Top 10 NBA plays of 2021

For all the ups and downs of 2021, at least one thing is true - basketball fans were treated to a jam-packed year of NBA hoops.

From slams and buzzer-beaters to clutch sequences and historic records to the Milwaukee Bucks taking home their first championship in 50 years, the league provided its fair share of memorable moments.

With so many highlights to choose from, we're counting down the Association's 10 best plays of the calendar year.

10. Zion dunks all over Metu

Unfortunately, former No. 1 pick Zion Williamson hasn't suited up in the 2021-22 season, but that doesn't mean he wasn't able to make his mark this year.

One of the league's most powerful dunkers used a jab step to blow past poor Chimezie Metu and dunk all over his outstretched arm.

9. Barnes' miraculous game-winner

The Sacramento Kings haven't had much to celebrate in 2021, but they did produce a remarkable game-winner that the team's fans surely won't be sick of any time soon.

With the Kings trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers by one with 1.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Harrison Barnes channeled his inner Christian Laettner, catching a full-court pass then falling away to the right before connecting on a decisive 3-pointer.

8. Nets 'play of the year'

The Brooklyn Nets became a superteam in 2021, adding James Harden to an already stacked pairing of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Brooklyn's talent was on full display in this masterful sequence where Blake Griffin throws a no-look outlet pass to Kyrie, who sends it forward to Mike James before a streaking Durant finishes an alley-oop pass off the backboard.

7. Collins baptizes Embiid

Rarely is Joel Embiid on the wrong side of a poster dunk, but that's exactly the position the Philadelphia 76ers star center found himself in during last season's Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks.

With the Hawks trailing by single digits in the third quarter, star floor general Trae Young lobbed a pass up high to roll man John Collins, who proceeded to climb the ladder known as Mt. Embiid before unleashing a vicious slam on the defensive stalwart.

6. Luka game-winner vs. Grizzlies

Luka Doncic has been dazzling NBA fans since his rookie campaign, but his clutch game-winner against the Memphis Grizzlies may be the cream of the crop.

Down two with 1.8 seconds on the clock, Doncic put up a one-legged prayer while falling and casually raised his hands in the air as if nothing had happened.

5. Bridges detonates on Capela

Another dunk of the year candidate came from Charlotte Hornets high-flyer Miles Bridges, who absolutely embarrassed Atlanta center Clint Capela with this aerial assault.

After Charlotte secured an offensive rebound, Bridges barreled through the paint before cocking his arm all the way back for a sensational slam. The play also helped bring much-deserved attention to Hornets announcer Eric Collins, who went absolutely berzerk after the dunk and unveiled his legendary "hum diddly dee" call.

4. Steph breaks all-time 3-point record

While not a highlight in itself, no moment this year induces more emotion than watching Steph Curry break the league's 3-point record in front of a packed Madison Square Garden.

Come for the bucket and stay for the heartfelt reaction from Curry, his teammates, and previous record-holder Ray Allen.

3. Edwards sends Watanabe to the shadow realm

Anthony Edwards has quickly established himself as a high-flying human highlight reel during his brief NBA career. Of all his impressive dunks to date, his ridiculous poster over Yuta Watanabe certainly takes the cake.

After losing his defender behind the 3-point arc, Ant-Man burst to the rim along the left baseline before elevating over the Toronto Raptors forward for a rude finish that sent Watanabe to another dimension entirely.

2. SGA ties it, Graham wins it with full-court heave

In easily the wildest, most improbable sequence of 2021, the Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander swished an off-balance 3-point heave from the logo to tie things up against the New Orleans Pelicans with 1.4 seconds remaining.

SGA's shot was impressive but managed to somehow quickly get outdone by Devonte' Graham, who casually sank a seemingly impossible 61-foot trey to secure a thrilling victory. Wow.

1. Jrue strips Booker, lobs it to Giannis in the Finals

Very rarely can the balance of an entire campaign come down to one play, but that's exactly what happened when Jrue Holiday forced a steal and lobbed up a perfect pass for a Giannis Antetokounmpo dunk in the NBA Finals.

The Phoenix Suns likely win the game if they score on that possession, with two opportunities to clinch the series. Instead, Giannis' and-one poster slam sealed the deal on the road and led to the Bucks' first championship since 1971.