Top 10 NBA Basketball Trick Shots That Will Blow Your Mind

I remember the first time I saw an NBA player sink an impossible shot during warm-ups - it wasn't even part of the actual game, but the entire arena went wild. That's the magic of trick shots in basketball; they're these beautiful moments where athleticism meets artistry, where players defy what we think is physically possible. Over my years following the NBA, I've collected these mental highlights of trick shots that genuinely made me question reality, and today I want to share my personal top 10 that continue to blow my mind every time I rewatch them.

Let's start with something that feels almost supernatural - the full-court shot. Now, I've tried this myself at local courts, and let me tell you, it's way harder than it looks on TV. The distance alone is about 94 feet, but when Damian Lillard sinks one like it's nothing during warm-ups, you realize these players operate on a different plane entirely. What makes these shots incredible isn't just the distance - it's the casual way players like Steph Curry will turn around before the ball even reaches the hoop, already knowing it's going in. There's this unshakable confidence that separates the greats from the rest of us. I've always admired how some players will practice these impossible shots after regular training, almost like they're playing a different version of basketball in their minds.

Then there's the behind-the-backboard shot that defies geometry itself. The angle seems mathematically impossible - the backboard should block it, right? But players like Kyrie Irving have perfected this arc that somehow curves around the obstacle and still finds the net. I once watched Kyrie practice this for what felt like hours after a game, missing repeatedly before finally getting the touch just right. That's the thing about trick shots - what looks like pure talent is often the result of relentless repetition. The spinning, no-look three-pointer is another favorite of mine, particularly because it requires this incredible spatial awareness. Players like Jason Williams in his prime would be moving in one direction, spinning away from the basket, and still manage to release the ball with perfect form. It's like they have an internal GPS for the hoop.

The off-the-floor shot from a seated position always gets me - how someone like Shaquille O'Neal could be sitting on the court during a timeout and casually toss the ball 30 feet into the basket. The physics just don't add up when you think about it. No leg power, minimal arm motion, yet the ball travels with this perfect arc. Then there's the between-the-legs half-court shot that combines streetball flair with NBA precision. I recall watching a warm-up session where James Harden made five of these in a row while barely breaking a sweat. The degree of difficulty here is off the charts - you're dribbling between your legs while moving, then suddenly launching from 47 feet out.

What fascinates me about these shots is how they reflect a player's personality. The behind-the-head shot that Larry Bird made famous speaks to that cocky, know-you're-better-than-everyone-else mentality that defined 80s basketball. Meanwhile, the over-the-shoulder blind shot that players like Magic Johnson perfected requires this almost psychic connection with the basket. I've tried to replicate some of these during pickup games and let's just say the results were... humbling. The off-the-backboard self-alley-oop stands out as particularly mind-bending because it breaks conventional basketball wisdom - you're not supposed to help yourself, but when Vince Carter does it during the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest, all rules go out the window.

The one-handed from-the-stands shot might be the most dramatic of all. I was actually at a game in 2018 when LeBron James, chasing a loose ball, ended up in the first row and just shot it back over everyone's heads - and swished it. The entire stadium went silent for a second before erupting. That's the thing about these trick shots - they live in that space between planned skill and spontaneous magic. The underhanded half-court shot has this old-school charm to it, reminiscent of Rick Barry's free throws but with triple the distance. And finally, the blindfolded free throw - which I've only seen attempted by specialty acts, though I'm convinced Steph Curry could probably make it with actual practice.

What I've come to realize after years of watching these incredible feats is that they represent basketball at its most joyful - the pure, uncalculated moments when players aren't just competing but expressing themselves. They remind me that sometimes the most memorable moments aren't the championship-winning shots, but these spontaneous displays of creativity that make you remember why you fell in love with the game in the first place. Every time I see one of these trick shots, it's like watching someone rewrite the laws of physics for just a moment, and that's a kind of magic that never gets old.