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Utah Jazz: Royce O’Neale on wrong end of ‘best swat’ of ’17-18

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 03: Royce O'Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz controls the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers in a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 3, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Royce O'Neale
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 03: Royce O'Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz controls the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers in a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 3, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Royce O'Neale

The NBA recently counted down the best blocks of 2017-18 and unfortunately Utah Jazz standout Royce O’Neale was on the wrong end of the top highlight.

During the long NBA offseason, it can be hard to fill the horrible void left by the absence of basketball. One of the few available methods for satiating such a thirst is turning to highlights from the prior season.

That’s exactly what the NBA Twitter account has been doing all summer, counting down extensive lists of some of the best highlights from the 2017-18 season. Unfortunately, not every revisited highlight produces a happy memory. Sometimes they can be chilling to recollect.

Such was precisely the case with the NBA’s most recent countdown listing out the top 60 swats from last season. On Saturday, the number one block was finally revealed, and it wasn’t a fun memory for Utah Jazz fans.

The so-called best swat of the season featured Jazz rookie Royce O’Neale going up for what would have been a memorable and emphatic dunk against the New Orleans Pelicans. O’Neale got out in transition and was about to put the pain down on the Pels, adding to Utah’s 84-78 fourth quarter lead on the road.

Instead of it turning into a memorable dunk highlight, though, it resulted as a defensive spectacle. O’Neale went up hard at the rim, only to be met by the daunting defensive ace Anthony Davis. AD leaped in at absolutely the last moment, timing his jump perfectly and sending Royce’s jam flying away, right to his teammate Jrue Holiday.

Check it out for yourself below–

It was a memorable moment, to be sure, but for all the wrong reasons for Jazz fans and particularly for Royce O’Neale. Luckily, Royce and his teammates would ultimately get the last laugh as Utah would prevail over New Orleans in that contest by a score of 116-99. The Anthony Davis block was stunning, but not enough to shift momentum in the Pelicans’ favor.

Quite frankly, although I’m biased, I believe that Rudy Gobert had several blocks worthy of landing at the top of the best swats list. And while O’Neale was on the wrong end of this particular highlight, I suspect he’ll have plenty of chances at revenge and success during the upcoming season. He easily surpassed most expectations surrounding him for 2017-18 and as he continues to develop, I expect that to continue this upcoming year.

Royce was great, especially in the latter half of the 2017-18 season. And while he was unlucky in this particular moment, I imagine that he’ll be on the right end of more than his fair share of highlights this upcoming year as he continues to elevate his game to the next level.

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