A Ball Fake is a term used in basketball to describe an offensive move done to mislead a defensive player into thinking that they are going to make a short or do a pass.
The offensive player aims to manipulate the defender's response. If executed effectively, the ball fake can lead the defender to leave their feet in an attempt to block a shot that never comes, lunge for a steal that isn't happening, or shift their balance in anticipation of a drive that doesn't happen.
The move allows the ball handler to pass the ball in another direction. This term is also commonly called “pass fake.”
Top 10 Ball Fakes in the NBA: [Ball Fake][1]
[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgPinqi2jwU