BEST NBA BALL-HANDLERS OF ALL TIME
We look to answer the common question: Who is the greatest ball-handler of all time?
Counting down the top 10, players are examined from all eras. Their ball skills are deeply analyzed including these areas of focus: ability to ride it to get to their spots, potency of their blow-by move, flashiness of the handle, turnover count and how large a role it/the player overall played in team success.
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#10 ~ Tim Hardaway
At just six feet tall, Hardaway had to get creative in order to flourish as an offensive player. He popularized the crossover move, an iteration specifically known as the "UTEP Two-Step". Tim could go left-to-right or right-to-left with this move that constantly got him past his primary defender. His burst helped here too, but ultimately he got very good at selling he was going one way before crossing to the other.
Tim and his nasty cross helped him be a prominent scorer across his NBA days. He made five All-NBA teams and as many All Star appearances. Hardaway's ball skills helped him carve through defenses to the tune of a 17.7 career points per game average.
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#9 ~ Jason Williams
Jason was a magician with the basketball, making his way onto highlight reels with his passing and tight handles. "White Chocolate" was able to have a long career as an undersized lead guard because he was so skilled. Williams played with great pace, knowing when to change his speeds. His mixture of fundamental ball skills and higher level blow-by moves allowed for great on-ball maneuverability.
In 2006 he was finally able to secure a championship with Miami. That veteran-laden team, along with burgeoning youngsters like Dwyane Wade, bested the Dallas Mavericks in six games. Jason, with his experienced playmaking and ball security, served as a calming presence amid those high-pressure moments. He ended up leading the team in assists per game over those Finals.
#8 ~ Jamal Crawford
The three-time Sixth Man of the Year award winner embarrassed defenders countless times with his dazzling dribbling displays. At a thin 6’5” Jamal slithered through cracks in the defense to get his pull-up midrangers off or skirt all the way to the tin.
He played off of his hang dribble with a variety of options at his disposal from there. His long arms also helped him toggle between tight and further dribbles as he worked his way to the basket.
Crawford did a good job of keeping his dribble moves predominantly north-south. This made them highly function rather than just impressive to look at. These crossovers, in-and-outs, and his patented behind-the-backs all contributed meaningfully to his positive impact as a microwave scorer. After all, he just missed the top-50 all-time in points scored while spending the vast majority of his games coming off the bench.
#7 ~ Isiah Thomas
Thomas had an extremely strong grasp on the dribbling fundamentals during his playing days. He had to protect the ball, staying vigilant as a smaller point guard in a much more physical era.
He used the crossover just like most others on the list, and he rode it to numerous blow-bys. He stayed low to fasten his ball security. Isiah dropped what was already a naturally low center of gravity to stay in control against pestering defenders.
#6 ~ Steve Nash
The Hall of Famer and two-time MVP possessed loads of elite offensive skills. Steve’s basketball IQ, three-point stroke, free throw shooting, court vision and playmaking execution were all elite. His handle was the underlying strength that proved to be the basis for most of those skills listed above. It was more practical than it was flashy but Nash let his passing get him onto the highlight packages.
He had some great assist-to-turnover seasons within his lengthy NBA career. Nash eclipsed the 3.0 AST/TO mark multiple times. Part of this was selectiveness and intellect as a facilitator, another part was his strong handle. Steve rarely got clean stripped nor would he wilt against active ball pressure. The 6’3” orchestrator played at his own pace, able to ratchet it up or slow it down on the back of his dependable dribbling.
#5 ~ Pete Maravich
“Pistol Pete” was arguably the pioneer of the well-developed, nuanced dribbling styles more common today. The crafty 6’5” guard got wherever he needed to go without having to think twice about it. He went behind-his-back or through-his-legs with no issue whatsoever even while travelling at a near-sprint. It unlocked his playmaking and shooting, other elite basketball traits of his.
The reliable floor general has as good a handle as you'd want your leader to have. He can be trusted to not cough it up and commit live-ball turnovers that are all too common. Paul's historic-level ball security has allowed him to be a deadly clutch player and an overall killer working in the midrange for many years.
