NBA Ball Handlers: Players were not permitted to dribble in any way during the NBA’s early years as it was not permitted under the rules. In a technical sense, players could only pass the ball after receiving a pass. But when dribbling was introduced by a collegiate basketball team in 1987, the game changed drastically.
There have been some incredible ball handlers in NBA history over the years. Every participant, including Kyrie Irving Jr., Randy Smith, and Pete Maverick, had a special combination of abilities that made them stand out from the competition.
Many of the finest dribblers of the era were forced to adhere to the fundamentals because of the stringent regulations in place at the time. The league has regulations designed with drilling in mind. For example, when dribbling, players were not allowed to put their hands too close to the ball’s base. But as the game developed, many of these regulations eventually vanished from existence.
Now, athletes like Earl Monroe, Tim Hardaway, and Allen Iverson could reach their greatest potential.
Although there have been some incredible NBA ball handlers throughout the years, several of the athletes on this list fulfilled many requirements. In addition to their incredible dribbling abilities, these guys have excellent ball-passing talents.
The Top 10 NBA Ball Handlers of All Time
Check out the best and top 10 NBA ball handlers of all time below:
1. Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving is regarded as the NBA’s top ball handler, and his dribbling abilities have made him one of the league’s most unguardable players.
Kyrie Irving has said time and time again that he wants to keep his dribble basic. But Kyrie Irving usually finds himself launching into a barrage of dribbling drills and moves that frequently catch the defence off guard or force them to the ground.
According to Kyrie Irving, his moves are often extremely straightforward but performed quickly. Kyrie is one of the most deadly guards in the NBA because of his ability to vary the tempo at which he dribbles. Kyrie Irving didn’t start using his imagination to the fullest until he was 21 years old, even though he knew he had university reading skills by the time he was in the eighth grade.
As a result, Kyrie Irving picked up a number of dribbling combinations from Bones that helped him get ready for a variety of defensive situations.
Kyrie Irving started by mastering basic movements like crossovers between the legs and behind-the-back dribbles in order to hone his skill. After that, he would mix all of these movements separately to create five distinct actions and countermoves for every situation.
2. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is without a doubt one of the most visually spectacular NBA players of all time. Magic Johnson was an NBA player who consistently performed at a very high calibre, often playing on the biggest platform of the NBA Finals. Just thirteen players have more rings than Magic Johnson, who has five, according to statistical data.
Furthermore, Magic Johnson has more NBA Finals appearances than any other player—just three. Karim Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and Sam Johnson are some of these athletes.
Magic Johnson frequently showed his all-around talent as an NBA player with his scoring, court vision, and dribbling abilities. Magic Johnson averaged 18 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game in his first campaign.
Magic Johnson became the first player in NBA history to start an all-star game as a rookie when he was selected for the 1980s NBA All-Star squad in addition to being designated as a starter.
Magic Johnson will not be able to match Larry Bird, who earned the NBA Rookie of the Year award, despite having an outstanding first year. But even though he didn’t win the Rookie of the Year, Magic Johnson would brilliantly guide his club to the NBA title that year.
Magic Johnson will start at centre and switch to all other positions after losing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to an ankle strain in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. With 42 points, 7 assists, and 15 rebounds, Magic Johnson will finally lead the LA Lakers to an MBA championship in a spectacular way.
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3. Chris Paul
Chris Paul, who is six feet tall, had to adjust his style of play since he wasn’t the tallest player on the basketball court. In addition to having excellent court vision, Chris Paul can dribble in circles, completely confusing opponents.
Chris Paul is a seasoned NBA player who has had enough time to hone his craft and abilities, making him a great addition to any NBA club. Chris Paul has led the NBA in assists for over ten seasons. His hard ethic and ambition for success have helped him become a clutch player.
Because of his quickness and nimbleness, Chris Paul, like any other outstanding point guard, is also a proficient scorer Nsuta. During the 2020–2021 NBA season, Chris Paul, who has been in the league for more than 20 years, had his first-ever participation in the finals.
Even though Chris Paul and his team lost to the Milwaukee Bucks, he still had a fantastic performance, averaging 19.2 points and 8.6 assists per game.
4. Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard, one of the finest clutch players in recent memory, is a capable handler and three-point shooter. Damian Lillard, a virtuoso player, has established himself as one of the NBA’s best point guards. During his rookie campaign, Damian Lillard averaged 24.2 points and 6.3 assists per game while playing for the Portland Trailblazers.
