Michael Jordan Didn’t Invent the Fadeaway-but He Did Perfect It | Ball the Right Moves | The Ringer

In Episode 3 of ‘Ball the Right Moves,’ The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann breaks down Michael Jordan’s fadeaway and gives a brief history lesson on how the move has evolved over time.
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[@caffeinator1849]

The beauty of the fadeaway is everybody knows it's going to happen, but when you're great at it nothing anybody can do to stop it

[@razkable]

d wade low key used to make insane fade aways and lean in step backs and spin turn around shots defenders literally looked shocked and would be close to tears from cause they thought they played great defense....I miss that

[@jeanlamour770]

Michael Air Jordan the greatest reality movie to ever exist. The man keeps writing his own script and being the hero every single time. Season 1 rookie of year 28/5/5, season 2 broke leg come back in play off drop 63 on the greatest team to ever exist. Season 3 37PPG over 200 steal and 100 block, season 4 35PPG over 100 steal 200 block MVP, seasons 5 average over 40 in play off series then the shot over eloh. Season 6 eastern conference final. Season 7 win championships over best player in game and “A spectacular Move”. Season 8 win championships with shrugs game over adversary. Season 9 three peat over MVP then retires🤩 it’s over best movie ever. Oh no wait! Sequel season 10 can he become best again? No, drop double nickels 55 at garden ( Mecca of basketball). Season 11 72 win season best ever, won chip on Father’s Day. Season 12 won 5 titles and had flu game. Season 13 it’s finally over someone has his # “no” All star MVP season MVP the shot won Championships finals MVP 3 peat again then retired on top. 🤩🎊🎆🔊👍💯if i didn’t see this I would never believe it. Has any super star ever wrote themselves a better story? Hollywood can make a movie or a TV series with multiple season’s.

[@davidchandler6885]

@@razkable not even close, closest was kobe but he had terrible shot selection. he wold take to difficult fadaways way beyond 3 pint line

[@RR-ik9cg]

Just like the skyhook.

[@ek274]

@@razkable facts, wouldve been an easier shot for him if he were a couple inches taller

[@CWJ0725]

Patrick Ewing: "Step back one-legged, what kind of shot is that?" Dirk Nowitzski: "the most unguardable shot my friend."

[@midnightblues9895]

Patrick: "Yeah. Which means that's basically cheating!"

[@imllendream]

@@midnightblues9895 , Why the hell it was cheating? Patrick : Coz my knees cracked when I tried!!!

[@LowBudgetJustinY]

@@imllendream 💀😂😂😂

[@boubakrbenlaafou4188]

but those Kids in college ain't nowhere near Dirk

[@shrwnsnty]

As far as I can remember, he said that because his player never practiced the shot and just pull it off in the actual game. Of course, the player bricked it. So basically it's not his game. It's like seeing Bismack Biyombo doing the dirk move.

[@MrJumsla]

It's embarrassing to get dunked on or crossed up, but you feel utter despair when someone hits a fadeaway j in ya face

[@cadenr06]

HowGrapetastic!! Cause you know you can’t do anything

[@Foxy_0813]

You will be wishing he bricked it.

[@suntansuperman26]

There’s no way of defending it short of just pushing the player while in mid air.

[@resist1581]

id rather them have to hit a fade away than get crossed up or dunked on TBH

[@Watermelon_Man]

Resist Getting crossed happens every now and then at all levels of b-ball and it just shows that you’re putting effort in on defense. Anyone playing real defense will crossed at least once. Getting dunked on is less common at lower levels which is probably why it seems so much worse, but the thing is that if you physically can’t jump as high, you can’t defend it anyway. However, a fadeaway can be guarded with perfect defense, but just can’t be stopped because of the angle on the fall away

[@latenightnessii]

@1:49 "2 seasons with the Wizards that we try to forget" see its statements like that, that make people think Jordan's Wizard's year are a stain on his legacy when in reality he averaged 22 pts 5 ast & 5 rbs a game (which only him and Kobe did that year) and he made an All Star team and had a Wiz team who was previously 17-65 the year before in the playoff mix before he hurt his knee. He also scored 51 then 45 pts in back to back games at the age of 40. come on my guy. he was a DAWG with the Wiz he just played different.... Oh and we cant forget his Iconic go ahead shot against a young Shawn Marion in the All Star game.

