20 Craftiest Players Currently in the NBA

What exactly do we mean by a player being crafty in the NBA?

A player that's described as crafty will usually be an all-around type that finds ways to score easier than others due to either utilizing their physical attributes and athleticism to create advantages or by using their understanding of the game and the ability to read defenses at a more efficient rate than others.

When it comes to scoring, they could have nifty footwork in the post, the ability to split a double team as a means to throw more attention on you from the opposing defense or the understanding of how to use the backboard or rim to their advantage. It's what usually separates elite scorers from the middle-tier as they find ways to score by utilizing the physical or mental attributes necessary to succeed.

There are other ways to be defined as crafty as well with most of the elite point guards in the league being known as such because of their ability to facilitate an offense. Either they methodically wear you down over time at a steady pace or move an efficient offense by using their court awareness and knowing their teammates' tendencies.

These are the players that you'll find on ESPN's Top 10 highlights every night in between October and May because of their ability to finish plays that players of a lesser caliber could finish only on occasion. The 20 players you will read into have made some of the most memorable plays in recent NBA history and have all willed teams to victories through the attributes that they take advantage of when on the court.

20. Goran Dragic

An underrated point guard that could start on most teams, Slovenian Goran Dragic has made a name for himself since going bonkers on the San Antonio Spurs with a 23 point fourth quarter during their 2010 postseason series while he was a member of the Phoenix Suns.

Dragic utilizes his speed to drive past the initial defenders before using it one more time to get off a quick shot that the front court wouldn't be able to respond to in time. Like a few other point guards, Dragic also has his own version of Hakeem Olajuwon's dream shake that is used to throw off defenders that are aggressive when going for blocked shots.

If given the chance, we could see a lot more of this from Dragic.

19. Tim Duncan

Still one of the craftiest power forwards in the game, as well as in history, Tim Duncan may have his age and creaky knees catching up on him, but he's still one of the most dangerous players in the game because of the understanding he has when it comes to being a proven leader and a reliable scorer.

Duncan is recognized as a crafty player because of the numerous ways he can score. His footwork is second to none when it comes to post threats and he has built a storied and Hall of Fame worthy career on his work down low. To go along with that post work, Duncan also has a bank shot that hasn't missed since his days at Wake Forest.

It's your choice defenders: either allow him to back you down or give him space to take a bank shot. It's a lose-lose situation.

18. Luis Scola

One of the league's most underrated players, Luis Scola didn't take his talents to the NBA until he was 27 years old.

Good thing too since he probably spent the first half of his career working on the game that has made him into the player he is today. Scola can play at the three, four and five and is most noted for his expertise on offense in the post.

He too takes after Hakeem Olajuwon when it comes to working in the post while also adding some flavor of his own. Scola possesses terrific foot work, a great understanding of working in the low post and knowing where the basket is when his back is to it.

17. Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford isn't being fair to himself and the rest of the NBA world when restricting himself to taking shots beyond the perimeter because he also happens to possess one of the deadliest crossovers to go along with a solid driving game.

Crawford is mostly known as the sixth man of the Atlanta Hawks who spends his time draining shots from beyond the arc. What many don't know is that Crawford is surprisingly quick off the dribble, has a crossover that can shake anyone, and the apparent ability to power it down after throwing it off the backboard to himself.

Restrict yourself no longer Jamal, you're depriving many fans of highlight worthy plays.

16. John Wall

Even after one season, John Wall easily makes it on this list because of how multi-dimensional and crafty of a player he is.

He has work to do when it comes to limiting turnovers and settling down when facilitating the offense, but it's all part of the learning experience and growing up for a raw player like Wall. Even with the sometimes erratic play, Wall can get rather creative with the ball especially when lined up with athletic starters such as JaVale McGee and Nick Young.

Aside from his passing and strong defense, Wall is a terrific finisher as well and can utilize his speed to get to the rim and then complete the drive over the trees in the post.

15. Tyreke Evans

Returning healthy and ready to make a statement in his third year at the professional level, Tyreke Evans is set to continue where he left off in his rookie season before dealing with persistent and nagging injuries throughout his sophomore year.

Whether he plays at the one or two, Evans is set to be one of the league's top players in the near future because of how much potential he possesses. At 6'5", Evans has the advantage of being able to see the court easier than other point guards thus making it easier to create a play.

Along with his excellent ability to make a play better than nearly any other third year guard, Evans also has agile hands, a sick crossover and an uncanny ability to drive and finish.

