WASHINGTON — Since being picked seventh in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, Shaedon Sharpe has dazzled fans as a remarkable young dunker. But on Wednesday night, Sharpe soared to unprecedented heights, both figuratively and literally.
During Portland’s 129-121 victory over the Washington Wizards, Sharpe unleashed a dominating one-handed dunk over Justin Champagnie, which was quickly recognized as one of the season’s top highlights. Sharpe himself described it as the best dunk of his career, capping off an impressive performance.
The Trail Blazers’ head coach, Chauncey Billups, was astounded by the play. “I just started laughing, thinking, ‘Wow, that poor kid under him,’” Billups recalled. “It was truly incredible.”
At just 21 years old, Sharpe led his team with a personal best of 36 points. He maintained accuracy by shooting 13 out of 26 from the field and making 7 out of 10 free throws, confidently sinking four crucial free throws towards the end.
His exhilarating play came from a smart defensive maneuver where he intercepted Champagnie’s pass beyond the three-point line. After a single dribble into the key area, Sharpe launched himself so high that even his teammates were left in awe.
“I don’t know where he got it from,” remarked Blazers forward Deni Avdija. “I asked him on the bench, if working as hard as possible could get me to jump like him. Maybe it’s just in his genes.”
The forceful dunk was so powerful that Sharpe momentarily hit the court after completing the move. He explained, “I saw a person in the way, so I leaped up and attempted the dunk. And it went in.”
Throughout his 33 minutes on the court, Sharpe also collected eight rebounds, narrowly missing another career milestone, and dished out five assists.
Commenting on Sharpe’s performance, Billups said, “His offense was fantastic. He was remarkable across all phases. I thought the defense was outstanding too, and he grabbed some crucial rebounds for us.”