[@nippyseven]

At 38 years old as well. It's so sad that people overlook his still all star performance just because their opinions are skewed by their expectations

[@cadenr06]

To be fair he probably still would’ve made the all star team if he averaged more turnovers than points

[@Dennis-fw3vw]

@@nippyseven maybe bcoz MJ set a very high standard for himself. But the decline is understandable bcoz he didnt play for years plus he was old. The same reason his body cant take the physicality of NBA

[@20marvelman]

All star games were voted on popularity back then, so take it with a grain of salt because of course MJ would make it. It’s why yao would make it every year because of China

[@latenightnessii]

@@20marvelmanit’s the same thing now brah

[@whoistylerdurden1652]

What they dont mention is MJs upper body strength and the height he gets his shot off. He hangs longer in the air than other players fadeaway. Incredibly tiring shot imo. But it just shows his amazing stamina.

[@jonq8714]

Jordan's fadeaway is the most aesthetically perfect move in the history of sport.

[@TheManOfBlues]

Ever check out Griffey's swing?

[@jonq8714]

@@TheManOfBlues yeah, that's a close second for me.

[@MasterAppels]

I really enjoy a soft floater. One of my favourite things about D Rose. His floaters and crazy layups when he was younger are on top of the list.

[@ElBrillante4]

Master Tony Parker to me had some of the best floaters

[@bobbestofbobs]

Ali shuffle

[@kahil2482]

J Kyle Mann is the Michael Jordan of KZbin basketball content

[@TheOddMindofSamBo]

lana del gay My mount contentmore for sports is J Kyle, Jason Concepcion, Jon Bois, and Seth Rosenthal (honorable mention to the Dunktown ladies and those boys at Flagrant Ones)

[@wmr845]

SamTheSclam MDJ is another one even though he just hung em up

[@AMGolf.]

K. Isaac your so right!

[@allenanalog]

BRO that George Gervin finger roll at the start was smooth af!

[@tyleru96]

he was the king of the finger roll

[@aduncaroo]

Agreed. Every time I see it, I feel like I get why people watch that ASMR shit 🤣

[@Alexanderthepraised9]

I really wish his layup package did him justice. He was doing them from the free throw line

[@razkable]

he was kd of his era...smooth easy scorer ….not aggressive enough imo...took it easy cause it came easy...didn't put in the work to be a top 20 all timer like kd did ...thats dedication

[@RMT192]

Yeah, no one really appreciates just how hard it is to have a release that soft, relaxed, and fluent in a real game. Hell, I have more tension in my hands when getting a massage!

[@moes_film]

First, he had ridiculous amount of hang time so it allowed him to lean back farther, maneuver the ball in the air, double clutch, and release at the last minute(it also made it beautiful). Second, he had a whole bag of counter moves from head fakes, ball fakes, shoulder fakes, up and under, spin moves, and foot work, if a defender tries to hedge for a block.

[@popeyeisgood]

This is by far the most accurate depiction regarding Jordan's fadeaway. It states the fact that Jordan had it even in his college days. It also gives proper credit to olawjuan who was up there with Jordan as one of the most dominant post players in the history of the game.

[@dannylewis4725]

J Kyle Mann’s basketball analysis is similar to Jordan’s fadeaway

[@razkable]

when people see espn make such a horrendous list I wish they got kyle to make a list right after to expose their lack of nba knowledge..i mean clyde at 57 ray allen at 56 pippen at 21 zeke at 31 giannis 27 kawhi 25 d wade in between them only at 26th as if he is ringless and didn't do anything without lebron lol 7 spots behind dirk a player who maybe for 2.5 years was seen as a better player than wade during 16 years they played in the same era and wade outplayed him twice in finals especially over an 11 game stretch?...yeah... curry at 13 hakeem behind oscar......ok boomers....what?...stockton and nash top 30?....in what world?....some of this stuff is insane like they put mchale 36?....I didn't even see gervin dj white melo on their list ….its like they do stupid shit so people don't talk about the subtle smaller mistakes on their list..yeah just throw giannis in their for talking points so people don't talk about how we put oscar over hakeem curry that high kobe over shaq bird russell and duncan over either of them and jerry west top 16...these lists are garbage and clearly are made by idiots ..I swear...on what planet is kawhi 25th already or giannis 27th..seriously...what logic is that? build a resume please....

