Creativity and improvisation — that’s how the National Basketball Association (NBA) has transformed to be viewed. One of the most exciting plays to come from this trend is the self alley-oop. This pyrotechnic play has quickly gone viral and made its way into the hearts of players everywhere. Just the other day, Utah Jazz player Collin Sexton demonstrated its awesomeness in a demonstration where he completed a self-oop dunk during a fast break after recovering a turnover. These instances can do much more than jazz up the audience; they are momentum shift changers for teams.
The self alley-oop, though, is hardly a new idea. Its history traces back to 1997 when Tim Duncan, as a rookie, showcased this technique with a straightforward two-handed slam. Since then, the play grew into a focal point of clutch moments in high-caliber games, such as in the All-Star game. A handful of players have incorporated the self alley-oop into their game, proving it’s both effective and fun.
In a specific recent example, Donovan Mitchell successfully made a self-oop vs the Sacramento Kings on February 5th 2024. Domantas Sabonis blocked the double-pump attempt, but that didn’t ruin the moment. The audacity of the play speaks to just how deeply it’s being adopted in today’s basketball. Mitchell’s recognition of the play’s spontaneity encapsulated the essence of self-oops: “You’re caught, you have nowhere to go. You’re just trying to figure it out.”
The self alley-oop has been performed by Hall of Famers and future first-ballot inductees as well. LeBron James has always used the backboard to make his self-oops through his phenomenal career. Michael Jordan showed tactical improvisation when he threw himself an o-oop while winning titles with the Chicago Bulls in the mid-90s. Tracy McGrady’s emphatic self alley-oop during the 2002 All-Star Game significantly popularized the move, setting a standard for future players.
…as Shaquille O’Neal shocked audiences with his self-oop during the 1996 Olympics. Nikola Jokic pulled out a beautiful self-oop for a layup in the 2021 playoffs. Newcomers like Jalen Green have perfected the self-oop in competitive play. Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards, Jrue Holiday, Russell Westbrook, Jamal Murray, and Tyrese Haliburton have proven it can be done.
And in last year’s thrilling 2022 edition, the Ohio Bobcats caught the field completely off-guard with an incredible self-oop. This tremendous catch sent them to overtime with the Michigan Wolverines. This goes to prove that the self alley-oop is not just for pros. For the first time, it has now found its way to college basketball!
Collin Sexton thinks self-oops can be a shot in the arm for his teammates. He said plays like that are the kind of things that can turn momentum to his team’s side. “If I get taken out, I get taken out,” he said of the risk he was exposing himself to by trying a self-oop. His willingness to take such risks serves as a reminder of the creative thinking that is becoming paramount in today’s game.
Joe Mazzulla, coach of the Boston Celtics, recently reflected on this trend. His observation was that self-oops can actually be worked into play designs and add a lot to overall playing style. “That’s a play that’s been made by great players. It’s legal,” he explained, emphasizing the strategic value of this exciting maneuver.
Monty McCutchen, NBA senior vice president of referee development and training, fleshed out some of the nuances of the rule that governs self-oops. “The rulebook is pretty clear: You can’t go get your own pass that hasn’t hit the backboard or the rim,” McCutchen stated. He clarified that once a shot hits either surface, players are free to jump and make a play on it: “Once it hits the backboard or the rim, that’s pretty clear [that anyone can touch it].”
As the NBA keeps changing around them, the self alley-oop will always be a celebration of player creativity. This kind of excitement creates a buzz that attracts fans and brings an additional layer of excitement to games and productions. Today, players are constantly breaking barriers and transforming what’s possible on the court.
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