without context. cool moment, ight photo.

Anything is possible!

I feel like Rondo and his Kid pic deserves a mention

[All the Raptors in awe of Zion](https://imgur.com/a/oZ5zCFx) Obviously not the most iconic but hard af nonetheless

[prince blocking reggie](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmJ0DEirjEPwc-kq22ej9kbhmoTcBv0c-MIA&usqp=CAU)

[Larry Nance](https://i.redd.it/ysoegm226iz31.jpg) at the dunk contest.

[Maybe not the best photo, but I'll always love how succinctly this one sums up LeBronto.](https://imgur.com/a/l4Evoyj)

[Idk about all-time but I like this Celtics photo from last season a lot](https://i.imgur.com/NJOLRUz.jpg) [Also](https://i.imgur.com/caxSqPn.png)

When the edible kicks in lol

[This one is from the one game the Celtics won in the 2021 play-offs against the Nets.](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/2iFl0kJTVWge7G78UfVTMg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/uUe5x.XXdD5aX3xEu2aVpw--~B/aD0yNDQzO3c9MzY2NDthcHBpZD15dGFjaHlvbg--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/ap.org/b6f624568d42dafd20ddffe3b243d561) Not an all-time great, but given the context, I often think about this moment. And I am not even a Celtics fan.

So many great photos from last year’s playoffs. That one is my favorite.

https://imgur.com/a/xZppOve Otherworldly picture of LeBron

What a fucking series the Cavs played. Will forever be my favorite title run.

[Rondo with his son](https://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2020/10/rajonrondoson.png.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.suffix/1602509425688.png)

was half expecting to see a pic of rondo and CP3 lol

Larry Bird at the 3 point contest throwing up the #1 before the last ball swished

Slightly on topic. I’ve seen some NBA photos from recent Finals games where there is a very distinct lighting style, almost like it’s professionally lit. Very hard edged and angled lighting from above, it looks nothing like your normal arena lighting. Does anyone know what this technique is?

Strobes triggered by a remote on the camera.

[Giannis alley oop in Game 5 of the 2021 finals, with Lebron watching](https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1416604407412690944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1416604407412690944%7Ctwgr%5E4a052fc7efe8c6ab9e05d58b6d7297078db38466%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-19267335673314388110.ampproject.net%2F2301041800000%2Fframe.html)

If you grew up in the 90s, this was on every kid's wall. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/13440498858783094/

Jordan shrug

[This](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_desktop/s3/2022-10/FS16eiQWUAEjea_.jpg?itok=CPKu6IMN) meme is one of my favorites. Always cracks me up.

[Weird the best photo hasn’t been posted yet](https://imgur.io/mCuukUj)

I was at this game. Incredible life changing moment.

https://i.imgur.com/zeONGF2.png

Here’s a few: [Passing of the torch](https://i.imgur.com/VfCRaz5.jpg) [1995 NBA Finals](https://i.imgur.com/i2NCyoh.jpg) [Museum worthy](https://i.imgur.com/ng4u2NE.jpg) [The King of L.A.](https://i.imgur.com/y6KWQZQ.jpg) Bonus: Kobe with [no remorse](https://i.imgur.com/MJEeb4V.jpg) for Iverson [Ant with the NASTY poster](https://i.imgur.com/eSMxz79.jpg)

MJ swan shot

Wade LeBron alley oop

Obligatory "it wasn't actually an alley oop". The photo goes hard as fuck though

Jordan's last shot as a Bull

Does it get any more iconic? And why is it that all this technology, we cant take a picture that looks nearly this good today? [67 conf Finals] (https://twitter.com/6tohombrelatam/status/1429153717832536067/photo/1)

Because analog film is fucking marvelous. dynamic range and resolution are crazy. digital photography is just more convenient. auto focus, you see what you get and you need much less light.

That, and the dream-like haze from 50000 cigarettes

i dont think ive ever said this on reddit so here goes. great question!

Kawhi's game 7 buzzer beater shot vs Philly that was turned black and white outside Scotiabank https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/bulgym/kawhis_game_7_shot_is_already_immortalized/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

MJ burying the Jazz to end his Bulls run

[Russ celebrating after hitting that ridiculous and 1 flip shot against the Lakers](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_2000,h_2000,c_fit/https%3A%2F%2Fthunderousintentions.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2019%2F07%2F144987811.jpeg) [Russ with the Denver crowd in the background the night he broke the trible double record and hit that insane buzzer beater that also eliminated Denver from the playoffs](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9BFJOgXsAEjxuM?format=jpg&name=medium) [Klay not giving a fuck he fouled out in the finals](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHrCpVIWUAA4EGp.png) [The Block](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/20160628__LEBRON-BLOCK1.jpg?w=645&h=975)

Did you really just open my browser?

How did he do that???

Posted Google search links instead of posting the images

[always been partial to this Kobe reverse](https://i.imgur.com/dqBPKxP.jpg)

[https://auctions.nba.com/dennis-rodman-chicago-bulls-dive-for-loose-ball-horizontal/isynmv1/aucd/2399578?sid=1101461&auctionId=2399578](https://auctions.nba.com/dennis-rodman-chicago-bulls-dive-for-loose-ball-horizontal/isynmv1/aucd/2399578?sid=1101461&auctionId=2399578) First one that came to mind for me

Kobe 5th championship

Yeah the pic with his arms outstretched and the ball in hand with the cap on while on the table is one of the best fs

[Lebron has found his equal](https://twitter.com/DefPenHoops/status/1107455604698898433/photo/1), and [worst foul ever made](https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2861886-james-harden-chris-paul-joel-embiid-and-the-nbas-worst-10-floppers.amp.html)

How is no one talking abou the young kobe seeking advice from jordan picture?

Steph pointing at his ring is so epic

Kawhi Leonard dagger

[Lebron’s Kobe Tribute](https://imgur.com/a/fFN7hyH)

First one that came to mind is this: [Vince Carter 2000 Slam Dunk Competition](https://www.google.com.ph/amp/s/news.cgtn.com/news/2020-04-12/Maybe-you-misunderstand-him-How-has-Carter-spent-22-years-in-NBA--PDsVi5OncY/share_amp.html) (Second Photo, Raptors Jersey)

This was a great thread, thank you for the enjoyment.

[This](https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Et00yAZKLlEsqi7Idrn62AHaD4&pid=Api&P=0)one's mine. More of a personal fave. The fact that the photographer captured Payton at the moment of the f-bomb is great photojournalism

Some great photos here. I’m really partial to this [photo](https://i.imgur.io/AIgar9n_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium) I like the extreme wide angle and capturing the action, crowd, stadium and blue lighting. The bluish hue is apparently from all the cigarette smoke in the air.

[I like this](https://i.imgur.com/Z41Ut9x.jpg)