Dunking is often the flashiest part of basketball, but not every great player soars above the rim. Some of the NBA’s most skilled guards and playmakers never needed to dunk to make an impact. Whether they were elite shooters, crafty passers, or defensive pests, these 20 players thrived without high-flying highlights.  From MVPs to champions, they proved that fundamentals trump flash. Here’s a look at the NBA stars known for everything—except dunking.

17. JJ Redick (.4145 3P%)

20 NBA Players Known To Do Everything But Dunking

PTS: 14.3 | AST: 8.5 | REB: 3.0 | FG%: 49.0  Two-time MVP, Hall of Famer, and one of the best passers in NBA history—Steve Nash did it all. The Suns' maestro was a wizard with the ball, racking up assists and knocking down clutch shots. But dunking? Not his thing. Even at 6'3", Nash preferred his finesse over flash, making him a legend without ever needing to throw one down.

Steve Nash Initiates Pull Out From $470Million Worth Enterprise After 16-Year Sojourn

1. Steve Nash (6'3", Wingspan: 6'4")

PTS: 17.5 | AST: 4.8 | REB: 2.4 | FG%: 43.4  One of the shortest players in NBA history, Isaiah Thomas, defied the odds with his elite scoring and heart. The 5'9" guard became a two-time All-Star, even finishing 5th in MVP voting in 2017. But dunking? That was never on the menu. Instead, he weaved through defenses and hit impossible shots like a true underdog story.

3. Isiah Thomas

2. Isaiah Thomas (5'9", Wingspan: 6'2")

PTS: 14.4 (73rd) | AST: 5.8 (28th) | REB: 3.9 (T-122nd) | FG%: 38.3  Undrafted but unstoppable, Fred VanVleet carved his name into NBA history with the Raptors. A key piece in Toronto’s 2019 championship run, he built his career on clutch shooting and tough defense—not dunking. His fearless drives and deadly three-point shooting made him a force, proving you don’t need hops to make an impact.

26. Fred VanVleet – $44,886,930

3. Fred VanVleet (6'0", Wingspan: 6'1.5")

PTS: 12.8 | AST: 2.0 | REB: 2.0 | FG%: 44.7  JJ Redick turned three-point shooting into an art form. The Duke legend and NBA sharpshooter drained over 12,000 career points, using his elite off-ball movement to get open looks. His game was all about precision and skill, but dunking? Not his vibe. Even with 15 seasons in the league, the high-flying game never called his name.

4. JJ Redick (6'3", Wingspan: 6'3.25")

PTS: 3.8 | AST: 1.1 | REB: 1.0 | FG%: 34.1  The ultimate spark plug off the bench, Patty Mills brought energy, clutch shooting, and leadership. A champion with the Spurs in 2014, the Aussie guard is beloved for his relentless hustle. But despite his quickness, dunking was never part of his repertoire. Instead, he focused on knocking down deep threes and running the floor with precision.

5. Patty Mills (5'11", Wingspan: 6'2")

PTS: 11.3 | AST: 5.1 | REB: 3.0 | FG%: 44.0  Jameer Nelson was a rock-solid point guard for the Magic, leading them to the 2009 NBA Finals. An All-Star and a steady floor general, he made his mark with playmaking and shooting. Dunking? Not so much. At 5'10", he relied on craftiness and skill, not aerial acrobatics. Still, he made a decade-long career without needing to rise above the rim.

6. Jameer Nelson (5'10", Wingspan: 6'0")

PTS: 9.5 | AST: 3.9 | REB: 1.8 | FG%: 41.2  D.J. Augustin was the definition of a reliable NBA point guard. A 14-year veteran, he played for multiple teams, bringing steady shooting and solid ball-handling. Though he wasn’t flashy, his consistency kept him in the league for over a decade. And while dunking never made his highlight reel, his ability to run an offense did.

7. D.J. Augustin (5'11", Wingspan: 6'3.5")

PTS: 8.9 | AST: 3.9 | REB: 2.1 | FG%: 42.4  A key piece of the Mavericks’ 2011 championship team, J.J. Barea, played with a chip on his shoulder. The 5'10" guard used speed, craftiness, and fearlessness to break down defenses. Dunking? Never been his thing. Instead, he drove into the paint with no fear and knocked down crucial shots, proving that size doesn’t matter when you’ve got skills.

14. J.J. Barea

8. J.J. Barea (5'10", Wingspan: 5'10.75")

PTS: 9.7 (T-140th) | AST: 4.6 (48th) | REB: 2.4 (150+) | FG%: 52.1 (27th)  One of the NBA’s hardest-working players, T.J. McConnell, built a career on hustle and defense. The Pacers’ guard became a fan favorite with his ability to rack up steals and orchestrate the offense. But throwing it down? Nope. His game was all about grit, passing, and those sneaky mid-range jumpers.

