12 Best NBA Drive!! Many might not know what “drive” means in basketball. In basketball, the term drive means when a player tries to dribble the ball past the defense and attempts to dunk or layup.
It is a common skill that is technically and motivationally important. Players usually use drive skills to score in the game.
Basketball players usually drive around the three-point line and use their dribble skills to get to the basket.
NBA has seen many players with great drive skills over the years. Among such legendary players is Michael Jordan, who played 15 seasons with the NBA.
This article examines the twelve best NBA players with the best drive skills.
Without further delay, let’s get into the article.
Quick Overview
Before we jump into the details, look at the list preview in the table below.
| Player’s Name | Position |
| 12. Isiah Thomas | Point Guard |
| 11. George Gervin | Shooting Guard / Small Forward |
| 10. Dwyane Wade | Shooting Guard |
| 9. Elgin Baylor | Small Forward |
| 8. Clyde Drexler | Shooting Guard / Small Forward |
| 7. Tracy McGrady | Shooting Guard / Small Forward |
| 6. Julius Erving | Small Forward |
| 5. Kobe Bryant | Shooting Guard |
| 4. Grant Hill | Small Forward |
| 3. Dominique Wilkins | Small Forward |
| 2. LeBron James | Small Forward |
| 1. Michael Jordan | Shooting Guard |
12 Best NBA Drive
We have prepared our list with the help of BleacherReport as our primary source.
12. Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas is a former basketball player and a coach who spent his entire playing career with the Detroit Pistons.
Thomas played between 1981 to 1994 professionally. The Pistons picked him in the first round as the second overall at the 1981 NBA draft. After retiring, he became a coach for the Indiana Pacers in 2000.
Some of Thomas’s career highlight wins include NBA Finals MVP, NBA champion twice, NBA assists Leader, NBA All-Star 12 times, and NBA All-Star Game MVP twice, among others.
Thomas is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer. Similarly, he was named to the 50th and 75th NBA Anniversary Team.
11. George Gervin
Geroge Gervin, named “the Iceman,” is a former NBA player ranking number 11 on the 12 best NBA drive. The Phoenix Suns drafted him in the third round as the 40th overall in the 1974 NBA draft.
Before making his NBA debut, Gervin made his professional debut in 1972 with the semi-professional basketball team Pontiac Chaparrals. His NBA debut came in 1974 with the San Antonio Spurs.
Similarly, in his playing career, Gervin played for another NBA franchise, Chicago Bears. He also worked as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs from 1992 to 1994.
Some of his notable highlight wins include four times NBA scoring champion, NBA All-Star Game MVP, All-NBA First Team five times, NBA All-Star nine times, etc.
Gervin was selected for the 50th and 75th NBA Anniversary Team. He was enshrined in the 1996 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
10. Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade is a former player and one of the players named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. He made his debut in NBA after the Miami Heat drafted him in the 2003 NBA draft’s first round as the fifth overall pick.
Wade played professionally from 2003 to 2019 and is most notably known for playing for the Heat. He also played for the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers before returning to the Heat.
Wade spent 16 seasons with the Heat franchise, during which he became their all-time Leader in games, points, steals, assists, shots made, and taken.
Among his career highlight wins are the NBA scoring champion, the NBA Finals MVP, the NBA champion thrice, the NBA All-Star 13 times, etc.
After Wade retired, the Heats honored him by retiring his No. 3 jersey.
9. Elgin Baylor
On number 9, we have the Basketball Hall of Famer, Elgin Baylor. He is among one of the NBA’s all-time greatest players.
The Minneapolis Lakers (now Los Angeles Lakers) selected Baylor during the 1958 NBA draft as their first overall pick. He spent his entire playing career from 1958 to 1972 with the team.
During that period, he established himself as an accomplished shooter, rebounder, and passer and was well-known for his trademark hanging jump shot.
Baylor’s career highlight wins include NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA champion, NBA All-Star 11 times, NBA All-Star Game MVP, and All-NBA First Team ten times.
To honor him, NBA named him in their 35th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Team. Similarly, the Lakers also retired his No.22 jersey in his honor.
8. Clyde Drexler
Clyde Drexler is regarded as one of basketball’s greatest players and shooting guards. The former professional player spent 15 seasons in NBA.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected in the 1983 NBA draft’s first round as their 14th overall pick. Drexler spent most of his career with the team but also played for the Houston Rockets from 1995 to 1998.
Similarly, after his playing career, Drexler turned to a coaching career. His notable wins include being an NBA champion, All-NBA First Team, and an NBA All-Star ten times.
Drexler earned the nickname “Clyde the Glide” during his time in NBA. He is a two times Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer.
Similarly, he was honored by being named to the 50th and 75th NBA Anniversary Team.
