NBA: Built to Dominate

"That's definitely going to be the top highlight on ESPN's 'Top 5 Plays' today!"

"Unless Alex Mo pulls off an even crazier dunk next!"

Staples Center, Los Angeles

The ESPN commentators were electrified.

Just as CCTV's Zhang Wenli predicted that Alex Mo's head-at-the-rim alley-oop windmill would be the top highlight in China, ESPN's analysts were certain it would be the #1 play of the day.

Unless…

Alex Mo one-ups himself.

Like, say… posterizing Shawn Kemp.

Cough.

Of course, that was just the commentators dreaming up scenarios.

Sure, Kemp wasn't as tall as Alex Mo, but he was the embodiment of a brutal power forward.

Dunking on Kemp?

You'd have to survive being dunked on by him first.

After all, for every player who tried to posterize Kemp, at least three times as many had been posterized by Kemp instead.

Payton vs. Iverson – The Fire Keeps Burning

The Supersonics' offense started back up.

On the perimeter, Gary Payton and Allen Iverson were still going at it.

It was heated.

Iverson, still angry about the pregame doubts, was playing aggressively just to prove a point.

Otherwise, he might have already knocked Payton out.

Payton, meanwhile, was getting frustrated.

"Damn… the guys I've had to deal with over the years…"

Charles BarkleyHakeem OlajuwonKarl MaloneReggie MillerMichael Jordan

All legends.

And now?

A rookie?

Payton couldn't accept it.

He wanted to crush Iverson.

And in reality?

Iverson wasn't quite at Payton's level yet.

Under the original timeline, Iverson's first two career matchups against Payton were terrible:

4-for-17 shooting, 12 points8-for-21 shooting, another rough night

But tonight?

Something was different.

Iverson had extra motivation.

And in basketball, mentality is everything.

Alex Mo Says No – Again

"Boom!"

Payton suddenly lobbed the ball toward the rim.

This was Seattle's bread and butter—the original alley-oop team.

And this time?

Shawn Kemp finally caught it.

He was about to unleash a violent dunk and send a message.

…Too bad Alex Mo had other plans.

Before Kemp could even finish his jump, Mo exploded upward, hands together, and spiked the ball straight down.

"BOOM!"

Kemp crashed to the floor.

But instead of feeling pain, he just looked at the ref.

Wasn't that a foul?!

But the referee didn't even blink.

The block was clean.

And then—Alex Mo was already sprinting down the court.

The ref, struggling to keep up, ran full speed toward the Lakers' fast break.

Three dribbles.

A three-step drive.

Then—

BOOM!

Mo dunked so hard that SuperSonics guard Hersey Hawkins hit the floor.

"BEEP!"

Whistle.

Foul on Hawkins.

And-1.

"WTF?!"

Hawkins couldn't believe it.

Not only was he posterized, but he also had to pay for it with a foul?

"This is cruel!"

But the replay didn't lie.

Before hitting the ground, Hawkins had grabbed Mo's arm.

The call was correct.

Alex Mo hit the free throw effortlessly.

Meanwhile, on ESPN, the commentators took the opportunity to roast Shaquille O'Neal.

"If Shaq had done that, it would've been a 2-for-0, not a 2-for-1!"

Shaq Watches in Disbelief

Vancouver – Grizzlies Locker Room

Shaquille O'Neal sneezed just as he was finishing up practice.

"Coach, who's Alex Mo playing tonight?"

O'Neal turned to Grizzlies head coach Brian Winters, who was going over film.

"It's the Lakers vs. the SuperSonics—nationally televised on ESPN."

Winters put down his notes.

"I was planning to study Mo later anyway."

At this point, every NBA team was analyzing Alex Mo.

The #1 pick in the 1996 Draft had already taken over the league.

Teams needed to find a way to stop him.

Especially tonight—against Shawn Kemp, a power forward known for wrecking centers like Olajuwon.

"Maybe Kemp finally found the answer to slowing Mo down?"

Winters flipped on the TV.

…And just in time to witness one of the wildest highlights in NBA history.

Alex Mo Rides Kemp and McIlvaine Like a Roller Coaster

Midway through the second quarter, the Lakers were leading 40-36.

The Sonics had possession.

Kemp tried to score in the post, but Mo shut him down.

He kicked the ball out to Payton, who drained a mid-range shot over Iverson.

And, of course, the trash talk intensified.

But on the next possession, Iverson waved off the screen—

1v1 against Payton.

This was personal.

Payton hounded Iverson like a shadow, reaching for a steal.

Iverson lost balance and, in desperation, threw up a wild shot.

"That's a bad shot!"

Even the commentators knew this was going nowhere.

"DUANG!"

The ball clanked off the rim.

In the paint, Kemp and center Jim McIlvaine positioned themselves for the rebound.

But before they could even react—

"MOVE!"

Alex Mo ROSE UP.

The Celestial Giant soared over them both.

"REBOUND! KEMP! MCILVAINE!"

Seattle head coach George Karl screamed from the sideline.

Too late.

The two 200+ pound big men jumped with everything they had—

But Mo still outjumped them.

Then—

BOOM!

Mo snatched the rebound mid-air, never touching the ground, and SLAMMED it home.

OVER BOTH OF THEM.

The backboard rattled violently.

The crowd lost its mind.

Staples Center Erupts

"OH MY GOD! HE DUNKED ON BOTH OF THEM!"

"Alex Mo just baptized TWO players at once!"

Fans jumped out of their seats.

Commentators couldn't believe it.

"His first dunk was already a Top 5 Play, but this? This might be the greatest dunk of the year!"

Shaq's Reaction? Devastation.

Back in Vancouver, Shaq's jaw dropped.

His "good buddy" Kemp had just been humiliated.

And it wasn't just Kemp—his teammate got dunked on too.

At that moment, Shaq made a decision.

"Kemp's not my boy anymore."

Friendship status: Terminated.

And just like that—

Another name was crossed off Shaq's list of potential allies.