[@bvanstratum]

Well said brother.

[@DylanASD]

Danny Lewis He didn’t it but he perfected it perfect🐐🐐

[@zeezyseason3637]

Asmosis Jones o

[@hehexD2002]

Honestly, you are better than 99% of modern NBA "analysts"

[@blogginsriverbymnl48isabop86]

When Jordan does the fadeaway, it's a real fadeaway.

[@flytii]

exactly!

[@HaHa-vy9ct]

You wanna forget about the Wizard years where Jordan proved his lethality as an old man.

[@CUBSfan7364]

Seriously, him averaging what he did in his late 30's and at 40, during that time period (hell any era) is pretty outstanding...

[@Mana_Maui]

Jordan’s fade-away is the most beautiful move i have ever seen.

[@c.jarmstrong3111]

A good shake move into fadeaway jumper is essentially impossible to contest in any impactful way. The move just creates so much space

[@seansachs6105]

Another thing that makes Jordan's fadeaway stand out for me (just watching highlights, since I didn't grow up watching these guys) is how much he's able to leverage his verticality and explosiveness to separate himself from his defender and get height for his release. I was watching a comparison video of MJ, LeBron, and Kobe's fadeaways and, to my eye, Jordan consistently got the most separation. I think Thinking Basketball said it like this, "Jordan didn't make thousands of jumpers with a hand in his face; he made them by jumping so high, his releases were hardly ever touched". I've heard that Hakeem apparently said that out of all the players he worked with (a list that includes Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, Carmelo, & Amar'e Stoudamire), his best low-post student was Kobe.

[@exgeeinteractive]

Jordan releases his shot on his way down (most of the time) vs others who releases it at the apex. That creates an illusion of hang time or "too much" separation, where in reality it's just I'm still in the air but your feet are already on the floor. Not to mention the fact that MJ is one of the most athletic players ever, that also helped.

[@seansachs6105]

@@exgeeinteractive He did do a lot of hanging in the air to adjust for defenders & get a clear shot. His vertical plus insane body control made that possible.

[@blogginsriverbymnl48isabop86]

It's pretty dope that the greatest guard fadeaway shooter is in the same draft class as the greatest big man fadeaway shooter.

[@Ac367998]

Dirk was drafted in 98, not 84

[@blogginsriverbymnl48isabop86]

@@Ac367998 :D

[@jordandwiggins1026]

I’m guessing he was referring to The Dream

[@valentino8625]

The dream fadeaway is lethal bro

[@GameChanger-xi4iy]

Jordan's fadeaway was so aesthetically pleasing

[@dogmaticka]

Manu's eurostep when???

[@janussyndicate7119]

and from Wade

[@JMS1089]

Sarunas Marciulionis. Played exactly like Manu.

[@popeyeisgood]

Jordan and some other players have done that in the 80s, not exactly a signature go to move but it was definitely there in the 80s.

[@JMS1089]

@@popeyeisgood I agree. I still think Sarunas was one of the main guys, but you see it elsewhere too. It's what the good fast breakers did. Throw in a fake before laying it in. Scottie Pippen did it a lot too and I have the clips to prove it.

[@09lowkey]

Before Manu, it was a move, after Manu, yeah that's just how people do layups now. Literally Manu never did a normal layup, changed the game in his own way.

[@kevinjohnson3119]

I just remember Bird doing it all the time. He was so tall,, and such a good shooter, it was virtually indefensible. Seeing clips of Jordan, though, makes me realize how integral it was to his game, too. And, with his jumping ability and clutchness(?), it was often a game winning play.

