Happy Feet: Top 5 NBA players with great footwork including Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

#3 Kobe Bryant

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Lakers, Game 2

There is a reason NBA players rate Kobe Bryant so highly. The late LA Lakers legend may not have been the most efficient shooter ever, but he was a deadly scorer nonetheless. Kobe had all the moves, jab steps and head fakes, in his arsenal, but when that combined with his otherworldly athleticism, it really made for a devastating combination.

Kobe always had the capability to get to the basket thanks to his nimble footwork. He could handle the ball with both hands which was a bonus, but his ability to spin both ways, lean in and draw contact made guarding him an absolute nightmare for any defender.

#2 Hakeem Olajuwon

Few seven-footers had the kind of skill level that Hakeem Olajuwon was blessed with. For a man his size, he was remarkably quick on his feet. Give him the ball in his comfort zone, a few feet away from the basket, and Hakeem would absolutely kill his opponent with a series of moves, finally culminating with Hakeem spinning one way, but finishing in an entirely different direction.

His deftness on the floor, with him quickly veering from side-to-side, led to his moves being known as the ‘Dream Shake’. The number of times Hakeem decimated defenders, making them look entirely helpless against the Dream Shake is innumerable. But Hakeem pulled off his moves with so much style and grace that even his opponents were left admiring him. Even today, younger players seek out Hakeem because he simply was the best in the business.

#1 Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan rests on the court during a game

The GOAT has to be the best in the business. Watch MJ do his dance against Larry Bird and the Celtics in the 1986 Playoffs, when he dropped 63 points on them in Game 2, and you will understand why Larry Bird said, “It’s just God disguised as Michael Jordan.” Or watch him as he dunked over Patrick Ewing, after completely faking his way past John Starks and Charles Oakley in Game 3 of the 1991 Eastern Conference first round matchup versus the New York Knicks, and you will understand just how deft MJ was with his footwork.

With his ability to hang in the air giving him an unfair advantage over any opponent, Jordan also had solid basketball fundamentals that made him the most efficient scorer. That is how he was able to beat his way past double and triple teams.

Even the famous "The Last Shot" that he made as a Chicago Bulls player over Bryon Russell in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals is a masterclass in footwork. He went to his right, then stopped on a dime and pulled up to hit the mid-range jumper. His trademark fadeaway shot put him at the very top of this very elite group of players.