The team has yet to make significant improvements during Evans' time at the NBA level, but they should soon once their raw, athletic team comes together.

14. Stephen Curry

It would be easier just to allow Ronny Turiaf's reaction in the video to define how crafty a player Stephen Curry can be when he actually drives rather than spending the majority of his time at the perimeter.

Not to say that Curry shouldn't be on the perimeter anyway, he is only hitting 44 percent of his three-pointers for the first two seasons of his career.

It's still a beautiful thing when watching the young point guard drive as he uses his agility and quick handles to lose his initial defender and then his deceptiveness and trickery to lose the taller players in the front court.

He, along with another specific Boston Celtics point guard, utilize Hakeem Olajuwon's dream shake to rid themselves of the trees in the paint.

13. Deron Williams

A terrific athlete and one of the strongest point guards playing today, Deron Williams is a crafty player that utilizes his strength and speed to lead his teams to success.

It's going to be a tougher task to lead the Brooklyn Nets, but if anyone can get the job done it's going to be Williams.

Williams isn't the most flashy of guards when it comes to making passes. Instead of making highlight reel passes, he'll wear you down over time with his second to none crossover and strength that seemingly no other point guard could match.

Unless LeBron James wants to start running the point, no other point guard is going to be able to match up with Williams when it comes to strength.

12. Tony Parker

Spoiler alert: This won't be the last San Antonio Spur you will see on this list.

As if that wasn't painfully obvious to begin with.

Aside from his future Hall of Famer teammate in Tim Duncan and the mystery player coming up shortly, Tony Parker also possesses the ability to be a crafty player when given the opportunity. He's a stellar floor general and can create plays that the majority of the league's point guards wouldn't think of seeing in the first place.

Scoring is Parker's specialty however and it's how he scores that puts him this high on the list. Despite only standing at 6'3" and not exactly being one of the most athletic players, Parker scores in the post better than most power forwards and centers. He either uses trickery to keep defenders on their heels or using a high arcing floater that no hand could send back.

Parker was such a prolific scorer in the paint that he actually led the league in points in the paint all the way until mid-January during the 2005-'06 campaign.

11. Monta Ellis

Extremely similar to Derrick Rose, Monta Ellis is a point guard that also can surprise us from time to time with his athleticism.

He's unbelievably quick and can also score buckets in spots where he had no right to be in the first place. As documented by the video that accompanies this slide, Ellis has also perfected the art of the spin move where he utilizes his speed and agility to spin off of a defender while still being able to finish the play because of the quickness he uses to get the ball off before the opposing teams front court members deter the shot.

It takes a great understanding of knowing where the basket is when you get into positions like Ellis and he's shown that with two consecutive seasons of prolific scoring.

10. Dirk Nowitzki

The craftiest player in the league when it comes to creating and making near impossible jump shots, reigning Finals MVP and first time champion Dirk Nowitzki is one of the league's most lethal players for the reason that only he can stop himself.

When you're 7'0" with the wingspan of a small airplane to go along with a jump shot designed like a catapult, there's not going to be many individuals that could possibly limit your offensive game.

Nowitzki is a crafty player because of just how prolific of a scorer he is with his jump shot and his signature shot being the fade-away, one legged shot that only he could possibly make. It's a craft that has taken years to perfect and it's what has made the German's career.

Not only that, but he's also deceptive at driving as well and possesses a spin move that can surprise defenses on occasion.

9. LeBron James

One of sports' greatest athletes, LeBron James bases the majority of his game on his athleticism and ability to create opportunities that shouldn't have been there in the first place.

He possesses every physical attribute that an athlete could ask for. The combined force of his unmitigated speed and strength allows him to do whatever he pleases as he can drive at will while using his power to outmuscle opposing power forwards and centers for shots that would be a whole lot more difficult if attempted by anyone else.

He's an excellent offensive facilitator as well when looking to involve his teammates, and that's one of his greatest attributes considering that he's 6'8", 250 pounds with no point guard being able to possibly contain him.

8. Jason Kidd

He's not the Jason Kidd from his heyday with the New Jersey Nets, but it's no reason to underestimate what Kidd can still do when the ball is in his hands.

Kidd was just the starting point guard for the championship team this past year. It didn't appear that he played a large role, but he did strictly through the methodical and fundamental approach that he leads his team with. He can do everything on the court whether it's scoring, rebounding, passing or playing defense and is still regarded as one of the NBA's top all-around guards.

