This is “Kyle Hines Week,” as we wait to celebrate him in front of the Olimpia crowd on Sunday, May 3rd, during the halftime of the Milan-Trieste game. Over his years in Milan and throughout his career, one characteristic has distinguished Hines more than any other: his ability to execute incredible blocks at the rim, often against taller and bigger opponents. Here, then, are the five blocks we’ll never forget.

1 – 2021, Vs Bayern Munich, Wade Baldwin

It’s not the number one shote blocked in itself, but it is in terms of importance. It occurred on the decisive possession of Game 5 of the 2021 EuroLeague playoffs, making it the play that gave Olimpia a spot in the Final Four in Cologne. After a sudden collapse in which Olimpia dilapidated a 12-point lead in practically 40 seconds, a play was needed to save the win. Enter Kyle Hines. He anticipated that Wade Baldwin would try to take the shot and tie the game. So, he managed to “slide” with him and get his hands on the ball without committing a foul. Then he completed the feat by winning the ensuing jump ball. Essentially, he took everybody to Cologne.

2 – @ CSKA Moscow, Joel Bolomboy

Hines was guarding Joel Bolomboy, the athletic center for CSKA Moscow at the time. Bolomboy attempted a difficult hook shot from the middle of the paint one second earlier, but it missed. However, the long rebound, which went over Kyle himself, gave him a second chance to score. Bolomboy moved around Shengelia’s impromptu screen, went by Vlado Micov, and rose in the air for a thunderous dunk. But Hines, who was essentially hiding behind two players, saw beforehand what was about to happen and took off with his signature block, which involves building a wall for the opponent to crash into. In terms of spectacularity, it’s the most impressive one.

3 – Vs Olympiacos, Shaquielle McKissic

In Milan against Olympiacos, “The Payback Block” took place. “The year before, he had dunked on my head, he put me on a poster. That play had gone viral; everyone had shown it, even in America, on ESPN. My friends, my family, they had all seen it. Here I got my revenge,” Hines said. McKissic was fooled by spotting the baseline as open as a runway. Devon Hall under the basket was cut off and unable to attempt anything. Hines, however, understood everything a moment before and was there at the rim to meet him. He used his speed to get over the rim, which in this situation also serves as a protective shield for the offensive player, and then used his timing and strength to push McKissic away.

4. Vs Barcelona, Nigel Hayes-Davis

This is another block executed coming from the weak side. Nigel Hayes-Davis had a favorable mismatch against Sergio Rodriguez. He avoided the foul with a turn and took off for a solo two-handed dunk. It was there, like others in the same situation, that he saw Hines coming out from nowhere, from the opposite side. Kyle’s leaping speed, his diabolical ability to get to the rim from nowhere, has always been lethal because he never allowed opponents to prepare for it or to fake something. Here too, the most surprised was probably Hayes-Davis himself.

5 @ Asvel Villeurbanne, Youssoupha Fall

The block on Fall was a classic “Helpside Defender” play. Hines came from the opposite side of the basket to meet Fall, perhaps betrayed by overconfidence. So Hines put his hand high up, taking advantage of a characteristic typical of great shot blockers: the leaping quickness. But this block caused a stir due to the height difference between the two players: 2.21 Fall, 1.98 Hines. That’s a difference of 23 centimeters.