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NBA’s Best Euro-Steps | 2018-19 NBA Season | #NBAHandlesWeek

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The Euro-step has evolved into the defining misdirection move of the modern NBA era.

The Euro-step—a move characterized by a player planting in one direction before taking a long, lateral step in another after gathering the ball—emerged as a centerpiece of the 2018-19 season. As highlighted during the league’s #NBAHandlesWeek, the maneuver has transitioned from a niche international import into a standard scoring weapon for the game’s elite.

• A 2009 NBA rule clarification formally legalized taking two steps after a “gather,” providing the official framework for the move’s modern prominence.
• The 2018-19 season featured 2018-19 league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and scoring leader James Harden as the two primary architects of the move’s evolution.

Masters of Lateral Misdirection

While the maneuver is historically credited to Šarūnas Marčiulionis and was later popularized by the recently retired Manu Ginóbili, the 2018-19 season demonstrated its full adoption across the league. Houston Rockets guard James Harden utilized his “southpaw” creativity throughout the campaign, frequently employing a “windmill” sweep of his arms during the movement to draw fouls or navigate around opposing defenders. Meanwhile, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo utilized his significant wingspan to execute “long-stride” Euro-steps, routinely covering the distance from the three-point line to the rim in just two steps.

Antetokounmpo utilized his massive wingspan to execute “long-stride” Euro-steps that allowed him to bypass defenders from the three-point line to the rim in just two steps.

Integration Into Modern Offenses

The Euro-step has moved beyond a specialty skill to become a fundamental component of both transition and half-court sets. The 2018-19 campaign featured high-profile execution from veterans and newcomers alike, including Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Dončić and Dwyane Wade, who featured the move prominently throughout his “One Last Dance” retirement season. These highlights serve as proof that the move has been fully assimilated by American-born stars, moving past its international origins to become a standard tool for any player looking to create space against set defenses.

Defensive specialists will have their hands full when the new season tips off, as the league’s top scorers continue to prioritize the gather-step to initiate contact and force referees to make judgment calls under the basket.