Top 10 Most Crafty NBA Players of All-Time

The ability to be crafty in the NBA is a rare skill to have. Crafty players just play at a different speed than everybody else and see the play before everybody else. They are smooth, and if they want to score, they can.

Also, we are only talking about craftiness, so the players' other skills cannot be considered.

The Top Ten

Steve Nash

Stephen John Nash is a Canadian retired professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the NBA. He was an eight‑time All‑Star and a two‑time league MVP, winning the award in both 2005 and 2006. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

Nash was an incredibly crafty player. He was amazing in terms of changing speeds. He never rushed a shot and was a great finisher.

He probably didn't deserve to win two straight MVPs, but he was still a great player.
Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr. is an American retired professional basketball player. He played 16 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Miami Heat. After retiring in 2019, Wade became involved in sports media and ownership, including part-ownership of the Utah Jazz and Chicago Sky, and was inducted into the... read more

Dwyane Wade is the most crafty player ever. When you watch him play, he is just so smooth with the ball, and he changes speeds remarkably. His skill as a crafty player helped him become one of the best players ever.

The king of the full-court pass.
Manu Ginóbili

Emanuel David "Manu" Ginóbili is an Argentine former professional basketball player. He played his entire 16-year NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs from 2002 to 2018. During that time, he won four NBA championships, and in 2019, the Spurs retired his No. 20 jersey in honor of his contributions to... read more

Ginóbili was a great crafty player who embodied the idea of craftiness in the NBA.
Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) was an American professional basketball player who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He won five NBA championships with the Lakers and retired in 2016 as the franchise's all-time leading scorer.... read more

At moments, Kobe was just an amazing crafty player. It was kinda scary, and if he would have been able to keep it up, he may have just been the best player ever.

Better than everyone except Stephen Curry at crafty things.
Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player. Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, he made six NBA Finals appearances. Jordan won the NBA championship each time.

Jordan was not just an explosive player, but at moments he was a great crafty player. He was just so smooth at times.
Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player who plays for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association. He was drafted by the Nuggets in 2014 and has since become one of the league's top players. Jokić won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

If the NBA had an all-center team, Jokic should easily be the point guard. He is that good.
Dikembe Mutombo
Jerry West

Jerry Alan West was an American basketball player known for his time with the Los Angeles Lakers. He spent his entire professional playing career with the Lakers in the National Basketball Association. West is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history.

I think West kinda originated the skill of craftiness. A lot like the guys above him, he could just carve up the defense perfectly.
Jason Kidd

Jason Frederick Kidd, born March 23, 1973, in San Francisco, is an American basketball coach and former NBA player. He served as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, and he became head coach of the Dallas Mavericks in 2021. Kidd led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024.

Another guy who was just great at seeing the play before others saw it, probably the greatest at it.
Allen Iverson

Allen Ezail Iverson, born June 7, 1975, is an American former professional basketball player. He played 14 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Philadelphia 76ers. Iverson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and is widely considered one of the greatest point guards... read more

The Newcomers

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Derrick Rose

Derrick Martell Rose is an American former professional basketball player who retired in 2024. He became the youngest MVP in NBA history in 2011 while playing for the Chicago Bulls. He also played for the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies... read more
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Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook III is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association. He has been recognized for his explosive athleticism and dynamic playing style throughout his career. Westbrook is a nine-time All-Star, won the NBA Most Valuable Player... read more

The Contenders

Alex English
Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Kyam Anthony is a retired American professional basketball player. He last played for the Los Angeles Lakers and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025. Anthony had a successful NBA career that included ten All-Star selections and a scoring title.
David Thompson
Bob Cousy

Robert Joseph Cousy (born August 9, 1928) is an American former professional basketball player. He played point guard for the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963 and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals during the 1969-70 season.... read more

We didn't get to see a lot of Bob Cousy, but from what we've heard, he was an out-of-this-world crafty player. However, we have no evidence, so he can't go higher than this.
LeBron James

LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Over his career, LeBron has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Lakers. He has won four NBA championships.

James, especially in his early years, was a great crafty player. He was great at changing speed and could just stop on a dime.
Fat Lever
Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Andrew Irving is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. He previously played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets. He helped the Cavaliers win their first championship in 2016 by making the decisive three-pointer late in Game... read more

Irving and Curry are pretty close, but I have to go with Kyrie. Combine that with his crossover, and he could be one of the best players ever.
Stephen Curry

Wardell Stephen Curry II is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the NBA. He is widely considered one of the greatest shooters in NBA history and has set numerous records for three-point shooting. Curry is a two-time MVP and has helped lead the Warriors to four... read more

He is very crafty, can make really tricky passes, and is very athletic.
Magic Johnson

Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association for 13 seasons. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history. Johnson won five NBA championships, three... read more
George Gervin

George Gervin, nicknamed "The Iceman," is a retired American professional basketball player. He played in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association. His career included time with the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls.
Clyde Drexler

Clyde Austin "The Glide" Drexler is an American retired professional basketball player. During his career, he was a ten-time NBA All-Star and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Drexler won an NBA Championship with the Houston Rockets in 1995 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial... read more
Pete Maravich

Peter Press Maravich, known by his nickname Pistol Pete, was an American professional basketball player. He starred at Louisiana State University, where he remains the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I men's basketball. Maravich played for several NBA teams and was inducted into the Naismith... read more

He created Showtime basketball before Showtime was a big deal.
Ty Lawson
Bill Walton

William Theodore Walton III was an American basketball player and television sportscaster. He won two NCAA championships with UCLA, one NBA title with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977, and another with the Boston Celtics in 1986. After retiring from professional basketball, he became known for his... read more
Dan Issel