Ouch, but wow! 😳 pic.twitter.com/xbinp3n1st
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 9, 2016
Mike Muscala isn’t exactly a household name in the NBA world, but the big man for the Atlanta Hawks produced the highlight of his career on Tuesday evening. In the first quarter of the team’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thabo Sefolosha executed a spin move in the lane and lofted a shot toward the rim. With flawless timing, Muscala stalked the ball from the weak side, exploding toward the rim with his 6-foot-11 frame and executing a perfect tip-dunk that would make any NBA player jealous.
To make things even more interesting? Muscala’s dunk came at the expense of LeBron James.
To be fair, James clearly did not see Muscala coming in all of his splendor, but a quick look at the replay suggests that it was LeBron’s box-out responsibility and, well, he did not execute that assignment to the best of his ability. Muscala’s showcase dunk actually ended in an apparent injury, but the former Bucknell standout and second-round pick stayed in the game, assuring the viewing public that they could enjoy this moment without fear for his health.
Mike Muscala may not have a better and more exciting moment in his NBA career, but he’ll be able to tell his children that he dunked, with authority, on LeBron James.