Basketball is probably one of the more artistic sports -- it values creativity and original thinking more than, say, baseball. Artist Ryan T. Simpson was inspired by this year's NBA playoffs to create portraits of some of the players involved -- plus one coach.

I think he captured their essences quite well, don't you?

James Harden

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Joakim Noah

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Gregg Popovich

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Anthony Davis

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Dirk Nowitzki

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Blake Griffin

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John Wall

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Tim Duncan

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Marc Gasol