'There's really no plan:' How the self alley-oop has taken over the NBA

The "self alley-oop" was once a rare experience, one most fans and players alike trace to a handful of early 2000s legends who, in desperation, used it both to get out of trouble and to create memorable highlights.

Tracy McGrady's 2002 All-Star Game was the first exposure to this highlight-reel play for many NBA fans.

The true origins of the play date to a seminal moment in the NBA 's infancy in the 1957 NBA Finals .

The self alley-oop is one of a few plays that has ticked up in frequency as a result.

NBA rules allow players to jump off their pivot foot and land with their nonpivot foot once their dribble is picked up.

LeBron James and LeBron James have been among the game's most frequent self-oopers during his career.

Collin Sexton bounces the ball off the court, catches it midair, and finishes with style in a bold solo play.

Sexton viewed it as a shot in the arm for his teammates.

Whether the self alley-oop is increasing in frequency around the NBA is difficult to prove.