The 2023 Western Conference Finals between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers was a matchup anyone is unlikely to forget anytime soon. The Nuggets bested the Lakers in 4 games, marking their first playoff series sweep in history. But another interesting instance that took place during the game was a mini dunk display. NBA influencer and basketball enthusiast Austin Fritts showcased his dunking prowess in the presence of some of the top names in the league.

He had taken to X to share his excitement, captioning the post, “I got legends watching over me. Dunked the Western Conference Finals in front of many Hall of Famers and the goat. Blessed and excited for the NBA Finals. Go Nuggs.”  

Fritts never would have thought that Rocky would end up selecting him out of the 20,000 people present to dunk over. Not one to just let it go, he returned the favor, dunking over the Mascot of the Nuggets in the presence of LeBron James, Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray, Anthony Davis, and numerous more. And that was when the Colorado native shot to instant fame. But that wasn’t the first time he was called onto the court by Rocky.

Back in December 2022, Fritts burst into the limelight with his electrifying display at a Nuggets game. And that only catapulted him towards greater things. He would go on to steal the show during the Western Conference Finals. But did you know Fritts was a basketball superstar in High School?

Austin Fritts, from Green Mountain to stardom

Fritts is an alumnus of the Green Mountain High School in Lakewood. He averaged 17.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 20 games in his junior year in 2014-15. Moreover, he shot the ball well, averaging 48% from the field. While he made 30 threes in his junior year, it came at a 31% 3Pt FG. The versatile wing helped the team finish with an 8-15 record. But things only got better from there.

In his senior year, Fritts’ numbers improved considerably. He averaged 18.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 23 games played. He shot 52% from the field and 38% from deep, while he attempted fewer shots from outside the arc. The improved numbers had a direct impact on the team’s performance as well and their record for the year was 11-13. But it was his jaw-dropping plays that gained the most attention even in High School.

Trending

Shaq Warns Lakers Locker Room Of Jeanie Buss Game Plan If Darvin Ham & Co Fail Vs Nuggets

April 24, 2024 09:42 PM EDT

Heat Injury Report: Latest On Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson Ahead of Game 2 vs Celtics

April 24, 2024 02:46 PM EDT

Joel Embiid Banned By Empire State Building After Dangerous Incident On Court With Mitchell Robinson

April 26, 2024 02:59 AM EDT

“So Rigged”: All Hell Breaks Loose as Jamal Murray Forces LeBron James’ Lakers Into Bitter Embarrassment

April 23, 2024 06:21 AM EDT

“It’s Just Basketball”: LeBron James Rambles About Anxiety After Lakers Fall To Nuggets At Home

April 26, 2024 07:55 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

In an Instagram post from November 2015, he credits arguably the greatest dunker of all time for his dunking abilities. “Vince Carter taught me well. Dunk of the year and the season hasn’t even started yet 😈🐰 don’t sleep,” the caption read as the clip shows him elevating out of the building for a thunderous jam.

And he is surely succeeding! You can catch him talking about his phenomenal journey on our Fancast Exclusive interview, and learn more about how he felt while posterizing Rocky and during the All-Star weekend. Stay tuned!

Who’s Austin Fritts? Everything You Need to Know About Social Media Dunk Sensation Making Waves Around NBA