[@jletot]

The dude that does the videos is the F'ing man... keep it up

[@MerkinMuffly]

Wilt Chamberlain was the original innovator of the fadeaway. Players, including Bird, MJ, Dirk and Kobe among many others, have been doing a version of this ever since, but Wilt Chamberlain is the original fadeaway artist.

[@coolstory6193]

Jerry west as well from the perimeter

[@jonnyarnett]

Beautiful video. I could watch this on repeat

[@blogginsriverbymnl48isabop86]

I'd rather see a midrange fadeaway than a three.

[@theengine]

Mathematically, this is insanity. But yes, the fadeaway looks cooler.

[@WhelmedButReady]

Besides with Stephen Curry. I would agree it's a way cooler shot. But when Curry's going off that shit is exhilarating

[@JohnSmith-qf1jf]

But you know what you can combine both of them. Fadeaway on the three point arc, lol, but that would be a beast though.

[@blogginsriverbymnl48isabop86]

@@JohnSmith-qf1jf XD Well Kobe did that once in a while

[@JohnSmith-qf1jf]

Bloggins I know Kobe was beast. I miss Bean...RIP

[@leathersosoft2798]

2 seasons with "The wizards that we try to forget about". Why? What was wrong with him and the Wizards when he was on the floor?

[@xtrasolido]

Agreed. If anything, his performance with the Wizards is super underrated.

[@hinika]

@@xtrasolido agreed.

[@valentino8625]

@@xtrasolido Super underrated but still more than 20 ppg and more %fg than prime Kobe or Tmac

[@SixWeeksProductions]

Intentional use of the David Thompson stutter step? Seeing as how Jordan used this move all the time! Well executed! The the 1-2 pull-up after, also very similar to Jordan’s go to. Great video! Could watch one every day!

[@leechrec]

MJ's turnaround fadeaway was actually more devastating when he was younger. It was just so quick.

[@kneo12]

"How's this for practicality" shows clip of Jordan scoring over 4 playesr

[@bkeene5231]

God nothing makes my morning better than your videos!!!

[@Rodzilla97]

the master of the fadeaway, and a midrange assassin! solid 3 ball as well, especailly in the clutch. the GOAT

[@williambale9135]

love the detail on all your vids great work

[@vetoland92]

"let me know if you agree" I always agree with you J!

[@blangum]

j. kyle mann, the only ringer content provider that brings you knowledge

[@razkable]

if you saw espn's top 74, so you are saying kyle would not have clyde at 57 pippen at 21 kawhi at 25 already and giannis at 27 already...is that what you are saying! cause your correct

[@kinardak]

Dude your production is DOPE!!!! Truly enjoy this breakdown of a the most well-refined signature move in basketball history.

[@MatthewAbquina]

This was honestly a really dope video. Very well put out!

[@ViewtifulJoe7]

Kyle’s vids are A+ content. I stop everything I’m doing to watch when they drop.

[@Ginga]

Nothing prettier than a well-executed fadeaway. Jordan, Olajuwon, Michael Finley, Kobe, McGrady, Dirk, Melo, Wade, DeRozan, Durant and Leonard all have the best looking fadeaways in my opinion.

[@phamawa]

@@MrTinyTit Derozan has a nice fader, Finley though??

[@hipking23]

Ewing as well

[@Ginga]

@@phamawa Finley grew up in Chicago and modeled his game after MJ. There's a video of him hanging out with Jordan when he was in HS.

[@razkable]

you forgot d wade take finley out of that he was only ok at it I remember a lot of bricks from finley in big playoff games when he wasn't wide open and squared up he rarely hit those tough fades in the playoffs consistently but anyways...wade hit some of the most amazing shots ever from the fade away....go back and watch his tapes my dude came into the nba with a jumper he left the nba with a better one..its kinda underrated....his fade away was deadly hes just not given the credit cause hes 6'3 and didn't have the legs to keep shooting them...like kd can shoot a fade shot from anywhere anytime never get tired wade got tired taking too many of them ...but my man had a string of game winners doing it where he just was leaning back

[@phamawa]

@@Ginga my moms went to dallas on business, I asked for a Dirk or Nash jersey. She came back with a Finely jersey, I was a salty 11 year old.

