Watch: The player who taught Michael Jordan the fadeaway jumper

Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Watch: The player who taught Michael Jordan the fadeaway jumper

Originally posted on Ball Exclusives | By Titan Frey | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 9:40 AM ET

When you think about unstoppable shots in NBA history, you think of shots like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s sky hook, and Shaquille O’Neal’s slam dunk. Another unstoppable shot was Michael Jordan’s iconic fadeaway jump shot.

Jordan was a student of the game and he used moves from players he grew up watching. This includes his fadeaway jumper.

Elvin Hayes used the fadeaway during his career and a rare 1988 video shows Hayes teaching Jordan his future unstoppable shot.

Hayes explained how he developed the move in high school due to playing against taller opponents.

“Well Michael, in order to develop that shot, when I was in high school, it was those guys jumped so high, I had to get my shot off ’cause I wasn’t as tall as them. So, I developed that shot in my backyard.”

Is Jordan’s fadeaway jumper the most iconic shot in NBA history? If not, what is?

This article first appeared on Ball Exclusives and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: