How to use The Encyclopedia of Modern Moves
By Ian Levy
A basketball game is made up of discrete actions — quarters can be divided into possessions, and possessions into individual moves. Moves that score points, save points, create space, distribute the ball and embarrass defenders. These moves are the atomic elements of basketball and they are not all created equal.
Some moves are nothing more than connective tissue, helping to string together the action so that players can move from here to there, so the ball can be advanced, so that spacing can be assembled. But the moves that matter the most are the ones that provide a fork in the road, the ones that dictate the action, that disrupt the flow of the basketball game space-time continuum and send it rocketing off in some new direction.
The signature ones, the ones that accomplish that purpose and define the NBA in the here and now have been collected by The Step Back in The Encyclopedia of Modern Moves.
Click through and you can find detail explanations of things like Kyrie Irving’s hang dribble, Carmelo Anthony’s jab step, Stephen Curry’s step back 3-pointer, Chris Paul snaking the pick-and-roll, Dirk Nowitkzi’s one-legged fadeaway, Kevin Love’s outlet pass, Tony Parker’s floater, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s eurostep, Russell Westbrook’s PUJIT, LeBron James’ chasedown block and Kyle Korver’s off-ball shake. The players mentioned aren’t necessarily the inventors or even the most accomplished practitioners of each move, simply the most distinctive practitioners right now.
Next: The Encyclopedia of Modern Moves
Most encyclopedias are comprehensive but ours isn’t quite there yet. This project is alive and evergreen and we will continue to add signature moves as they reveal themselves to us and establish their importance in the NBA hierarchy. For now, read, explore, learn, and enjoy. Come back and visit as we continue adding to this important documentation of basketball genius.