The 25 greatest NBA signature moves of all time

The skyhook is always one of the first things mentioned in conversations about unstoppable shots. The shot itself is mechanically hard to defend, which was especially true when you factored in Kareem's height, wingspan, and consistency with it. Abdul-Jabbar relied on a lot of weapons to rack up his 38,000-plus career points, but none were more undeniable than the skyhook.

Very few post scorers have ever put the ball in the basket more creatively and devastatingly than Hakeem. His incessant pivoting and faking made it impossible to predict what he would do. There's a reason you still see offseason videos of Olajuwon imparting his wisdom to modern NBA players.

Athleticism was a defining feature of MJ's game, but as he aged, he leaned on it less. At this point, his fadeaway jumper became his bread and butter. It was a way for him to create separation without needing to jump out of the gym, and his body positioning made it nearly impossible to stop.

In case you missed Mutombo's career, the TL;DR is that he blocked a lot of shots. He was a real showman about it, too: If he stopped you at the rim, he was going to wag his finger, usually accompanied by a gravely "No, no, no." You get to do that when you average 2.8 for an 18-season career.

Iverson's relatively short 6-foot stature worked to his advantage here. His low center of gravity and his incredible quickness made it so opponents just couldn't help but get tripped up by Iverson's sudden shifts. This allowed him to create space and ultimately become one of his generation's best scorers.

It's fitting that "The Big Fundamental" would have a signature shot as straightforward as the bank shot. Time and time again, though, whether near the hoop or from mid-range, Duncan used the backboard to his advantage, putting up shots that seemed to never miss. This was especially true in high-pressure moments throughout his career.

In the same era, Nowitzki was redefining the role of the big man as a shooter from all over the court. At 7 feet tall, Dirk was already hard to block. But when he took a fadeaway jump off of one leg, he was essentially unguardable.

Gervin was beloved for his smooth scoring style, and the defining element of it was his finger roll. Extending his long arms and utilizing his soft touch, Gervin could get the shot off over or around defenders with ease. It's one of the defining moves of his era and of all time.

Some of the shots that Steph takes would be bad shots for most other players. Curry, though, redefined what's acceptable as a shooting range. Pulling up from near halfcourt isn't a problem for Steph, forcing defenders to pick him up early and opening the floor.

During his peak, if Shaq had a foot in or near the paint, there was no stopping him. His strength and footwork thoroughly dismantled defenders and left them either getting dunked on or sending Shaq to the free-throw line. "Hack-a-Shaq" only got the rest of the league so far, though, as O'Neal ended up winning three straight titles in LA.

Johnson's court vision was unparalleled, which made his no-look passes lethal. He used his eyes and body positioning to manipulate defenders, creating easy scoring opportunities for teammates. Magic's size was also an asset, allowing him to see angles other point guards couldn't.

The Eurostep is now an essential basketball move, and the NBA has Manu to thank for popularizing it. The way he changed direction while gathering the ball left defenders confused and/or unable to react in time. This let Ginóbili and those who followed get creative buckets in moments when it didn't initially seem like there was an opportunity.

Few NBA players have ever been on Garnett's level of intensity. This began before the game, when, as part of his pre-game routine, he would headbutt the hoop stanchion and talk to himself. His Hall of Fame career proves it was enough to get him in the zone.

LeBron is the most prolific scorer the league has ever seen, but don't forget about his defense. Specifically, his chase-down blocks have the power to swing a possession's momentum, and perhaps that of the entire game if it comes at the right time. His famous postseason block on Iguodala is the most shining example.

Rondo developed into a star during his time with the Celtics, earning a reputation as a top-tier distributor. Sometimes, though, it was the passes he didn't make that left defenders stumped. His signature move was pretending to make a behind-the-back pass before changing his mind and finding himself with an easy layup.

Most players have a free-throw routine, but Hornacek's was particularly unusual and memorable. Stepping to the line, he would stroke his face three times. This was in recognition of his three children, making each shot personally meaningful.

Larry Bird got most of the attention in Boston in the '80s, which can sometimes overshadow the fact that McHale was one of the craftiest post scorers of the decade. His moves weren't based on strength, but patience and deception. His footwork and fakes constantly baited defenders, creating easy shots.

Curry has taken over the "best shooter ever" title from Allen, but Ray still has perhaps the most mechanically pure shooting form ever. He needed both very little time and space to get the shot off. That game-saving postseason corner three he made with the Heat became the defining single shot of his career.

There's never been a player quite like "The Greek Freak." Part of what makes him stand out is how much ground he can cover with just a few dribbles. He regularly goes from end to end on a couple of dribbles, using long Eurosteps to shake defenders as he approaches the rim.

Named after his Serbian hometown of Sombor, Jokić's signature move is an off-balance, one-legged fadeaway. It's unorthodox, and that, paired with Jokić's size, makes it tough to defend. The move is one of many examples of Joker's unique creativity and dexterity.

Before every free throw, Kidd put his hand to his mouth and blew a kiss toward the rim. This was a message to his wife and kids, to let them know he was thinking about them. This perhaps took on a different tone, though, when his marital issues played out publicly.

Crawford is one of the NBA's best offensive players who somehow never made an All-Star game. Despite that, he was an elite ballhandler who could change the page of a game, as his multiple Sixth Man Of The Year awards illustrate. His behind-the-back hop step into a shot was one of many disorienting weapons in his arsenal.

The triple-threat position is a basketball fundamental, but perhaps nobody ever utilized it better than 'Melo. With the ball in his hand, he could do jab fakes for what felt like minutes at a time before getting a quick and clean shot up. He was lethal when exploring the pass and dribble options, too.

This is more of a fun one. When Horford is lined up for free throws, if the shooter on the opposing team misses, Horford flinches, acting like he doesn't know where the ball is going and is reacting instinctually. It doesn't offer any competitive advantage, but it is fun for fans and teammates to watch.

Love is one of the best rebounders in league history, and as a result, he frequently finds himself with the ball in transition. More than most players, he has a knack for seeing open teammates down the court and firing a long-range pass to them with precision. His teams have gotten a lot of easy buckets over the years thanks to Love's court vision and ability to execute.