6 NBA Players Who Made a Living Off of One Move

by Jeremy Block - 11/24/2025

NBA players who made their living off one move Kyrie Irving

For the most part, NBA players are jacks-of-all-trades, capable of doing a little bit of everything and thriving as role players. Then there are the ones who built their entire game around a single move, and it worked like a charm every time. Whether it’s a signature crossover, a one-legged fadeaway, or a shot that nobody else could even dream of pulling off, some players didn’t need a bag of tricks. They just perfected one thing until it was unstoppable.

So, let’s take a look at six NBA players who made one move their own and used it to dominate the game.

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Kyrie Irving - The Cross-Over

When defenders saw Kyrie Irving start to dribble, they knew they were about to get embarrassed, looking like they were ice skating. His crossover was like a magic trick: you knew it was coming, but had no idea how he was going to leave you stunned. The funny thing about it? It wasn’t just fast, it was unpredictable. By the time you reacted, he was already past you, setting up for a drive or an easy pull-up.

Irving was able to break down anyone in the open court or shake defenders off in tight spaces. It was impossible to stop—and the numbers backed it up: averaging over 24 points per game for eight straight seasons. Irving’s crossover alone made him one of the best ball handlers in NBA history, and it’s why that move will forever be tied to his name.

James Harden - Step-Back Three

If you’ve watched James Harden play, you’ve seen it a hundred times. A couple of hard dribbles, then—a step-back 3-pointer from 30 feet. While many fans and analysts criticized Harden’s style with this move, the reality is, it was unguardable. And if there’s one rule in basketball, it’s that you never mess with something that’s working.

Harden perfected the step-back to the point where it became his signature. Once defenses saw Harden isolating at the top of the key, they knew what was coming. But they couldn’t stop it. Why? Harden had a quick first step that kept defenders on their heels, and that extra little bit of space created with the step-back gave him all the room he needed to get the shot off. A career 36% 3-point shooter, Harden knew exactly when to pull out this move, and it was his go-to weapon in clutch moments.

Dirk Nowitzki - One-Legged Fadeaway

There’s a move in the NBA that became Dirk Nowitzki’s move, and no one else could pull it off with the same combination of size and precision. When you saw Nowitzki back down a defender, you knew what was coming: the one-legged fadeaway. But just because you knew it was coming didn’t mean you could stop it. Standing at 7 feet tall with the shooting stroke of a guard, Nowitzki was a one-man army with this move. Defenders knew it was coming, but stopping it was a different story.

What made it even more unfair was that Nowitzki didn’t need much space to get it off. That shot became his bread and butter, helping him shoot 47% from the field for over two decades. If you were going to stop Nowitzki, you needed a whole new game plan—one that didn’t involve him backing you down on the low block and pulling up for that deadly fadeaway.

Hakeem Olajuwon - The Dream Shake

Defenders knew they were in trouble when Hakeem Olajuwon started backing them down in the post. His footwork was ridiculous, able to fake out defenses with just a subtle twitch. Once he hit them with the Dream Shake, it was game over. It didn’t matter if teams saw it coming; he always had them leaving their feet.

What made the Dream Shake so dangerous was that it was an offensive strategy. Olajuwon combined power, finesse, and just the right amount of trickery. He didn’t need much space, just enough room to set you up. And once he did, you knew the outcome: two points, no question. When it clicked, it wasn’t just unstoppable; it was a thing of beauty. That move turned Olajuwon into one of the most dominant low-post players to ever play the game.

Tim Duncan - The Bank Shot

Players don’t need to be flashy to be effective, and Tim Duncan proved that with his signature move: the bank shot. While everyone else was out there trying to get highlight reel plays, Duncan was sinking mid-range shots off the glass like it was no big deal. Whether it was a simple 10-footer or a baby hook, the glass was Duncan’s best friend—and he rarely missed.

Sure, other players tried the bank shot from time to time, but none of them could do it like Duncan. He made it his thing, turning it into an automatic bucket—and it was a big reason he was able to average 19 points per game and shoot 50% from the floor over his career. In a league obsessed with making fancy moves, Duncan’s bank shot was as reliable as it gets.

Carmelo Anthony - Jab Step Mid-Range

There have been several players throughout NBA history known for one signature move, and Carmelo Anthony is no exception with his jab step and pump fake mid-range shot. In a game full of crosses, spins, and fadeaways, Anthony’s secret weapon was simple yet deadly. His jab and pump fake were so believable, he could’ve created room in a telephone booth. One quick jab, and defenders froze, leaving Anthony wide open to rise up and knock down the mid-range jumper. Whether it was at the top of the key or on the wing, you knew what was coming, and he drained it every time.

Over his career, Anthony shot 44% from the floor, and a huge part of that came from his iconic move. No matter how much defenders tried to press him, they were never safe. Even knowing he wasn’t going to dribble, it was only a matter of time before Anthony had them dancing in their shoes, and teaching them a lesson.

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Start:	November 24, 2025 @ 11:00 PM
Expert:	Griffin Murphy
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6 NBA Players Who Made a Living Off of One Move

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