The 2025-26 NBA season has already delivered its fair share of jaw-dropping moments, but few have captured the global spotlight quite like Anthony Black’s gravity-defying dunk in Berlin. With just 2:31 left in the fourth quarter of a tightly contested matchup between the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies, Black delivered a play that’s not only gone viral-it’s etched itself into the early fabric of this NBA season.
Here’s how it unfolded: Black caught the ball on a fast break, eyes locked on the rim. As he accelerated toward the paint, four Grizzlies defenders converged, forming what looked like an impenetrable wall.
But Black didn’t hesitate. He elevated-explosively-and somehow threaded the needle, rising above the crowd to hammer home a dunk that stunned the arena and sent social media into a frenzy.
This wasn’t just a highlight-it was the highlight. According to NBA Communications, Black’s dunk has become the most-viewed play of the season across all NBA social platforms, racking up a staggering 85 million views and counting. That’s not just viral-that’s global.
And the context makes it even sweeter. The game was part of the NBA’s international slate, played in Berlin, showcasing the league’s continued push to grow its footprint overseas.
For Black to deliver such a moment on that stage? That’s the kind of thing that elevates a young player’s profile in a hurry.
Black himself is still soaking it in. Speaking with NBA insider Marc Stein, he admitted he’s watched the clip more than a few times.
“I’ve probably watched it a good 10, 15, 20 times,” he said, smiling. “I got the ball.
I’ve seen one man in front of me. I’ve seen everybody else kind of getting back slower, so I tried to get past my man.
Honestly, I only saw Santi jump. That was the only person I saw contest until I got to the bench and they showed me the replay and I was like ‘oh.’”
That moment of realization-that he’d just dunked over not one, not two, but four defenders-adds another layer to the play’s mystique. It wasn’t just instinctual athleticism; it was a fearless, in-the-moment decision that turned into something unforgettable.
The Magic, sitting at fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 23-18 record, are showing real signs of growth this season. Black’s emergence is part of that story.
He’s not just making highlight reels-he’s making an impact. And with the Magic and Grizzlies squaring off again, this time at the O2 Arena in London, there’s a sense of anticipation in the air.
Ja Morant has recently returned to the lineup for Memphis, adding another layer of intrigue to what’s becoming one of the more entertaining cross-conference matchups on the calendar.
But no matter what happens next, Anthony Black’s dunk in Berlin has already become a defining moment of this NBA season. It was bold.
It was fearless. And it reminded us all why we watch the game-for those rare, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it plays that leave you shaking your head and hitting replay again... and again... and again.