Zhaire Smith Easily Has The Dunk Of Summer With This Perfectly Executed Monster Poster
Listen, I get it. Today is a big sports day. We have a lot going on at the moment in a wide variety of sports that mean a whole hell of a lot more than a Cavs/Bucks Summer League game in which the Cavs had a 72-37 (!!!!!) halftime lead. But at the same time, I don't really care if they are fake Summer League games, random Pro Ams, or really any sort of pick up game, I will always respect a Grade A poster dunk, and this one right here by Zhaire Smith certainly qualifies. Easily the dunk of the Summer League so far in the early stages of the games in Vegas, and in my opinion this checked every box you're looking for in a dunk like this
1. Insanely impressive liftoff distance
You want to talk about explosion? As with every one of these big time dunks, it starts at the base. If we slow things down and look at the launch point, you see Smith is barely inside the paint as he prepares to explode off two feet
It's at this moment that the Bucks defender needed to make a decision. You either foul here so Smith doesn't get the shot off, or you make the business decision and get the hell out of the way.
Unfortunately, he chose neither option.
2. Absorbing contact in the air
I think we can all agree that the truly awesome posters are when someone goes through a defender. They meet at the top, the offensive player absorbs the contact as if he didn't even feel it, and then be brings the Thunder.
I'd say that's exactly what happened
This is the very definition of dunking through your opponent, which on a play like this is always what makes it 10x better. Smith got to his apex and it was as if the defender didn't exist. That's probably my favorite part of the dunk.
3. Bring the thunder
As with any play like this, it means nothing if you can't finish the dunk cleanly. If you're able to not only do that but also dunk with force, that is the perfect way to cap something like this off. The finishing boom is everything when it comes to poster dunks, none of this throwing it in or barely getting the ball through the rim. No no, you dunk that shit into your defender's soul
A+ finish on an A+ dunk.
And hey, is it the best sign that Zhaire Smith was drafted in 2018 and is still playing Summer League minutes? Not really. That's not exactly what you're looking for, but his NBA experience is spotty at best. At the very least he can add his poster to his highlight reel, and I imagine it felt incredible in the moment which is truly what Summer League is all about.
We'll see what happens the rest of the week in Vegas, but for now, this is easily the leader in the clubhouse for dunk of the summer.