[@ahmarsappal8244]

Love the content. Keep it coming

[@Azure_Oases]

@5:09 I lost it. LOL

[@zakie_chan0423]

I need more videos like this

[@redgeallen8867]

Love the 90s vibe from these videos

[@bytheriverinpeace2301]

His fadeaway was the most beautiful and his form is the most replicated. From his first generation of disciples in Kobe, tmac , Vince, Carmelo, and Dwyane Wade to the guys who indirectly emulate his style by copying either Kobe, tmac, or Vince, in KD, Devin Booker, kawhi, DeMar, his influence is definitely felt throughout the league. I hope to see more guys come in the league using the midrange arsenal Jordan perfected.

[@BrianDBacon]

This is a truly excellent piece of MJ content and I’ve been hyper consuming all kinds of MJ stuff since 94

[@toddmichaelsen788]

I was lucky enough to see MJ play in person. It was during his Wizards days. My buddy and I scored 6th row tickets off ebay for 80 bucks. We got there early and were blessed to see a 40 year old Jordan coming out to shoot before the game. He stood on the L and drained about 50 fadeaway jumpers in a row on each side of the line...barely missing any. Come game time vs Iverson and the Sixers MJ did that exact shot over and over and had 28 first half points. He dominated. However he only had 2 points in the 2nd half and AI took over. But it was amazing to see the artist at work and implementing his craft in real time. I’ll never forget it.

[@tristanborrego]

Ahhhhh.. love me some Ringer videos

[@BitsBlitzPH]

MJ's footwork was just dope! That fast 1st step was insane! Great vid btw.

[@ronomgenuff]

This is the best series! Period.

[@Writtenmirror]

Great video MJ was that dude with the fade but gosh that Iceman finger roll was cold

[@cesarquint256]

The finger roll of the ice man was sick, effortlessly also pure elegance and deadly

[@jn5122]

Love these Ringer videos. Keep ‘em coming.

[@andrewgray9497]

one of the best basketball analysts big up J Kyle Mann

[@razkable]

kyle brings us this... espn brings us clyde drexler ranked at 57 giannis at 27 already and kawhi at 25 already and pippen at 21 curry at 13....brought to you by the biased media narrative foundation of networks covering sports...

[@SuperDamon95]

Kyle J does it again!

[@razkable]

hes a knicks fan?..surprised he didn't show us alan houston or pat ewing

[@iceeeyy3557]

GOAT fader

[@mrsmiw]

Beautiful vid

[@AirCanada1J5]

Love this channel

[@laurencetiangco9448]

His moves looks swag! Graceful & finess!

[@subswithoutvids-dw6dv]

02:16 Patrick Ewing! 🤣🤣🤣

[@LowBudgetJustinY]

Patrick Ewing: "One legged.. what kind of shot is that?!" Dirk: *am i a joke to you?*

[@jajax82]

Very nice!

[@coachprescott72]

Great stuff

[@leejaspersamson]

More like this pls! 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽

[@fourtime7]

Well done

[@m721ac]

At some point in his career, even his free throw shot was a fade away...

[@midnightblues9895]

no shit. and one week, his dunk became a fadeaway, too!

[@LowBudgetJustinY]

I saw him golfing in North Carolina in 1997 and every swing he took was a fadeaway!

[@m721ac]

Did i mention he can even fadeaway inbound the ball???

[@oneglutathione]

You’re ready for more than KZbin. I heard a powerful creator’s voice.

[@kawaiiafangirl]

I always say that Hakeem and Kevin Garnett had some of the most underrated fadeaways in NBA history (post-Jordan). People always point to Kobe, Dirk, and Kawhi but no doubt did Hakeem and KG have mean fadeaways.

[@madnero5508]

Fadeway is also more difficult than simply standing behind 3 point line and launching a shot. Aesthetically more pleasing too.

[@austinfull8941]

"and yet there's Kawhi Leonard."

