Still riding the high of Braylon Mullins game winner against Duke, I started to think about the best baskets in my recent memory. As a spoiled Celtics and UConn basketball fan, I have seen my fair share of awesome shots since 2020. I had to limit it to 10, but there are so many more that could have made the list.
10. Jayson Tatum’s first two baskets after tearing his Achilles (3/6/2026)
Just 298 days after tearing his Achilles, Tatum returned to one of the most anticipated regular season games in the history of TD Garden. Days after turning 28, Tatum made his season debut on a Friday night against the Mavericks. He missed his first few shots including a missed dunk, showing some signs of rust. Then Payton Pritchard had a transition three opportunity, and he let a shot fly. The shot missed, but Tatum was in the perfect place for a putback dunk. The crowd erupted. Dallas got a quick basket, but the Celtics came flying towards their end. Pritchard drove to the basket and found Tatum who knocked down his patented sidestep three. The crowd went wild again, and Tatum reintroduced himself with just two baskets.
9. Solo Ball’s fastbreak dunk in the 2026 Final Four against Illinois
Through the ups and the downs of the 2025-26 season for Ball, he never quit. His shooting percentages dropped and his defense was called out on multiple occasions. That is why his throw down at the end of Saturday’s game against Illinois was so rewarding. Ball knocked down three triples to keep the Huskies in the lead over the Fighting Illini. A missed Keaton Wagler three sent the ball flying toward the out of bounds line. Illinois tried to save it but threw the ball straight to Alex Karaban. The senior wisely found Ball who did the rest. The lefty threw down a right-handed slam and sent the crowd into a frenzy. The Huskies held on largely thanks to the resilient Ball.
8. Paige Bueckers touch pass to Kaitlyn Chen in the 2025 Final Four vs UCLA
It’s hard to have a favorite basket from the women’s team because they are up 40 in every game. On the biggest stage, however, two veteran players put together a highlight play. UConn was already up 15 when they were on a fastbreak opportunity. Azzi Fudd passed it up to Bueckers who was double-teamed by UCLA. The future first overall pick barely touched it but directed it right to Chen who laid it up and in. The Huskies would dominate UCLA in the Final Four and South Carolina in the National Championship enroute to championship number 12.
7. Cam Spencer’s putback floater against Illinois in the 2024 Elite Eight
You could pick any basket from UConn’s historic 30-0 run, but this one has always stood out to me. With the Huskies already on a 14-0 run, Karaban misses a transition three, but Cam Spencer was there for the rebound. The first year Husky floated it up and in, resulting in an Illinois timeout. After the whistle is blown, Spencer is flying around screaming and pumping his fist, an image that will live forever.
6. Xavier Tillman’s three-pointer in Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals
This might be the most niche basket in this whole list, but it’s just awesome. Tillman had not played in the first two games in the series, but with Kristaps Porzingis out, Tillman stepped in and stepped up. Tillman provided great defense and this three-pointer was the cherry on top. He had 6 points in 18 total minutes this series, but this three ball is one that Celtics fans will always remember.
5. Jayson Tatum’s three to give him 50 points in Game 7 against the 76ers
Another instance of a game where you could pick any basket, but this one is iconic. Tatum picked apart the 76ers defense all Mother’s Day afternoon, including a big Celtics run in the third quarter. With 7 minutes to go in the fourth and the Celtics up 23, Tatum got a switch onto Joel Embiid and the rest was history. After a few jab steps, Tatum splashed a three in Embiid’s face and held up 50 with his hands. His 51 points are the most in the history of an NBA Game 7.
4. Jayson Tatum’s buzzer-beater on Easter Sunday 2022
This was the first time in years that it felt like the Celtics had a chance to win the NBA Finals. The energy had shifted in 2022, but Boston drew a tough round one matchup against Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets. A back-and-forth game with usual Kyrie shenanigans all culminated with the Celtics having the ball down one with 13 seconds left. It looked like the young Celtics were once again going to blow this one, but Tatum stepped up. Marcus Smart had the ball with five seconds left and pump faked a three-pointer, drawing all of the attention to himself. Tatum cut to the basket, Smart found him and Tatum spun and scored a layup as time expired. The Celtics would go on to sweep the Nets and make their first NBA Finals appearance in 12 years.
3. Payton Pritchard’s half-court buzzer beater in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals
Once again, as a spoiled Celtics fan you can pick from about a dozen Payton Pritchard buzzer beaters, but this one is by far the best. Off a missed free throw, the Celtics found Pritchard as the first half was expiring. Pritchard took one dribble and let it fly. The rest is history. The shot, the crowd reaction, the Mike Breen call, the Celtics players reaction. It felt like everyone knew this 3-1 Celtics lead was going to become a 4-1 series victory for an NBA Championship after this shot.
2. Braylon Mullins game winner versus Duke in the 2026 Elite Eight
If I did not have a personal connection with the first shot, this would easily be number one. In a play that transcended mainstream media, Mullins shocked the world with a heave from the logo to beat Duke. Being down all game, including down as much as 19, the Huskies rallied while struggling from three. Starting 1/18, the Huskies finished 4/5 including this Mullins dagger, his first three of the night. Every angle, every reaction and every story about this shot is awesome. Mullins will go down in UConn lore forever regardless of how his pro career pans out.
1. Jaylen Brown’s game-tying corner three in Game 1 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals
Experiencing this moment live in person is probably my favorite sports moment ever. After years of playoff let downs from Brown, he delivered when it mattered most. Fans and the media were not shy to criticize Brown and his postseason performances. That all changed in the 2024 ECF. The Celtics were buzzing out of the gates, but the resilient Pacers hung around and had a three-point lead with less than a minute left. A costly Tyrese Haliburton turnover gave the Celtics the ball with 8.5 seconds remaining. On the inbound, Brown got the ball in the corner and put up a prayer over Pascal Siakam. The shot fell and TD Garden erupted as the Celtics had tied the game. The Celtics had all of the momentum and went on to win Game 1 in overtime and sweep the Pacers en route to banner 18. A moment that I will always remember from my seat at the top of TD Garden.