The Best Go-To Moves in Sports Right Now

Go-to moves in sports are the ones we recognize like they were our own children. Michael Jordan’s fadeaway jump shot is a prime example of that.

Lately, professional athletes have stepped it up. Between hockey, hoops, pigskin, wrestling and baseball, there are plenty of flashy signature moves to choose from.

In order to make this list, each of the corresponding go-to moves not only had to be effective, but also define an individual. When you think of an athlete, you think of that particular move.

Using that as a gauge, now’s a great time to get this list rolling.

Dirk Nowitzki: One-Legged Fadeaway Jumper

When the Dallas Mavericks put up a statue of Dirk Nowitzki in front of the American Airlines Center, it should be of the 7'0" forward taking a one-legged jumper.

That pose has become part of Nowitzki. He's ripped countless jump shots over opposing defenders using that step-back, one-legged bit of magic.

Nowitzki's go-to move is so clean that it's been copied by the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant in certain instances, as reported by Bryan Gutierrez of ESPN.com.

James even sang the veteran forward's praises: "Dirk is one of my favorite guys. I love the way he approaches the game, the way he plays the game, he's amazing, obviously, we all know that."

Often imitated but never duplicated, Nowitzki's one-legged jumper is a thing of beauty.

Tom Brady: Quarterback Sneak

Stephan Savoia/Associated Press

It's a surreal feeling to come to the realization that Tom Brady's go-to move isn't a pass. The move he relies on most in close-yardage situations—including the goal line—is the classic quarterback sneak.

Back in October 2015, ESPN's Bill Barnwell tweeted a mind-blowing statistic. When it came down to either 3rd-and-1 or 4th-and-1 rushing attempts at that point in his career, Brady had converted 91 out of 100 times—a 91 percent success rate.

It might not be pretty, but Brady's patented QB sneak has remained an effective go-to move.

Neymar: Heel Chop

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Barcelona's Neymar isn't limited to one signature move. His exuberant skill set doesn't allow him to fall into a pattern of repetitiveness. 

But there is one particular move we've gotten used to seeing. The heel chop is a Neymar specialty. You can search the media-rich archives of YouTube and find countless examples and tutorials showcasing Neymar's skill.

It's a move that creates space on the pitch, keeps defenders guessing and allows for a sudden explosion in speed. Neymar is also great at it, as you can see in this instructional video.

The Barcelona bandit makes everything look effortless. It's like he performs these moves in slow motion despite flying past everyone else.

Seeing Neymar's cleats prune the pitch while he exposes defenders with a heel chop is utter perfection.

Stephen Curry: Pull-Up Jump Shot

Stephen Curry's pull-up jumper is everything. The Golden State Warriors guard, reigning NBA MVP and front-runner for the award again has made a living pulling up from any spot on the court and letting it fly.

At the time of this writing, Curry leads the NBA in player efficiency rating, according to ESPN's Hollinger statistics. His PER of 32.41 becomes a staggering number when you realize he's made 322 of his 701 three-point attempts.

Curry's pull-up jump shot has been a devastating weapon. Attempting to figure out how he does it, Wired went out and constructed an article explaining the physics behind the shot.

He's morphed into the new face of professional basketball, and he has done that by utilizing a pull-up jumper. Not many guys can say they've accomplished such a special feat.

Sidney Crosby: Backhand Shot

Gene Puskar/Associated Press

The backhand shot has always been commonplace in the NHL. But there’s something devious about Sidney Crosby’s version of it that resonates as his go-to move.

Crosby remains the NHL’s golden child. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain's talent is significantly above a good swath of his peers. One reason for that is his highly advanced skill set.

Watching him shred nets with a backhand shot gives people a better understanding for how gifted he is. That effortless ability to move the puck from the inside of his blade over to the exterior is incredible.

If you want to witness firsthand what a perfect go-to move looks like, then this Crosby video is exactly what you need.

Le'Veon Bell: Juke Move

Pittsburgh Steelers halfback Le'Veon Bell could be the shiftiest runner in the National Football League. His vision is extraordinary, as he finds cutback lanes and hits open holes.

One of Bell's go-to moves that makes a defense miserable is the essential juke. The 24-year-old tailback has mastered it.

In the video above, you'll see Bell destroy Michael Griffin—who played for the Tennessee Titans at the time—with his go-to juke. The talented runner plants his feet, then he unleashes the juke out of nowhere, leaving Griffin in the dust.

Human beings aren't supposed to move like that. But it looks like Bell is a different breed. Without question, the Steelers are lucky to have him on their roster.

LeBron James: One-Handed Dunk

Allen Einstein/Getty Images

You can stamp an exclamation point on LeBron James' dominance by watching him glide down the court and slam home a one-handed, tomahawk jam.

It's the same dunk that introduced us to James back in 2003. The only thing that's changed is King James' age.

LeBron's career arch is weird. His two tenures with the Cleveland Cavaliers, divided by one pit stop in South Beach, isn't something we see too often when it comes to a Hall of Fame-caliber talent. But no matter what jersey he's worn, the one-handed dunk has remained a defining go-to move for James.