[@rf4790]

Forget about the Wizard's years? Some of his best fadeaway jumpers were during those years. Precise, and timed beautifully as he perfected it even more because of other areas of his game in decline.

[@TEditsV1]

Ay this was a good video

[@BrianDBacon]

Great music selection

[@miltonsilverioespinosa8847]

Thank you so much for shouting out Hakeem! The skill and basketball brilliance he showed through his career is not appreciated enough thank you lol 🙏🏾

[@suntansuperman34]

I'm not sure if it's because it''s still early in his career or what but Brandon Ingram has been utilizing this move since Duke so i feel he helps continue the legacy as well.

[@joshp5284]

4:40. I like this one

[@JBBGeek]

5:08 is the best bit of this whole vid.

[@Yetijam2k]

AMAZING

[@kylianknight2930]

Need that sample right at the top

[@Raphmatic5000]

My two favorite players of my childhood: Jordan and Dream. I threw up so many (terrible) fadeaways as a kid on the courts.

[@keqing311]

George gervin finger roll was smooth as hell

[@CanttaketheHeat82]

That fake at 7:13 OMG SHOOK HOUSTON SOUL OUT OF HIS BODY

[@freemypurplesoulchannel4337]

DOA ☠️☠️☠️☠️

[@deaconblues21]

As a fan of the Dallas Mavericks from the late 90-00s I was happy to see Finley in this video. Clearly, he was never the best but he was one of my favorites as kid.

[@Angel1908]

Nobody ever talks about Michael Finley! Dude was a really good (all star) swing man at that time.

[@iceeeyy3557]

It's amazing how a dominant scorer he was but that didn't get in the way of them winning championships. He still lead the league in scoring while winning rings.

[@mccordrice6481]

Wait a minute I’m 25 and I think you can’t be an all time top 10 scorer if you can’t hit the midrange at a honest level

[@avieus]

Quality channel on the sport

[@rantsreviews3573]

J Kyle Mann you need to release an album of all the instrumentals you use in your videos. I'd listen to that in my free time and pretend I'm learning about basketball!

[@jmsflora279]

Nice video! I only wish it would have showed more of Larry Legend's fadeaway.

[@razkable]

i think you get the point with kd kareem and dirk..bird is similar hes tall and lanky hard to block...hakeem as well...taller players have advantages period...if your 6'6 you can't do what bird at 6'9 did or kd at 6'11 or hakeem at 6'11 or shaq even could do at 7'1 or ming at 7'6....its just not possible..unless your similar to mj with the perfect hands body control athleticism speed iq power lift hang time and talent then you can I guess thats very rare though few have done it like mj...

[@SanFranFan30]

gotta love the subtle face reveal

[@rayneozier]

I’m a life long basketball fan and Kobe is my favorite player, so I’ve had the turnaround fade-away over either shoulder since I was like 13 🏀💪🏽

[@gabrielwinston9426]

Need one of these on Harden’s Step back

[@tusharsingh6129]

mid range is so beautiful

[@shpshsv607]

More kyle j mann videos please

[@dannytorres202]

Yo who ever edited this. That cut to Patrick Ewing at 2:20 made my day. So funny.

[@MoetChandonHollywoodlifestyles]

The fade away jumpshot, the dream shake, the one leg step back, and the skyhook are all unguardable if perfected.

[@glitzandgratitude1170]

Awesome video! Jerry West has a nice shot before this I only watched video of him dribbling circles are the half court.

[@tyreesatakora4347]

2:15 that coach pissed😭

[@JamesAlexanderinternet]

10 minutes more insightful than 10 hours of the last dance!

[@darththomarius6751]

I remember Kobe telling Jordan that he knew it was coming and Jordan asked, why did you fall for it? Ah, the good ol' days

[@RooseveltAliWashingtonX]

The fact that Darth's comment has one like, mine, is very telling.

[@nihatkayar3170]

Share, the GOAT.

[@JustAJok3r]

I wanna see fadeaway 3s

[@JMS1089]

Spencer Haywood. He did it like the way guys do it today.

[@bchen0709]

Oh I agree