May's best NBA photos: Jayson Tatum, Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards and more (2024)

May is National Photography Month, which makes it a good time to celebrate the NBA with photos.

It’s been a grueling month of playoff basketball: mesmerizing offensive and defensive plays, lots of contact, bodies on the floor and in the air, celebrations and emotions.

And now just two teams are remaining. The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks will meet in the NBA Finals, which begin Thursday, June 6.

Which team do you like to win it all? The Celtics have won seven consecutive playoff games and are 6-0 on the road. The Mavericks cruised to a 4-1 Western Conference finals series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Until a champion is crowned, The Athletic will continue selecting stunning and powerful images. Here are some of May’s most striking NBA images.

Joel Embiid of the 76ers can’t do anything to stop OG Anunoby’s slam in the Knicks’ series-clinching Game 6 first-round Eastern Conference playoff victory in Philadelphia.

Can you see P.J. Washington of the Mavericks? Well, just look for Paul George of the Clippers first, and then you’ll spot Washington shooting a 3-pointer as George defends during Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series in Dallas.

Despite how it might look, this is a happy face for Chet Holmgren, who is thrilled with the Thunder’s Game 1 victory over the Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals in Oklahoma City.

Nikola Jokić of the Nuggets is wondering how Mike Conley of the Timberwolves knocked the ball away from him, the NBA MVP, in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals in Denver.

Former Knicks high-flyer, Obi Toppin, who now plays for the Pacers, goes through his legs with the ball while in the air before dunking against Miles McBride of the Knicks in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series in New York.

Jamal Murray and his Nuggets teammates had difficulty scoring against Minnesota’s defense during Game 2 in Denver.

In this postseason, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has had plenty of interactions with referees. In Game 2 against the Knicks in New York, referee Josh Tiven receives the wrath of Carlisle.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder gets up close and personal with Luka Dončić of the Mavericks during Game 3 in their second-round playoff series in Dallas. More on these two later.

Jayson Tatum of the Celtics dunks with authority and lets Max Strus (left) and Caris LeVert of the Cavaliers know about it during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Cleveland.

Rudy Gobert claims he didn’t smash Nikola Jokić of the Nuggets in the head, but Gobert was whistled for a foul in Game 4 in Minneapolis.

Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard of the Pacers celebrate during Game 4 against the Knicks in Indianapolis.

Jrue Holiday of the Celtics denies Donovan Mitchell of the Cavaliers at the rim during Game 3 of their series in Cleveland.

Luka Dončić of the Mavericks has been amazing during this postseason. But if he made this shot with his eyes closed, the ball hitting the bottom of the backboard and great defense from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder during Game 4 in Dallas, then the NBA MVP honor should just go to him.

Jalen Brunson celebrates with Clyde Frazier and other Knicks fans after draining a 3-pointer against the Pacers in a Game 5 win in New York.

Evan Mobley of the Cavaliers displays his length and defensive ability against Jaylen Brown of the Celtics during Game 5 in Boston.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope of the Nuggets and members of the Timberwolves bench watch Caldwell-Pope’s 3-pointer drop through the net during Game 6 in Minneapolis.

Jayson Tatum of the Celtics soars for a slam against Myles Turner and Obi Toppin of the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals in Boston.

A little blood on his legs didn’t stop Luka Dončić and the Mavericks against the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals in Minneapolis.

Jaylen Brown and Celtics fans celebrate Brown’s game-tying 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds remaining in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pacers and Pascal Siakim in Boston. The Celtics won 133-128 in overtime.

Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves shoots an acrobatic shot with a high level of difficulty against the Mavericks in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in Minneapolis.

T.J. McConnell and Pacers fans are excited about a made 3-pointer by McConnell late in Game 3 in Indianapolis.

Dereck Lively II of the Mavericks has been impactful during the postseason as Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves finds out on this slam during Game 3 in Dallas.

After making a steal, Jrue Holiday of the Celtics tries to avoid Pascal Siakam of the Pacers. Holiday was fouled with 1.8 seconds left in Game 3 and made both free throws to secure the 114-111 win in Indianapolis.

In another highlight-reel dunk, Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves rises and prepares to dunk over Daniel Gafford of the Mavericks during Game 3 in Dallas.

Parting shot

After being named the series MVP, Luka Dončić of the Mavericks celebrates with his teammates after their Game 5 victory in Minneapolis.

Related reading

How an NBA Getty Images photographer captures the perfect shot

Related viewing

April: LeBron James, Steph Curry, Jayson Tatum and more

March: Anthony Edwards (dunks!), Jalen Johnson (dunks!) and more

February: Anthony Edwards, Domantas Sabonis, Victor Wembanyama and more

January: Victor Wembanyama, Steph Curry, The Coyote and more

December: LeBron James, Giannis, Luka Dončić and more

November: Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, Draymond Green and more

June: Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Jimmy Butler, Victor Wembanyama and more

May: Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, Joel Embiid and more

(Top photo of Jayson Tatum: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)

Jeff Maillet is a senior editor of The Athletic NBA. He is formerly the managing editor of The Athletic Wisconsin and Indiana. He also worked 25 years at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, most recently as deputy sports editor. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeff_maillet