LeBron James has made the windmill dunk his signature move, throwing it down effortlessly time and time again. So when someone else pulls it off, you can’t help but think of him. And if imitation really is the best form of flattery, the 4x MVP might have a new admirer. Late in the Cavaliers‘ 124-105 win over the Knicks, Jarrett Allen found himself with a wide-open runway. After swiping a steal, he sprinted toward the rim, no defenders in sight. That’s the dream scenario for any player looking to put on a show, and Allen wasn’t about to waste it.
Launching into the air, he cranked his right arm all the way back before unleashing a vicious windmill slam, sending Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse into a frenzy. It was the kind of dunk that makes the highlight reel and gets the crowd on its feet. Afterward, Allen didn’t even try to hide his inspiration. “Honestly, I wanted to look like Bron trying to bring it back,” he admitted with a laugh. “I looked at the replay… nothing close.”
Allen’s windmill dunk attempt against the Knicks got plenty of attention, but no one had a better reaction than LeBron himself. The four-time NBA champion caught wind of Allen’s postgame admission that he was trying to mimic LeBron’s signature slam—and he couldn’t help but crack up.
Feb 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks for the basket against the against the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Taking to Instagram, James shared on his story, a post featuring Allen’s quote, “I wanted to look like Bron,” alongside a comparison of the two dunks. The Lakers star flooded his response with laughing emojis before telling Allen, “You got it next time J.A.” He followed it up with some love, writing “Love this dude!!!!GREAT ENERGY AND SPIRIT” proving once again that he appreciates a good effort—even if the execution wasn’t quite there.
While the Cavs had some fun, they also handled business. Wednesday night pushed them even closer to locking in the East’s top seed, and they didn’t even have to do all the work themselves. Boston’s brutal 124-103 loss to the Heat gave Cleveland some breathing room, and their own win over the Knicks only widened the gap.
At this point, the Cavs are right on the edge of clinching. Their magic number is down to two—any combo of two Cleveland wins or two Boston losses will officially wrap it up. Sure, it’s not over yet, but let’s be real: the Celtics’ path to the No. 1 seed is hanging by a thread.
Meanwhile, LeBron James has been busy handing out his own form of recognition. But instead of focusing on playoff seeding, he turned his attention to an old teammate who came through in the clutch.
They might not be teammates anymore but LeBron James hasn’t forgotten him
LeBron James wasn’t about to let Anthony Davis’s clutch moment go unnoticed. After Davis drilled a game-winner to lift the Mavericks past the Hawks in a nail-biting 120-118 finish, the 21x All-Star hopped on Instagram with a simple but unmistakable shoutout: “GAME BLOUSES!!” with that signature eyebrow raise emoji. Classic Bron move. Even though they’re no longer wearing the same jersey, the love and respect haven’t gone anywhere.
Davis wasn’t just clutch—he was dominant. He torched Atlanta for 34 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks, stuffing the stat sheet like it was just another day at the office. But his night had its bumps—literally. In the first half, he took an accidental elbow to the eye from Daniel Gafford and had to step out for a bit. That didn’t slow him down, though. He came back and made sure the Mavs walked away with the W.
Oct 28, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and forward Anthony Davis (3) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Since returning from an adductor injury on March 24, AD has been on a mission. In just six games with Dallas, he’s already making franchise history. That ridiculous stat line against Atlanta—30+ points, 15+ rebounds, 5+ blocks, and two threes? No Maverick had ever done that before.
Dallas, now sitting at No. 9 in the West, has five games left to secure its playoff spot. With Luka Doncic now a Laker and Kyrie Irving sidelined for the season, it’s all on AD to keep them afloat. And judging by his performance, he’s more than up for the challenge.
The post LeBron James Was on Jarrett Allen’s Mind as Cleveland Cavaliers Look to Restore Lost Glory With Dream Playoffs Push appeared first on EssentiallySports.