Randy Orton: RKO

Randy Orton's RKO might be a modern evolution of Diamond Dallas Page's Diamond Cutter, but its crossover appeal in popular culture has allowed it to stand on its own.

The Internet's collective gathering of artistic visionaries has given us countless renditions of RKO fails—warning, some content may be considered NSFW. All of them are equally entertaining.

In a professional wrestling capacity, Orton's RKO is equally as captivating. The fact it can come from any angle, at any time, is what makes it such a convincing go-to move.

Peep the video above. There you'll find 10 of the best RKOs from the calendar year that was 2014.

Adrian Peterson: Stiff-Arm

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Adrian Peterson illustrates power running whenever he takes a handoff out of the Minnesota Vikings backfield.

The 11,675 career rushing yards he’s accumulated over 120 games are based on precision, power and vision. For all of the moves that helped him climb that mountain, Peterson’s calling card will go down as his stiff-arm.

He’s used the infamous technique to keep defenders off him and fight for bigger chunks of yardage. It’s a tool you’ll repeatedly see used on film. And each time you watch Peterson play, that ferocious stiff-arm becomes a way of life.

James Harden: Eurostep

The "Eurostep" is a move that focuses on change of direction. Oftentimes you'll see NBA players go toward the rim and use the Eurostep as a way to split defenders.

Offensive aficionado James Harden of the Houston Rockets has made it his go-to move.

Like Dwyane Wade or Manu Ginobili, Harden's execution of the Eurostep is challenging to stop. The way he contorts his frame to slip between defensive players is enthralling to watch.

But what makes you appreciate his version of the Eurostep even more is the thought process that goes behind it. No matter where he's coming from on the court, Harden knows exactly the right time to mix it in.

Odell Beckham Jr.: One-Handed Grabs

Al Pereira/Getty Images

There are few wide receivers in the National Football League out there today who entertain like the New York Giants' Odell Beckham Jr. Forgetting the precision he displays running routes or the speed he unleashes on cornerbacks, Beckham happens to be a showman at heart.

His one-handed grab versus the Dallas Cowboys in 2014 set the stage of things to come. Since that period piece reached national television, the 23-year-old pass-catcher has continued to rely on one-handed catches to further his agenda.

Beckham's fancy pregame ritual has now turned into a standalone highlight show. One-handed catches are clearly his go-to move. And who’s complaining? It never gets tiresome watching him rip footballs out of the atmosphere.

Brock Lesnar: Suplex City

Paul Heyman told the world four words they absolutely needed to hear: "Eat, sleep, suplex, repeat." Those carefully calculated words informed us that Brock Lesnar was now the mayor of Suplex City.

As WWE's resident conqueror, Lesnar has been throwing people around for years. His brutal demeanor has turned a regular, old German suplex into something far-reaching.

Recently though, songs have been made about his go-to move—warning, content may be considered NSFW—giving it a nice pop-culture influence. That shows you the Suplex City movement isn't limited to the world of wrestling.

These days, you can count on three things when it comes to Brock Lesnar: destruction, power and a copious amount of suplexes.

Kobe Bryant: Fadeaway Jump Shot

The ability to produce space in the NBA can be the difference between success and failure. Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has mastered that art.

We've seen Bryant devour defenders with countless Michael Jordan-like attacks. But his true go-to maneuver has been the fadeaway jump shot.

It's not as fancy as a Eurostep, but it remains a staple of the Black Mamba's arsenal. Bryant uses the fadeaway jumper to take advantage of "double-teams and longer defenders," as he mentioned in the clip above.

He uses creative footwork to set up the shot, then he fires away when you least expect it. When he retires at the end of this season, one thing we'll definitely miss about Bryant is his silky-smooth fadeaway jumper.

Von Miller: Speed Rush

Denver Broncos pass-rusher Von Miller produced quite the stat line in Super Bowl 50. He finished the game with 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and five tackles. The Super Bowl MVP was unstoppable flying off the edge.

What makes the former No. 2 overall pick that good? One gleaming factor is his trademark speed rush. There aren't many guys in the NFL today—or ever—who carry as much burst as Miller.

Samuel Gold of NFL Breakdowns analyzed Miller's speed-rushing technique and explained how devastating it can be to an opposing offense. No wonder the Broncos gave him the exclusive franchise tag before free agency could get started, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports and Albert Breer of NFL Network reported.

Miller's cataclysmic speed rush is not only recognizable, it's also become a hallmark, Super Bowl-winning move.

Carmelo Anthony: Jab Step

David Sherman/Getty Images

Don't let the New York Knicks' dismal record allow you to forget about how good of an offensive force Carmelo Anthony can be.

Melo's infatuation with scoring can be directly correlated to his strong repertoire of signature moves. The jab step just happens to be his go-to.

Traditionally, Anthony uses a jab step to develop a layer of separation from defenders. Once he gets that pocket of air, the Knicks forward can either pull up for a jump shot, change direction on a defender or drive to the baseline.

The jab step works because it's a multifaceted move that gives Melo the ability to score in droves and keep defenders at bay—as explained in this easy-to-follow tutorial.

All stats and information provided by Sports-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.