7. Tracy McGrady
Regarded as one of the NBA’s greatest scorers, Tracy McGrady is the seventh player on the 12-best NBA drive list. The former professional player is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer.
The Toronto Raptors selected McGrady during the first round of the 1997 NBA draft as the ninth overall pick. His professional basketball career spanned from 1997 to 2013.
During that period, he spent most of his time playing for the NBA franchises. Between 2012 to 2013, he played for the Chinese professional basketball team, Qingdao Eagles.
Among his career highlight wins, some are NBA scoring champion twice, NBA Most Improved Player, All-NBA First Team twice, NBA All-Star seven times, etc.
6. Julius Erving
Julius Erving is regarded as one of the most talented players and the best dunkers in the history of the NBA. A former player, his professional career spanned from 1971 to 1987.
Erving played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) when it merged into the NBA. He was one of the best-known players of the ABA.
The Milwaukee Bucks selected him in the first round as the twelfth pick of the 1972 NBA draft. He made his NBA debut with the New York Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) in 1973.
Erving finished his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. Among his several career highlight wins, some of them include NBA champion, NBA MVP, NBA All-Star 11 times, NBA All-Star Game MVP twice, etc.
To honor Erving as one of the league’s greatest players, he was inducted into the 1993 Basketball Hall of Fame. Similarly, he was also named in the 35th, 50th, and 75th NBA Anniversary Team.
5. Kobe Bryant
Our list would not be complete without the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant. He is considered one of the greatest NBA players and scorers and is the fifth player on our 12-best NBA drive list.
Drafted by Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA draft, Bryant made his debut and spent his entire 20 years of NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
He was the first shooting guard to play 20 seasons in the history of the NBA. Similarly, he accumulated a long list of impressive career highlight wins and awards during the period.
Some of Bryant’s wins include five times NBA champion, NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion, NBA scoring champion twice, NBA Finals MVP twice, NBA All-Star 18 times, etc.
Unfortunately, Bryant died at age 41 in a helicopter crash. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame posthumously in 2020 and named to the 2021 NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
4. Grant Hill
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Grant Hill is the fourth player on our list for the 12 best NBA drive. The former player is the current co-owner and Executive of the NBA franchise, Atlanta Hawks.
Hill was Detroit Pistons’ third overall pick in the first round of the 1994 NBA draft. He made his NBA debut with the Pistons in 1994.
In his career, which spanned from 1994 to 2013, he also played for the Orlando Magic, Phoneix Suns, and Los Angeles Clippers. Hill was among the best all-around players in the NBA in his early career.
His career achievements include the NBA Sportsmanship Award, NBA All-Rookie First Team, NBA Co-Rookie of the Year, All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Second Team four times, and NBA All-Star seven times.
3. Dominique Wilkins
The former professional player Dominique Wilkins, nicknamed “the Human Highlight Film,” is seen as one of the most acrobatic slam dunkers in the NBA.
Utah Jazz selected Wilkins during the 1982 NBA draft in the first round as the third overall pick. He made his NBA debut with Atlanta Hawks in 1982.
His professional career spanned from 1982 to 1999, during which he primarily played for the Hawks. Similarly, he also played for professional basketball teams other than the NBA.
He was inducted into the 2006 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to honor his career and achievements.
Likewise, Wilkins was among the selected players to be included in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
2. LeBron James
LeBron James, regarded as one of the greatest basketball players, is number 2 on our list for the 12 best NBA drive. Nicknamed “King James,” he is currently signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected James as their first-round pick during the 2003 NBA draft.
James is the first player in league history to accumulate over 10,000 career points, assists, and rebounds. Similarly, his career highlight wins and awards are among the most impressive in the NBA.
Some of the notable ones are NBA scoring champion, NBA assists Leader, NBA champion four times, NBA Finals MVP four times, NBA Most Valuable Player four times, NBA All-Star 18 times, etc.
Given his achievements, James is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. He was among the players selected for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
1. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is one of the greatest basketball players of all time and is on his well-deserved number one spot on our list of the 12 best NBA drive.
The Chicago Bulls selected Jordan in the 1984 NBA draft as their first round’s third overall pick.
Jordan is famous for his leaping and slam-dunking ability. As a result, he earned the nicknames “Air Jordan” and “His Airness.” He spent most of his career with the Bulls and finished with the Washington Wizards.
The GOAT has a net worth of $2.2 billion as of 2024.
Jordan is one of the most celebrated and decorated players in the NBA. He has a long list of achievements and awards, which proves that he is indeed one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA.
Jordan is a two times Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. He is also the FIBA Hall of Fame inductee and was selected for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Conclusion
So these were the 12 best NBA drive. We hope we were able to shed light on the topic and provide something insightful to you, readers. Thank you for reading!
