“Oh! A spec-TAC-ular move, by Michael Jordan!” were Marv Albert’s words when Michael Jordan executed a move that was to be remembered forever during the 1991 NBA Finals. Over three decades later, the commentator who played quite the role in helping the moment gain the significance it did with those exact words, relives the moment. Spoiler, he still hasn’t found anything as close.

Michael Jordan’s unbelievable in-game move, a Jaw Dropping Mid-air Switch, occurred during Game 2 of the 1991 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. As Jordan made his way towards the basket, he soared through the air, seemingly poised to dunk with his right hand. In a split-second decision, he switched the ball to his left hand in mid-air to avoid a potential block before finishing with a layup.

“We couldn’t believe what we saw. The crowd went crazy. It was one of those moments that left everyone, including us commentators, speechless,” recalled Albert on the Mark Jackson Show. The league has changed since then to accumulate some of the best shots Albert iterates, but Jordan’s will remain memorable. 

“These days, guys just making fantastic moves. You see things that are close to that but not what Michael did that particular game.” Indeed, many have tried the move, only to pull off their separate versions.

Kobe Bryant, often compared to Jordan for his playing style, has performed similar mid-air adjustments, though never a replica. LeBron James also executed mid-air switches but nothing came close to His Airness. Further, Zach LaVine, renowned for his dunking abilities, and Russell Westbrook, with his explosive drives, have both showcased moves similar to that of Jordan’s but the 1991 layup remains to be perfected.

However, that is not to say the audience has been void of signature moves. As Albert mentions, “because of 3-point shot, because of athleticism, because of the training… it really has changed to a great degree.”

From Michael Jordan to LeBron James, iconic moves that defined NBA legends

First among the many, Kobe Bryant‘s “fadeaway jump shot” is a move that became The Mamba’s trademark and a nightmare for defenders. In this move, Bryant would create separation from his defender by leaning back while shooting, making it incredibly difficult to block. The fadeaway became his go-to move, especially in clutch situations.

LeBron James is known for his “chase-down block,” a defensive technique that has turned the tide in many crucial games. To execute this move, James sprints down the court with the motive of blocking an opponent’s shot from behind. One of the most famous instances of this move was during Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, where James’ block on Andre Iguodala helped secure the Cleveland Cavaliers’ championship victory.

Vince Carter’s “360 windmill dunk” is one electrifying move. “Unbelievable,” was a word both Gray Payton and Kobe used for Carter’s dunks. During the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Carter executed the move where he would do a complete 36o spin while performing a dunk, where he swung the ball in a large arc before slamming the ball in the ring. This move won him the contest, cementing his legacy as the best slam dunker.

Dwyane Wade introduced the “Euro Step,” a move to startle defenders. During this move, a player would dash forward in one direction before suddenly switching towards an opposite direction to evade a defender. Wade popularized this using it to maneuver around defenders and finish at the rim with ease, thus adding to the moves, one may call themselves fortunate enough to witness.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us in the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.