Welcome to the Vinsanity Scale! In honor of one of the greatest in-game dunkers in NBA history, the Vinsanity Scale rates dunks on a scale of 1-4. Similar to the Horry Scale, the dunk in question is graded on the game situation, difficulty and celebration to answer one question: Would it make Half Man, Half Amazing proud?
There's no place like home, right? With LeBron James and the Lakers in Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers, the 37-year-old "Kid From Akron" reminded us that age is but a number.
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The dunk
💥OH MY! LEBRON!
— NBA (@NBA) March 22, 2022
LeBron (21 PTS) is heating up on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/oz9UCQxdQa pic.twitter.com/8GoMcmeOOn
Game situation
LeBron was cooking early and often as his Lakers were going back-and-forth with the Cavaliers in the first half. He crossed the 20-point mark in style to tie things up at 60 apiece with under three minutes remaining in the half.
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In the arena that he called home for 11 seasons, James provided fans with what they've been accustomed to seeing since 2003.
Degree of difficulty
sdKevin Love might not be an elite rim protector, but he is every bit of 6-foot-8 and LeBron is every bit of 37 years old.
37-year-olds aren't supposed to be able to rise that high above anyone that measures out at 6-foot-8.
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As basketball fans, we've come to expect the unexpected from James, but even this dunk is surprising enough to draw a reaction because you probably didn't see it coming.
The two won a title together, too, so it had to be a little more difficult for LeBron to put his buddy on a poster, especially after doing their signature handshake prior to tip off.
LBJ 🤝 Kevin Love
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@sportingnews) March 21, 2022
🎥 @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/bxKXbvz2IO
Who said players today are too friendly? That was mean.
Reaction
This is one of those dunks where you should watch someone different each time.
The Kid from Akron pic.twitter.com/bucpkl885O
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 22, 2022
Wenyen Gabriel, who is in his first season as LeBron's teammate, puts his hands on his head. The Lakers bench goes crazy. Kent Bazemore, who has a basketball in his hand (no, I don't know why, either) almost draws a tech for running on the floor. I also don't think I've ever seen that much of a reaction from Avery Bradley for like, anything.
And, despite James doing this on a nightly basis at the arena formerly known as "The Q," the fans in Cleveland are also somehow in disbelief.
Wild.
Vinsanity Scale
This dunk literally has it all.
LeBron James defying logic and gravity and somehow, surprising each and every one of us that expects him to do these unexpected things. This dunk gets a perfect Four out of Four Vinsanitys.
