Thu Dec 26 10:44:29 UTC 2024: ## Basketball’s Breakout Year: 2024’s Top Moments

**Paris, France/Los Angeles, CA** – 2024 was a landmark year for basketball, capturing global attention with record-breaking achievements, memorable plays, and a surge in women’s basketball popularity. Al Jazeera highlights some of the year’s most captivating moments:

**Historic Father-Son Duo:** The NBA season opened with a historic moment: LeBron and Bronny James became the first father-son pair to play together in the league. Their shared court time during the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves created a heartwarming spectacle for fans worldwide.

**Clark’s Meteoric Rise:** Paige Clark dominated headlines, shattering Pete Maravich’s long-standing NCAA scoring record and subsequently becoming the first overall pick in the WNBA draft. Her exceptional rookie season, including setting a single-game assists record, catapulted her into the cultural mainstream and redefined women’s professional basketball.

**Curry’s Olympic Gold:** Stephen Curry, in his Olympic debut at age 36, initially struggled. However, he ignited in the semi-final and final, leading Team USA to victory over France with a breathtaking display of three-point shooting. His performance, including a memorable shot over Victor Wembanyama, secured him the highest average points per game in Olympic history for the final two matches.

**Edwards’ Electrifying Dunks:** Minnesota’s Anthony “Antman” Edwards thrilled audiences with spectacular dunks throughout the season, culminating in a playoff slam deemed by many commentators as comparable to the legendary Michael Jordan.

**Celtics Reign Supreme:** The Boston Celtics dominated the NBA, securing a record-breaking regular season and sweeping through the playoffs to claim their 17th championship title. Jaylen Brown was named NBA Finals MVP, but the victory was a testament to the team’s overall strength.

The year 2024 solidified basketball’s position as a global phenomenon, showcasing both established stars and emerging talent, and leaving a lasting impact on the sport’s history.

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