So, I’m not sure KAT was trying to deliberately fool Wagner there. I think he lost it with the referee, then realized he had to do something, and put up the shot.

This. If the game was more competitive and the shot missed, this would be seen as Randle-esque pouting instead of a great play.

The NBA is also likely not eager to enshrine a sequence highlighting the incompetence of their officials as a top pay.

he turned his exasperation into a way to psych out his defender

So, I’m not sure KAT was trying to deliberately fool Wagner there. I think he lost it with the referee, then realized he had to do something, and put up the shot.

So the Mikal banked three made #1 in NBA Top Plays.

But I also watched it on the quickie video of the game, and as I wondered when I first saw it, it looks VERY much like KAT just literally fumbled the ball and it goes to Mikal. Played it three times, looks like a fumble each time.

Was having a debate related to this with a friend the other day. I would argue that the KAT eyeroll/fadeaway play was by far the most memorable play of the night, and would have been even if Mikal had converted the three off of that insane no-look pass KAT threw him. We see guys like Joker and LaMelo throw ridiculous passes like that now and again, and see guys make shots off of them. And we’ve seen weird buzzer beaters on what may or may not have been broken plays. But that specific sequence of a superstar growing so visibly exasperated with the refereeing that he turned his exasperation into a way to psych out his defender, get around him, and make a difficult shot look unbelievably easy? Never seen anything like that before.

But I also watched it on the quickie video of the game, and as I wondered when I first saw it, it looks VERY much like KAT just literally fumbled the ball and it goes to Mikal. Played it three times, looks like a fumble each time.

@jledwardsiii.bsky.social‬
Precious Achiuwa will make his season debut tonight.

Cam Payne is OUT.

SmeagolSaysMyPreciousDotGif

And anyway I forgot to take notes.

sounds like a title to a book…