The 8 Most Unguardable Moves in the NBA Right Now

There has always been the one guy on the court that has a move no one else can stop. If ain’t broke...right?

The examples throughout the history of the NBA are endless. There was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook, Michael Jordan’s fadeaway, and Tim Hardaway’s “Killer Crossover” (bonus points if you knew about his “UTEP Two Step” before that). Signature moves aren’t always the product of superstars or All-Stars. Consider that the greatest move, “The Shammgod”, is named after a New York City legend—God Shammgod—who only appeared in 20 games in the NBA.

Surveying the landscape of the NBA now, we see an assortment of moves, new and old, that players break out nightly—they’re not saving it for a special occasion. Sure, LeBron going downhill his unstoppable, and there is no answer for Steph’s quick release or Joel Embiid’s drop step. Many may try to duplicate the moves of today’s best players, but there’s a reason why only a select do it better than the rest. Here’s a look at the eight most unguardable moves in today’s NBA.

One of the most bankable truths of the NBA is that Kemba Walker flat-out dances on defenses. Walker grabbed the national spotlight, putting UConn on his back en route to one of the most spectacular championship runs we’ve ever witnessed back in 2011. Walker might be a overlooked in Charlotte, but one thing is for sure, he still has defenders on skates.

Walker’s style captures the soul of the New York playgrounds he came up on. He jukes, he bops, and he shakes scoring on anyone you throw at him. His forte is the crossover and with that in mind, his inside-out dribble gets his defender leaning one way before he shimmies the opposite direction. He’s an expert at setting up his defender and catching them off balance. If by chance they can actually stay with him, he crosses the other way and he’s got you, unleashing arguably the second-best stepback in the NBA.

As the saying goes, “You can’t teach height.” And while that is true, the same goes for speed. A quick glance at De’Aaron Fox and his first step is captivating. Basically the Roadrunner in sneakers, Fox is pure fast twitch, wiry, and combustible energy. Oh, and he has the basketball skills to complement that.

Fox quickly elevated his game once he reached the NBA in 2017, not relying on his speed, but channeling it. In the halfcourt, he looks for driving lanes and will use one step to get to his spot. In transition, it’s a wrap. If there’s one or two defenders ahead of him, he gains speed and gets to another gear that other players just can’t match.

One of the most gifted athletes the game has ever seen, Russell Westbrook has added finesse to sheer athleticism as his career has progressed. He attacks the rim with a combination of rage and power that few defenses can stop. Most impressively, Westbrook can shift of gears, decelerating and using the strides required in a Euro step to blow past a defender.

For one of the most unstoppable players in the game, he’s at his best in transition. Westbrook’s speed already gives him an advantage against most players. By incorporating the Euro, he found the best counter to defenders forcing him to one direction or looking to draw a charge. Out of that, Russ has the ultimate finishing move.

Confidence is key and Dame Lillard’s is in another stratosphere. By definition, he is a complete player. He can shoot from distance, create off the dribble, finish around the rim, and set up his teammates. In short, Dame is problem. His range of ability keeps defenders on their heels and has Lillard in a perpetual comfort zone.

As a scoring guard, Lillard will bring the ball up the floor, survey the defense, and pick his spots. Due to his ability to change speeds and an ultra quick release, Lillard gets his shot off while his opponent is still reacting. He is supreme in operating out of the pick and roll, and will raise up with minimal space. If that’s not enough, when you think he’s driving to the rim, Dame stops on a dime and will knock down the mid-range pull-up with ease.

This one is sort of the move du jour this season. We know Kyrie’s bag is arguably the fullest in the league, and the snatchback appears to be his current go-to. He comes at you with a flurry of spins, below the table crosses, and changes of direction that enable him to go anywhere on the court. Kyrie’s handle is his greatest asset and the most complete in the league.

With the snatchback, Irving is able to shake a crowding defender by quickly changing speed and course. Already in the position for a between the legs crossover, he comes back through the legs with his feet in place to burst forward or be on balance to get right to a jumper. The move is as filthy as it is difficult and Irving has it at its most lethal.

Length and strength—what a combination. Since Giannis Antetokounmpo entered the NBA in 2013, he’s been a one-man wrecking crew of poster dunks and freakish athleticism. Physically imposing, the Greek Freak uses his size to impose his offensive will on defenders. He’s unstoppable in the paint.

Yet there is one thing Giannis has pulled off numerous times that we’ve never seen before. There are some players that can shoot from long distance, but Antetokounmpo can dunk from long distance. All it takes is one stride from Giannis to get to the rim from the logo. He’s the Greek Freak for a reason.

How do you stop a seven-footer who can shoot from distance, creates off the dribble, and is automatic when in rhythm? You can’t. Kevin Durant’s offensive arsenal is complete, perfectly crafted around his length, shooting stroke, and one-on-one moves. Honed on the courts of the DMV, Durant’s game is a masterclass of the playground.

He sets up his defenders with a dizzying array of shimmies, rip-throughs, and most devastatingly, with hesitation. Durant can go with either hand, and by way of his length, perfectly pause, freezing his opponent, then driving by crossing over or raising up for a rhythm jump shot.

When you’re the best scorer in the league and one of the best of your generation, you are the definition of unguardable. Harden is a cheat code, a walking bucket—in-range from anywhere on the court. The key to his brilliance is in his footwork. His ability to handle sets up his defender, catching them off balance and out of position. It enables Harden to get his shot off or get a step en route to the basket or drop off a dime. Basically you’re in the blender.

His signature move has been around for years, but Harden has mastered it. Using the court as a dance floor, he simply gets a defender to overplay, moving in one direction, allowing him to step back in the other and right into his shot. The result creates space and a clean look, which is all Harden needs.