LeBron James and the Top 25 Fast Break Plays of the Season So Far

LeBron James and the Most Exciting Fastbreak Moments in the NBA

Fastbreak

n. Sports
A rush by the offense, as in basketball, toward the goal in an attempt to score before the opposing defense is in place.

Fastbreaks are some of the most exciting moments during basketball games. Really at any given moment, a team could have an exciting dunk or layup. Or the defense could stifle the fastbreak and get an easy basket on the other end.

With the athletes currently in the NBA, fastbreaks have become an amazing feat to watch.

Here are the 25 fastbreaks from this season that I think are the most exciting or unreal. You may disagree, but hey, that's what the comment section is for.

25. Rudy Fernandez Makes Up For Mistakes With a Slam

Rudy Fernandez and the Trail Blazers made the beautiful art of the fast break look silly.

However, the fact that they were playing against the Clippers gave Fernandez some margin for error.

The layup is nice, but the fact that this play resulted in two points is amazing and is the reason this play makes the list.

24. Joakim Noah With The Give-And-Go Against The Nuggets

I get nervous anytime I see a big man leading the break because I got yelled at whenever I dribbled the ball near mid-court.

However, Joakim Noah does the smart thing by giving the ball up to the nearest back court player.

He is also rewarded with a nice lob by Luol Deng.

This is a nice, normal fastbreak play, but the level of difficulty is high because a center is leading the break.

23. Josh Smith With The Coast-To-Coast Finger Roll

It's not every day that you have a forward who can grab a rebound and take it the length of the court for a layup. However, Josh Smith is a special player.

He has great athleticism and ball skills.

This play might not look overly impressive, but it just shows what happens when you don't stop the ball on a fastbreak.

22. Tony Allen Finishes on a Nice Pass From Greivis Vasquez

I don't think Tony Allen gets enough credit for the player he is. Not only is he a great defender, but he is also very athletic for his size.

This is a great example of the type of athleticism Allen has.

Greivis Vasquez is also a nice young player, and this is a chance for him to show his skills.

21. Rudy Gay Off The Nice Feed From Mike Conley

Rudy Gay has really made a nice leap this year after playing for Team USA in the World Championships this summer. He has always been a great athlete, but now he is averaging a career-high 20.1 points per game.

Mike Conley did make a nice pass, but really the dunk is the star of this fastbreak.

It isn't every day that someone can have a dunk that powerful off a dead sprint. We are going to see a lot more of Gay in the future.

20. Dwyane Wade To LeBron James Part 1

I can tell you this, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are going to be on this list a number of times.

Wade and James are a fastbreak dream. Both are smart, unselfish players who can run fast. However, the best part of this play is Wade's reaction.

Some, me included, don't like what James did this summer, but if he keeps making plays like this, he will start making fans again.

19. John Wall Finds JaVale McGee For Thunderous Dunk

John Wall has not made the immediate impact that many expected from him this season, but he has shown flashes of greatness, including this play.

JaVale McGee is another guy who has used some time with Team USA this summer to propel him to another level. McGee didn't play in the World Championships but he did play well during the team workouts.

I am looking forward to seeing McGee in the dunk contest. If he can finish off fastbreaks like this, I can only imagine what he does with some planning.

18. Mike Miller With the Half-Court Alley-Oop To LeBron

It is a shame Mike Miller has missed so much time to start the season due to injury, but it's nice to see him picking it up.

I am a huge fan of the long distance alley-oops and this one is nice. Sure, the dunk is a little weak from LeBron James, but I guess we can't expect greatness from him on every play.

17. Dwyane Wade To LeBron James Part 2

See what I mean about these two? When they run, it is a thing of beauty.

This one gets a nod over the other one featuring these two because of the reverse finish.

I don't know that you can call it a dunk, but either way, it is pretty.

16. Shannon Brown With The Steal and Double-Clutch Dunk

Shannon Brown is usually good for a fastbreak dunk at least once every few games, but this one is special.

Not only does the super-athletic Brown get the steal, but he also avoids the defender in the air and dunks off a double-clutch. There are probably five guys in the league who can do this, and he is obviously one of then.

It is a shame that Brown couldn't dunk on a defender in the dunk contest because honestly, that is when he is at his best.

15. Carl Landry With The One-Handed Finish Through Contact

The only thing better than dunking over someone is dunking through someone. Carl Landry dunks through Jason Maxiell on this fastbreak play.

I don't know how anyone can take a spill like this and get back up. But then again, not many people are built like Carl Landry.

Nice play, that's for darn sure.

