Best Signature Moves in NBA History: Shooting Guards

Almost every great player has some sort of signature move.

Michael Jordan had the dunk from the free-throw line. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the sky hook. LeBron James has the chase-down block.

Look at a list of all-time shooting guards, and you'll find a a glutton of skill sets. You'll see dunks or grace or gorgeous jumpers. The diversity of signature moves makes playing on the wing unique.

Historically, shooting guards are scorers. They certainly have a chance to show off flash. And the best ones do it in the most consistently comfortable ways. 

If you missed the rundown of the best signature moves from point guards, you can find it here. Now, onto the shooting guards.

Manu Ginobili's Euro-Step

It was difficult to parse out one particular move for Manu.

Should we have chosen a behind-the-back pass? How about the cross-court, baseline dish? Or should we have been just a little aggressive and thrown in an ever-loving flop?

After hours of deliberation—no, days; Yeah, days of deliberation sounds better—the Euro-step seemed like the way to go on this one, even if Ginobili isn't actually European.

Michael Jordan's Fadeaway

How could anyone make a list of signature NBA moves without including the best player of all time?

Jordan also had far too many signature moves to include. Heck, we could've just made a list of the 10 best Michael Jordan moves ever, and it would've been easy. The tongue wag, the dunk from the free-throw line, the reverse alley-oop: They're all iconic.

In the end though, no move defines M.J. more than his fadeaway, and no one's ever been able to execute on it quite like him...with one possible exception...

Kobe Bryant's Fadeaway

Yes, it's Michael Jordan's clone, Kobe Bryant.

OK, so "clone" is an offensive term to Jordan's greatness, a clear exaggeration. But Kobe does try his best to replicate everything Jordan does. Seriously, everything.

Jordan has even commented on it before, playfully accusing Kobe of stealing all his moves. Their games show to be so similar now, and the fadeaway is probably where it stands out most.

Reggie Miller's Leg Kick

Reggie Miller would kick out his legs so often on three-point shots that it's not even legal anymore.

That's actually true. Kicking out your leg to try to draw some contact on a jump shot is now considered an offensive foul. But Miller mastered it.

It's why he is second on the all-time four-point-play list behind Jamal Crawford, who also sneakily kicks out his leg to draw fouls all the time. One of the best shooters ever just knew how to be crafty and accurate.

George Gervin's Finger Roll

You think you know what a layup looks like until you watch George Gervin play.

That guy was the definition of grace during his playing career, flying through the air and finishing with the most majestic lay-ins. It's one of the only instances in which a finger roll can actually be more aesthetic than a dunk.

Gervin didn't just flip the ball into the hoop from inches away. It was almost like a half-floater, half layup hybrid shot, and it was beautiful.

Vince Carter's Dunk Contest Slate

This isn't exactly one move, but so what?

Vince Carter's 2000 dunk contest routine is probably the most famous and respected All-Star Saturday night showing ever. He threw down arguably the most well-known dunk of all time when he went through the legs after receiving the ball on a bounce from Tracy McGrady.

That said, it's totally possible Carter's first dunk, when he goes for a reverse 360 windmill slam and converts it on the first try, is actually more impressive.

Tracy McGrady's off-the-Backboard Dunk

Every once in a while, we'll see a player throw the ball off the backboard to himself during a game. Usually, that contest will be an All-Star Game or pickup. But no one's ever turned that move into a thing—except for Tracy McGrady, of course.

McGrady somehow pulled off the off-the-backboard self alley-oop (patent pending) multiple times during real NBA games. Living, breathing NBA games that actually happened. That doesn't seem possible.

This did transpire, though. I just watched (even if I still don't fully believe it).

Dwyane Wade's Spin Move

People forget how dominant Dwyane Wade was just a few years ago.

His 2008-09 campaign is one of the best seasons in shooting guard history. His ability to get to the line is extraordinary. His MVP-winning performance during the 2006 Finals was remarkable, mostly because he got to the charity stripe more than 16 times a game during that series.

Wade is one of the best slashers ever. And how does he get to the line so much? Because of moves like this.

Jamal Crawford's Crossover

There's no one else on this list whose signature move is so well-known that it's actually his Twitter handle.

@JCrossover, breaking NBA players' ankles since 2000.

Crawford is one of the flashiest players the NBA has ever seen. There also might not be anyone more fun to watch when he gets hot. He's the league's ultimate heat-check player, and when his jumpers are going in, the moves before them look so much prettier.

Jerry West's Pull-Up Jumper

It's trendy and popular to say that Kobe Bryant is the second-best shooting guard of all time, but that statement shouldn't be written in stone. Once you delve into the numbers and video, Jerry West might be a better person to receive that title.

Of course, the 6'2" West played point guard for much of his career, as well.

West, who might have the most impressive overall basketball career of anyone ever, was a brilliant shooter and more in the 1960s and '70s. He took advantage of defenses with moves like these.