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NBA: 30 most unguardable moves in league history

By Dylan Carter

INGLEWOOD, CA - JUNE 1982: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #33 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Caldwell Jones #11 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1982 NBA basketball Finals at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The lakers won the Championship 4 games to 2. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CA - JUNE 1982: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #33 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Caldwell Jones #11 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1982 NBA basketball Finals at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The lakers won the Championship 4 games to 2. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

30 most unguardable moves in NBA history: 22. Dwyane Wade, pump fake

One of the most skilled scoring guards in league history, Dwyane Wade stuck out from other guards with his imposing physicality. Few players, let alone 6-foot-4 guards, were capable of absorbing and playing through contact like Wade was. He was a master of manipulating defenders by using ball fakes, head fakes, pass fakes, and of course, his signature pump fake.

At its core, a pump fake only works if the shooter instills some level of fear in his defender. Wade was never a particularly great 3-point shooter, but his offensive consistency and stature amongst the league’s best forced opponents to close out.

By faking a mid-range jump shot, Wade forced opponents to fly in the air to contest his shot. On many occasions, he’d force a switch by running the pick-and-roll before getting to his spot and committing to the up-fake. Despite the dozens of hours of tape that the greatest defensive players watched to prepare for their matchup with the future Hall of Famer, everyone succumbed to D Wade’s pump fake at one time or another.

Wade’s pump fake is something that’s been adapted by basketball players worldwide. His influence remains seen through players like DeMar DeRozan, Khris Middleton, Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell who use their scoring threat to force closeouts, leading to free throws.

Pump faking and drawing a foul can impact the game in a variety of ways. It’s an excellent way to slow momentum and is an easy way for recognizable scorers to capitalize on their skill sets and impose their will on the opposing team. However, Wade did a lot more than just get to the free-throw line. His pivot foot was always in place so that he could create a more open look for himself if he didn’t get the call or found an opportunity to get his shot off.

With 5,708 career makes, Wade ranks 31st all-time in free throws made. From 2004 to 2011, Wade shot 77 percent on 9.7 free-throw attempts per game. The numbers speak for themselves.