The "Point God" earned such a nickname by embodying what a true lead guard should be for so many seasons. He is unselfish, looks to get his teammates involved, can score it when the team needs a basket and is a steadying presence in crunch time. As it pertains to this top ten list, his handles come in to focus.
He has the ball on a string as he plays through those spread pick-and-rolls he is so excellent at. He'll even pull out the "Shammgod" move from time to time. When its not that, he uses push crosses and other moves to veer into open space. The Wake Forest product's Hall of Fame caliber assist-to-turnover ratios are a microcosm of his game as the lead guard.
#3 ~ Stephen Curry
Steph is the greatest shooter of all time, and his ability to manufacture off-the-bounce triples is a big part of why. His footwork, balance and ambidexterity as he sizes up his defender are all magnificent. Curry gets his jumper off from floor to shot pocket to release point swiftly.
Unbelievable ball-handling skills are arguably the backbone of Stephen’s offensive game. While his jump shot may be the most impressive facet, Curry would not be nearly the impactful player he is without his dribble skills. He reads and reacts to defenders’ momentum with ease.
Curry is able to knife through the defense on the back of his tight handle. He lacks the conventional explosion to burst through holes in the defense like Russell Westbrook would for instance. Rather, he thrives due to his countless hours in the gym crafting his handle. Steph will often embarrass even the strongest perimeter defenders.
He blows by his man with skillful hesitations. By looking up and bringing his second hand near the ball to simulate a jumper, he sells these hesitations very well. Defenders are much more likely to bite on Curry's hesitations and pump fakes given his jumper’s dangerousness. He is then able to zip through driving lanes and create opportunities for himself or teammates.
Stephen uses behind-the-backs more commonly than most players. It is clearly the product of repetition during practice, as he rarely loses the ball with this move. This move gets defenders to freeze in their spot, capped off with an opposite crossover often times.
#2 ~ Allen Iverson
The mercurial Allen Iverson played with his heart on his sleeve and a massive chip on his shoulder. The score-first combo guard was almost always the smallest guy on the court, listed at 6'0". His crazy handles, particularly that wide yet super sharp crossover move, opened up his scoring game in a huge way.
AI got to his spots through hesi's and crosses. He was a difficult shot-maker all over the court, with an affinity for the elbow jumper. The Georgetown product used smooth step-backs and snatch-backs for invaluable separation. Iverson didn't settle though, a fearless rim attacker in spite of being just 165 lbs. His elusive handle fueled this as well.
He rode his handle to becoming an 11-time All Star and an MVP in 2001. AI also slashed his way to a 33 ppg season in 2005-2006. Ultimately, he earned his spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His no-fear mindset, deep scoring package, speed and smarts were all fully maximized by one thing - that world-class handle.
#1 ~ Kyrie Irving
Irving's ball-handling skills are unrivaled. In isolation, the screen-and-roll, and in transition, his dribbling prowess is clearly visible. He puts on a breathtaking dribbling display each and every night he laces up his sneakers.
Kyrie strings together complex series of dribble moves to get to his spots, making him a devastating threat in isolation. He misdirects his man into reaching foolishly at the ball with his elusive dribble. Also, he utilizes convincing hesitations to further buoy his effectiveness.
He employs his masterful handle as a means of creating both scoring and facilitating opportunities. Crossovers, in-and-outs and behind-the-backs are just a few of the moves Kyrie uses effectively.
Irving changes speeds frequently and unpredictably along his drives. Though not as explosive as players like Russell Westbrook or Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie’s first step and deceleration abilities are top tier. He is honed in on the balance and body positioning of his defender, using this information to guide his own movement patterns.
Irving changes speeds frequently and unpredictably along his drives. Though not as explosive as players like Russell Westbrook or Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie’s first step and deceleration abilities are top tier. He is honed in on the balance and body positioning of his defender, using this information to guide his own movement patterns.
Kyrie’s handle is what helps unlock his extraordinary driving ability. He has a number of counters in his arsenal so that he can constantly create an angle to attack. His overhead gather allows for a swift evasion of the help defender. The statistics confirmed what the eye test suggested in 2018-2019, as he hit on 54.1% of his 7.6 drives per game.
