The year in sports pictures: Ranking 2018's best photos from the Olympics, Super Bowl, World Cup and more

It was a busy sports year in 2018, to say the least. In the NFL we had not one, but two miracle last-second finishes. In the NBA we saw a dynasty continue. In MLB we witnessed one of the better seasons in league history. As the final days of 2018 wind down, it's nice to take a bit of time to reminisce on the year that was, and there are few better ways to stroll down memory lane than to take a look at some photographs.

There's a lot to look at in sports. It could be a great play, or a particularly emphatic reaction. Everything happens so fast that you need to know which moments are worth capturing almost before they occur.

It's not easy to get a good shot, so we need to celebrate the people who are able to. Sometimes it's a beautiful action shot or sometimes it's the perfect encapsulation of a certain emotion -- whether that be happiness or heartbreak. There's no "right" way to make a great photo, so here are 20 of the best from 2018.

20. You should always watch your back

This photo makes Warriors star Stephen Curry look like a ballet dancer.  Getty Images

This year marked the last installment of LeBron James vs. the Warriors in the NBAFinals, with him leaving for the Lakers in free agency. However, James wasn't even part of the best photo in the series. This photo of Tristan Thompson coming up behind Stephen Curry for the swat is gorgeously lit. It looks like Thompson is emerging from the darkness to swat Curry at the rim.

19. See? We weren't kidding

Brock Holt pulled off something that's never been done before in postseason baseball. Getty Images

You've got to love the water cooler douse. This one with Brock Holt during the ALDS against the Yankees is pretty great, if only because of how ridiculously nonchalant and happy he is. This was one of the many major celebrations the Red Sox had in 2018, and Holt came up huge in the ALDS, going 4 of 6 in Game 3 with a cycle.

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