9. T.J. McConnell (6'1", Wingspan: 6'0")

PTS: 9.3 | AST: 4.5 | REB: 2.3 | FG%: 43.0  Luke Ridnour was a steady, reliable guard in the NBA for over a decade. He played for six different teams, bringing solid passing and shooting wherever he went. But dunking? Not in his playbook. His smooth jump shot and crafty playmaking kept him relevant, proving you don’t need highlight dunks to have a solid career.

10. Luke Ridnour (6'2", Wingspan: 6'2.5")

PTS: 6.5 | REB: 2.1 | AST: 4.0 | FG%: 40.1  A solid floor general, Steve Blake played 13 seasons in the NBA, bouncing between eight teams, including the Lakers, Warriors, and Blazers. A reliable distributor with a 4.0 APG career average, he was never the most athletic guy on the court. Despite winning an NCAA title with Maryland in 2002 and carving out a long pro career, dunking was never part of his skill set.

11. Steve Blake (6'2.5", Wingspan: 6'5")

PTS: 12.0 (100th) | REB: 2.6 (150+) | AST: 3.3 (79th) | FG%: 50.7 (32nd)  Ty Jerome’s elite basketball IQ and shooting touch made up for his lack of hops. A 2019 NCAA champion with Virginia, he entered the NBA as a crafty point guard, not a rim-rocker. With a career-high 50.7 FG% in the 2024-25 season, he proved that efficiency beats flash. Despite standing 6'5", dunking just wasn’t in his toolkit.

12. Ty Jerome (6'5", Wingspan: 6'2.5")

PTS: 8.4 | REB: 2.1 | AST: 3.4  A two-time NBA champion with the Spurs (2005, 2007), Beno Udrih played over a decade in the league. His smooth mid-range game helped him tally nearly 7,000 career points, but high-flying dunks? Not his thing. He stayed grounded, dishing out 3.4 APG and running offenses with precision.

13. Beno Udrih (6'3", Wingspan: 6'3")

PTS: 6.0 | REB: 1.0 | AST: 1.4 | FG%: 40.9  A college scoring machine, Jimmer led NCAA Division I in points during his senior year at BYU and was the 2011 National Player of the Year. But his game was all about deep-range shooting, not dunking. Despite being a top-10 draft pick, he struggled to find his footing in the NBA, spending time in the D-League, where he won the All-Star MVP in 2016.

14. Jimmer Fredette (6'2", Wingspan: 6'4.5")

PTS: 5.7 | REB: 1.5 | AST: 2.1 | FG%: 45.8  A steady international guard, Neto brought his skills from Brazil to the NBA but never played above the rim. He had stints with the Jazz, Sixers, and Wizards, averaging 5.7 PPG over his career. His solid 45.8 FG% showed he could finish at the basket—just not with authority.

15. Raulzinho Neto (6'1", Wingspan: 6'2")

PTS: 4.7 | REB: 1.0 | AST: 1.5 | FG%: 38.3  At just 5'11", John Lucas III wasn’t exactly a dunking threat. He made a name for himself as a tough, scrappy point guard, playing for multiple NBA teams, including the Bulls and Rockets. His career 38.3 FG% wasn’t flashy, but his grit kept him around. Now, he’s passing on his knowledge as a WNBA player development coach.

16. John Lucas III (5'11", Wingspan: 6'0")

PTS: 1.3 | REB: 0.3 | AST: 1.1 | FG%: 23.1 What he lacked in size and dunking ability, Campazzo made up for with insane passing skills. The Argentine playmaker won two EuroLeague titles (2015, 2018) before coming to the NBA. Though his 1.3 PPG in 2022-23 wasn’t eye-popping, his flashy assists and pesky defense made him a fan favorite.

17. Facundo Campazzo (5'10", Wingspan: 5'11")

PTS: 3.5 | REB: 1.9 | AST: 2.8 | FG%: 42.5  The oldest rookie in NBA history at 35, Prigioni entered the league in 2012 with the Knicks. A two-time All-EuroLeague selection, he thrived in Europe but never added dunking to his game. He later became an assistant coach for the Timberwolves, proving you don’t need hops to have a long basketball career.

18. Pablo Prigioni (6'3", Wingspan: 6'2.5")

PTS: 6.6 | REB: 1.3 | AST: 2.3 | FG%: 41.1  A solid backup guard, Roberts played for the Pelicans, Hornets, and Blazers, putting up 6.6 PPG in his career. While he could hit shots at a 41.1 FG% clip, soaring for a dunk was never in his arsenal. Instead, he used craftiness to stay effective in the league.

19. Brian Roberts (6'1", Wingspan: 6'2")

PTS: 4.0 | REB: 1.8 | AST: 1.9 | FG%: 42.1  Known as the "Arch of Dimes," Arcidiacono was a Villanova legend who assisted on the game-winning basket in the 2016 NCAA Championship. His NBA career was built on hustle and playmaking, not dunking. His 4.0 PPG and 42.1 FG% showed he could contribute—just without high-flying highlights.