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When discussing the greatest players in NBA history, people usually look at the wider scope: MVPs, trophies, and points scored. However, with “skill,” the approach is different. It’s not just the trophies, but the toolbox, something people call the combination of art, technique, and anatomy. It is the heart-stopping beauty of a basketball player playing in a community game with no accolades on the line.
The ability of the players on this list is not defined by a specific time period. These players could play between 1965 and 2025 and still master the game.
Kobe Bryant
Simply put, this is a testament to his “craft-ism.” Kobe’s footwork is so perfected that it should be on display in a museum. Every pivot, every fade, every post, and every move all become effortless and look so fluid, it seems even a master swordsman would be envious. It’s not just a brute show of athleticism; he is relentless in his craft, a game builder in counters, counters of counters, and spacing.
Hakeem Olajuwon
The masterclass in footwork and deception could easily be called “The Dream Shake.” All Hakeem had to do was move. In the time period he played, Hakeem was a center, but the grace and control he had over his body would harness jealousy from any present guard. In today’s fast-paced world, the art of post-play is often forgotten. In this arsenal lie spins, fakes, and touch shots, and even to this day, his movements seem to be from another time.
Michael Jordan
Jordan is regarded as the GOAT, but that does not capture the essence of how fiercely he honed his craft. The athleticism, the fadeaway, the unreal midrange, and the passing and defending at equal ferocity—that in it, he was not only immensely athletic. By his second three-peat, he was a grizzled veteran whose explosiveness was no longer there, but his skill and craft could single-handedly take over the game and control it still. Now, that is hard work.
Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk is famed for turning seven-foot shooting into a form of art. Before him, the notion of someone seven feet tall casually stepping back and then jumping for a jumper was pure and utter nonsense. The one-legged fadeaway he does is beyond famous; it is a badge of honor for every basketball player. The amount of skill he had was enough to set every defense in the world to a discomfort zone and the NBA after that.
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson, ‘the king of dreams,’ was one who mastered not only the art of shooting but the skill of passing as well. He not only blindsided and no-looked directors but also had a court vision overall. With the addition of his unrivaled post-game skill and the finesse he had in scoring, it was not only the height that Magic had, but skill in every possible sense and way. Magic was pure skill.
Kyrie Irving
For Irving, it’s absolute and pure wizardry of a ball as he dribbles. Kyrie can seemingly do magic when it comes to angles, spin, and rhythm, which makes it feel like he can’t be defended when it’s one-on-one. Add his finishing ability at the rim despite his size; the layups he throws are deceptive and are different with every shot he takes—he’s good with both hands, and he’s high off the glass—and it strictly shows that skill is one of the best in history, even if his resumes are lacking.
Larry Bird
Takes the cake for one of the best, as his skill set is the most athletic on the floor. Bird shot, passed, and rebounded with the most precision a player could have, even to the point where he would talk down on the defenders and do everything he said he would. He was skilled with every movement he made and mental as much as physical.
Stephen Curry
It’s true that he’s a “shooter,” but framing his skill set is to single Curry out. He is a brilliant ball handler, can move off the ball, and can even slow the game down and play with the defense for 48 minutes straight. He has an unnatural ability to shoot it from deep and can skillfully incorporate his shooting abilities into every other aspect of his offense, which makes it extremely different from what has been seen before.
Kevin Durant
For the sake of the argument, Durant can be seen as a cheat code. Almost 7 feet tall, yet can score like a guard.
He possesses the ability to execute pull or crossover jump shots from anywhere he desires; this is a skill that cannot be guarded. The phrase “there is nothing you can do” can be concluded from the picture of him shooting over defenders.
The reason behind the Point God moniker is Paul’s ability to control the game. He is different from Kyrie and Magic in the sense that he does not show off. He is incredibly skilled at executing pick and rolls, controlling the basketball in the midrange, and making every teammate better in the span of a single possession. He is the definition of a player who does not need height or an extreme level of athleticism to ball.
Skill is not subject to change during different periods in history. It is irrelevant when speaking of the 70s; the 3-point line did not exist, and the way defenses were played in 2024 is not the same as in 1994. Players that earn success in the form of pure skill would do very well no matter the era. What makes them skillful is that their skill is transferable to a playground, a pro league, or a time machine; it does not matter.
The players mentioned above serve as a reminder that athleticism can be lost over time; however, a set of skills attains supreme clarity. The essence of the game is found in nitty-gritty details. The foot you are pivoting, the spin on the ball, and the ball that I passed. They became legends and brought basketball to the populace in its purest form.
