Shaedon Sharpe’s Gravity-Defying Dunk and Career Night for the Trail Blazers
In the world of basketball, there are moments that make you sit up and take notice, and then there are moments that leave you utterly speechless. Shaedon Sharpe delivered one of the latter on a memorable Wednesday night. The Portland Trail Blazers’ young star, known for his high-flying antics, took his game to new heights—quite literally—against the Washington Wizards.
Since being selected seventh overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2022 NBA draft, Sharpe has been dazzling fans with his dunking prowess. But his latest feat, a vicious one-handed slam over Justin Champagnie, has been hailed as one of the best in the NBA this season. Sharpe himself called it the best of his career, and it was a highlight in Portland’s 129-121 win over the Washington Wizards.
Portland coach Chauncey Billups couldn’t help but chuckle at the spectacle. “I just started like laughing, like, ‘Wow, man. Poor kid up under him,'” Billups said. “That was pretty incredible.”
At just 21 years old, Sharpe led the Trail Blazers with a career-high 36 points, shooting 13 of 26 from the floor and making 7 of 10 free throws, including four crucial ones down the stretch. His signature moment came from an alert defensive play when he intercepted Champagnie’s pass beyond the 3-point arc. With one dribble into the paint, Sharpe launched himself so high that even his teammates were left in disbelief.
Blazers forward Deni Avdija was among those amazed. “I don’t know where he got it from,” Avdija said. “I asked him on the bench, ‘If I’m going to work as hard as I can, will I be able to jump like you?’ I don’t know, it’s just genes.”
The force of Sharpe’s slam was so intense that he briefly crashed to the court after the ball went through the net. “I seen the dude in the way,” Sharpe explained, “so I just jumped and tried to dunk it. And it went in.”
In addition to his scoring, Sharpe contributed significantly in other areas. In 33 minutes of play, he grabbed eight rebounds—just one shy of another career high—and dished out five assists. His all-around performance was a testament to his growing influence on the court.
Coach Billups was full of praise for Sharpe’s performance. “His offense was incredible,” Billups said. “I mean it really was. On all three levels he was incredible the entire time. I thought the defense was high-level as well. I really did. And his rebounding, he got some really, really big rebounds for us.”
- Shaedon Sharpe: Career-high 36 points
- Field Goals: 13 of 26
- Free Throws: 7 of 10
- Rebounds: 8
- Assists: 5
As the NBA season progresses, performances like these from Shaedon Sharpe are sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats. His ability to defy gravity and deliver jaw-dropping moments is a reminder of why basketball is such a thrilling sport to watch. With each game, Sharpe continues to solidify his place as one of the league’s most exciting young talents.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