Kidd has brought success to just about every squad he's been a part of and it's thanks all in part to his ability to facilitate an offense with Magic Johnson-like court awareness.

7. Rajon Rondo

You can't put Rajon Rondo's sudden claim to fame all on the Big Three of the Boston Celtics, it takes plenty of skill, maturity and leadership to be able to compete with teammates of this caliber.

Take a look at Mario Chalmers and the little that he's done with the Big Three in Miami and tell me that Rondo just got lucky.

It does help that Rondo was gift wrapped the best core in the league for the first few years of his career, but it shouldn't diminish the influence that he has in the offense as he's easily one of the craftiest point guards in the game when it comes to playing the role of facilitator. He's established great chemistry with his teammates to find them in spots where they like to be found and can seemingly gain an assist on just about every possession.

He's not bad when he takes it himself either. Rondo is famed for bringing the Hakeem Olajuwon's dream shake back and utilizing it perfectly.

6. Chris Paul

Arguably the top point guard in the league, Chris Paul must rely on his ability to deceive defenses in order for his New Orleans Hornets to succeed.

Without Paul, the Hornets are a cellar dweller that might not even hit 20 wins.

Paul is basically the second coming of all-around point guards with Jason Kidd seemingly passing down the torch. He can score from anywhere, rebound create plays with his passing, and play stellar defense as documented by his record-breaking steal streak where he had at least one steal in 106 consecutive games.

CP3 is a stellar offensive facilitator and is known as an elite point guard for doing so at such an effective rate.

5. Kobe Bryant

Still one of the craftiest players in the league today, there's nobody in the NBA that knows how to put the ball in the basket better than Kobe Bryant.

He's athletic enough to meet anyone at the summit, carries enough hang time to throw down dunks like in the video that accompanies this slide, and has a great offensive understanding of the court and where the basket is. He's a multi-dimensional scorer as well considering he can score from the perimeter, mid-range and inside with his back to the basket.

Bryant has built a career on being a crafty player and making some of the most unbelievable plays in the history of the game.

4. Manu Ginobili

A player that nearly relies on his craftiness alone, Manu Ginobili is one of the most dangerous players in the NBA when the ball is in his hands.

Not only can the Argentinian shoot the three-ball at a highly efficient rate, he's also one of the NBA's most underrated slashers and can do so by utilizing his athleticism and deceptiveness either when driving or when he's nearly about to put up his shot attempt. Ginobili is a strong user of the Euro Step and has brought a number of other international style ways of playing to the NBA.

He's an exceptional playmaker and a prolific scorer and is known as such because of his ability to read defenses and break through no matter how much resistance.

3. Steve Nash

Despite being 37 years old, Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash is still completely capable of making less than stellar players look like All-Stars while also being quite possibly one of the best offensive facilitators the NBA has ever seen.

Nash is a pass-first guard that always puts his teammates ahead of him and he proves it to them every time he steps out on the court. His ability to penetrate, navigate through the oppositions defense and then create a play that no player could have seen coming has allowed Nash to win two MVP awards while also leading the franchise to their best seasons since the early 1990's.

His understanding of the offense and his overall court awareness is nearly unmatched by any player in the league as he makes plays that somehow appear out of thin air.

2. Derrick Rose

The reigning MVP only needed three years to emerge with the top individual award that the NBA has to offer and it doesn't seem as if Derrick Rose's run is going to stop here.

Rose recently averaged a career high 25 points and eight assists per while leading the Chicago Bulls to an NBA best 62-20 record. The Bulls were able to reach heights that they haven't seen since the Jordan-era because of the influence Rose had on the team. His unbelievable athleticism and overall ability to use his speed and knowledge around the basket is what has allowed the point guard to be known as an elite player despite only being 22 years old.

Besides the Miami Heat's duo, Rose is one of the league's best finishers as he allows his hang time to work to his advantage by nailing nearly impossible lay-ins.

1. Dwyane Wade

One of the best all-around players in the history of the game, Dwyane Wade is as multi-dimensional as it gets when it comes to being crafty.

Wade's based a career on sacrificing his body for the purpose of scoring at a high percentage and he's done well at it thus far with only a few minor setbacks. His lightning quick agility allows him to beat any defender off the dribble, he possesses a simple crossover that's surprisingly lethal and a knack for cutting through double teams no matter how much space he is given.

Dwyane is one of the league's top finishers around the rim and he's also arguably the greatest at getting to the rim and either getting his points there or from the foul line.

You can follow John Friel on twitter @JohnFtheheatgod.