It was the photo seen around the NBA, the picture taken as Kawhi Leonard’s Game 7 buzzer-beater bounce, bounce, bounce, bounced its way around the rim, eventually dropping through the hoop to clinch the Raptors’ Eastern Conference semifinal win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Philadelphia centre Joel Embiid is on the left, craning his neck from behind the backboard to get a look at the ball. Leonard, centre stage in the moment and the picture that captured it, is squatting, his tongue poking out from between his lips in concentration.
To his left, dressed in street clothes, is Jordan Loyd, also squatting, his mouth rounded into an “O” in awe.