14. Jamario Moon Skys With One Hand From Daniel Gibson

While I know that Jamario Moon is no LeBron James...hey, he ain't too shabby.

This is a really nice play that not many people can make. The guy has some serious hops.

I really feel bad for Cleveland because they have lost 25 in a row, but at least they have plays like this that they can fall back on.

Wait. Did I really just use this dunk to help Cleveland feel better? Ouch. Yeah sorry about that Cleveland, you deserve better.

13. Raymond Felton Bounces To Amare Stoudemire For The Flush

Bounce passes are some of the toughest passes in basketball, but Raymond Felton made it look easy in this fast break play.

Felton has had a great impact this year with the Knicks. I don't know that Felton and Amare Stoudemire are going to get it done on their own (hello, Carmelo?) but they are certainly better than what New York has had the past few years.

I have a real soft spot for this play, because I love the bounce pass and it just makes this play look so much prettier.

12. Two Lakers Plays For The Price of One

As a Lakers fan, these two plays are exciting but at the same time frustrating.

Exciting because I mean look at them, they are both beautiful and perfect basketball plays. Frustrating because I don't understand why the Lakers can't play like this every night.

The first play is great. Long outlet pass, left for a streaking Pau Gasol for the flush.

However, the second play is better. Steal, find the open man, lob for another Gasol flush.

11. Earl Watson Goes Between the Legs To Ronnie Price

When Earl Watson was at UCLA, he was my favorite player and I feel like he has never gotten the appreciation he deserves. Sure he isn't a starting-caliber point guard but he is a smart player capable of plays like this.

I don't know how he had the presence of mind to drop the ball back between his legs, but he did it and Price somehow knew he would do it.

This is a great play, and I wish more people would try to make impressive finds like this.

10. Luke Ridnour Behind-The-Back to Darko Milicic

Another play that is one of my favorites is the behind-the-back pass. Sure it has a high degree of difficulty, but it looks so pretty.

The great thing about this play is that both Luke Ridnour and Darko Milicic have been great this year and have not received their deserved credit.

This play gives them at least some recognition.

9. Randy Foye With The Long Alley-Oop To Blake Griffin

I think by season's end, we will be able to make a top-25 list of just Blake Griffin fastbreak dunks. Even so, this one deserves to be on the list.

I agree with the commentators that the NBA needs to start keeping track of the farthest all-oop. 

I don't know is this is the farthest one this year, but it is up there.

8. Dwyane Wade To LeBron James Part 3

The last of this category is the best of the bunch. It just goes to show what super athletic and smart players can do playing together.

My favorite part again is Wade's reaction. Love the little hop at the end.

7. Gilbert Arenas With The Alley, John Wall With The Oop

While I do think it was in the best interest of the Wizards to ship Gilbert Arenas out of town, it is a shame that we weren't treated to more of this duo.

It is pretty incredible to think that the point guard is the one skying for the slam over a defender.

I can't wait to see this guy progress as a player. He is going to be a good one eventually.

6. Stephen Curry To Dorell Wright From Distance

Another of the long distance alley-oops that the NBA needs to start keeping track of.

The thing that sets this one apart is not only the fact that it is from so deep, but also because Wright finishes it with his back to the hoop.

What I don't understand is how the defense let a player get behind them like that.

5. LeBron James to Dwyane Wade

Finally LeBron is sharing the wealth and Wade is does his best to make the play count.

LeBron doesn't even want to look at the play I guess, but like I said before, It's great to see smart players making smart plays.

I can only imagine what these guys will come up with after playing together for more than just a few months.

4. Blake Griffin Reverse Alley-Oop From Eric Bledsoe

Wow. Blake Griffin is unreal.

I don't even know what the thought process is that would make someone try this dunk, but I guess that's what separates me from someone like him. That and the other-worldly athleticism.

3. Amare Stoudemire Dunks on the Wizards Off a Made Basket

I understand this isn't nearly as impressive as some of the other plays behind it, but the thing that sets this one apart for me is that it is off a made basket by the Wizards.

To be able to get a fast break bucket off a made basket is an unbelievable thing.

Amar'e also made it look nice by going over two Wizards players.

2. Marreese Speights Off the No-Look From Andre Iguodala

This is an absolutely perfect fastbreak play.

Three members of the 76ers touched the ball in just a few short seconds and the guy who starts the break is the one who finishes it.

Marreese Speights might not be a household name, but if he keeps making plays like this, he soon will be.

1. Blake Griffin Being Blake Griffin

I have no words to describe this play...the crowd reactions say it all.