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Top 5 Best NBA Ball Handlers

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By Mike Dyson

A common denominator that has historically linked professional sports is that in any given generation, that era was defined by a certain tenet or signature style of play.

Dominant pitchers such as Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson underlined baseball in the ‘60’s with the decade book-ended by the legendary “Year of the Pitcher” in 1968.

MLB took a wrong turn in the 90’s however, when it decided to utilize steroids and capitalize off of home runs, all because “chicks like the long ball.”

The NFL was once a defensive, vertically challenged, “3 yards and a cloud of dust” running league once upon a time ago.

In the modern NFL, it seems as if every season the “usual suspect QB’s” play musical chairs in breaking the NFL’s record for passing yards or touchdowns in a season.

But more so in the NBA the players—not schemes or coaches—dictate the style of play.  The 90’s were the golden age of Shooting Guards: MJ, Joe Dumars, Clyde Drexler, Mitch Richmond, Reggie Miller, Ron Harper and Centers: Shaq, Hakeem, The Admiral, Pat Ewing, Brad Daugherty.

The 2000s were pretty much owned by the Power Forwards: Tim Duncan, Karl Malone, Chris Webber, Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio Mc Dyess, Dirk Nowitzki.

In 2015, it appears that the league is channeling it’s inner 1980’s Magic, Zeke, Stockton, Price, Hardaway 80’s self with the “Return of the Point Guards”

This wave of point guards is extremely gifted and addictive to watch.  They possess never before seen athleticism, jump-shooting ability but perhaps the most important skill they posses that separate them from other positions is their Ball Handling.

So amongst these point guards, who is the best when it comes to elite dribbling and ball handling?  Look no further then below.

  1. Kyrie Irving:  MASTER of the “hezo’s” (hesitation dribble) Kyrie has a smooth natural crossover that he appears to pull off effortlessly. He has ambidextrous handles (and can take off or finish with either or leg or hand as well) but it’s his subtle gestures (eye brows, shoulders, picking up hand) that will kill you.

People like to say he’s fast-he’s not slow by any means-but it’s his body control and supreme handle that allow him to get to spots on the floor quicker than most.

Watching K.I. do his thing reminds me of a John Coltrane or Miles Davis jazz impromptu session.

  1. Steph Curry:  Steph is similar to Kyrie in the “ooh’s and ahh’s” department, he’s just technically more proficient when I look at him play.  If Kyrie’s handle is of the Jazz variety (impromptu, reactive and natural) then Steph is the classically trained Mozart.

Every move looks natural from a calculated standpoint, meaning everything he does, he practiced for it hundreds of times and anticipated it.

  1. Jamal Crawford:  Ultimate yo-yo; can lull you asleep or hit you with the rapid “1-2” behind the back cross.
  1. CP3: Steadiness; seldom turnovers (ripped, ball falling off foot)… can revert to a flashy “yo yo” when needed but always keeps the dribble. The Assist-T.O. ratio is my go-to barometer in getting the idea of a pg’s handle, and CP3 perenially leads the league in fewest T.O.’s.
  1. John Wall:  John Wall is able to do what these point guards to an extent but the boy does it with lightning speed.

HONORABLE MENTION:

*Jeff Teague

* Damian Lillard


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