The Los Angeles Lakers have not had much to celebrate about, but their forward, Xavier Henry might have the best dunk of the year in the bag. Not only did Henry embarrass former teammate Jeff Withey, but he made it to the highlight reel of the year. Haven't seen the dunk? Check out the video.
At the time of Withey's massacre in the paint, the Lakers were already celebrating a potential win as they held an 82-60 lead in the third quarter. This was a different Laker team that had dropped the first meeting against the New Orleans Pelicans. With excellent ball movement, the Lakers found the open man. Shawne Williams fed Henry, who drove from the three point line... and the rest was history.
Withey, 7' 0" met Henry under the basket, but it was the 6' 6" Henry who finished with the advantage. He jammed it over former Kansas St. Jayhawks teammate, Withey and gave the Lakers a 24-point lead.
However, it was not the lead that huge lead that drove announcers, the Lakers bench and the fans wild, it was the ferocious dunk that set Withey, a prolific shotblocker in Kansas, to the floor.
Who did Henry remind many of, though it was just a slight glimpse of the man himself?
That is right. Vince Carter. We are not saying Henry can dunk like Carter, but the situation was very similar as forward-guards had their explosive hops take them over seven footers.
Ultimately, the lessoned learned from all of this kids, if you are seven feet tall, get in the air. What is the point of taking a charge when you were drafted for your ability to protect the paint and block shots? In his last two seasons at Kansas St., Withey averaged close to four blocks a game. He was getting a little too creative as he attempted to take the charge.
Henry was hungry and he did not hesitate to make a decision. He knew he was dunking that ball whether he drew a foul or wound up on the free throw line. The Lakers wound up taking a highlight reel home, while winning their fourth game of the season by the final score of 116-95.
Oh, check out the dunk right here.