Damian Lillard’s game has been likened to Steve Nash’s by several experts and critics, but Lillard has demonstrated that his style is both more aggressive and athletic.
Even though Damian Lillard is not the best shooter in the NBA, his ability to draw fouls and finish strong has allowed him to rise to the status of one of the league’s most valued and well-paid players. Even though Damian Lillard hasn’t yet won an NBA title or appeared in the Finals, he is still one of the league’s hardest workers.
His most recent performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics just demonstrates the kind of player he is—one who possesses a strong work ethic, a positive mindset, and the capacity to win games when it counts most. Damian Lillard, who happens to be the lone standout player on his team without any help, is not like other ball handlers in the NBA.
5. Isiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas existed long before Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, and Steve Nash. Isaiah Thomas’s on-court performance, in contrast to that of all three of these guards, was sometimes overshadowed by the controversy surrounding his name.
Isaiah Thomas won two NBA titles, a title for assists, and a trophy for Finals MVP during his last season in the NBA. Isaiah Thomas, a member of the Detroit Pistons in the 1990s, was frequently caught pulling off dirty moves, which infuriated both NBA players and fans.
Isaiah Thomas is still among the greatest ball handlers of all time, though, in spite of all that happened both on and off the court. On the NBA court, Isaiah Thomas was a fierce performer who gave it his all every single day. Similar to Magic Johnson, Isaiah Thomas arrives at the school ready to take control of the game at any moment. Isiah Thomas was a crucial player for the Detroit Pistons in 1985–86, helping the club win back-to-back titles.
Though Isaiah Thomas occasionally inspired, he was a part of one of the roughest teams the NBA has ever seen, which was eventually called The Bad Boys Detroit.
6. Steve Nash
Steve Nash was a player who was unable to score 30 points a game or produce highlight reels of dunks, in contrast to the majority of guards on this list. Nonetheless, he was among the greatest point guards of all time due to his court presence, ball-dribbling skills, and game-management abilities.
The other side never knew what to expect from Steve Nash when he possessed the ball. Steve Nash was just not very readable. Steve Nash might take a stride back, three passes, a no-look pass, or a pick-and-roll at any given moment.
In addition, Steve Nash was extremely unguardable since he could shoot from any spot on the basketball court. Steve Nash was able to earn two NBA MVP honours and eight All-Star appearances by the time his NBA career ended.
In addition to being among the greatest NBA players of all time, Steve Nash made a seamless transition into coaching. Steve Nash was successful in guiding the Brooklyn Nets to a quick trip to the conference finals during his tenure as coach.
7. Allen Iverson
AI All the Answers is without a doubt one of the all-time great ball handlers and is regarded as one of the most divisive NBA players of all time. Critics of AI claimed that he was a ball hog who never shared the ball with his teammates and frequently sought attention for himself.
However, Allen Iverson’s followers had nothing but disdain for him, citing his difficult background and the fact that he was one of the few tiny men in a league dominated by enormous giants.
Allen Iverson experienced a violent and criminal upbringing. Allen Iverson was a very skilled football and basketball player by the time he entered high school, helping his team win the state title.
After a fight between a group of white boys and black lads, Allen Iverson was caught and charged, just when it seemed like he had found a path out of the life of crime.
Despite Allen Iverson’s plea of not guilty, the court still judged him guilty and gave him a 15-year jail term. By chance, Allen Iverson only spent four months behind bars and was granted a pardon by the state governor. mostly as a result of inadequate proof.
Allen Iverson was awarded a Georgetown University scholarship as soon as he was released from prison. In addition to being named First of the Year, Allen Iverson was named Defensive Player of the Year in his first campaign.
With an average of 23 points per game in his debut year, AI was extremely dominant. Some of Allen Iverson’s trademark techniques, like as his famous crossover, step-back jumper, and up-and-under layup, were also developed during this period. Following stellar seasons as a rookie and sophomore, Allen Iverson announced his intention to enter the NBA draft, with the Philadelphia 76ers selecting him.
8. Dwayne Wade
Dwayne Wade is a player who, with his dribbling abilities, could easily take the other team. Of all the Miami Heat players in history, Wade is without a doubt the most merciless murderer on the court.
Dwyane Wade was just unguardable in his heyday.
Dwyane Wade’s dribbling abilities are what also made his famous dunks and posters unforgettable to a large number of NBA fans. Dwyane Wade drove Cleveland Cavaliers Power forward Sasha Pavlovic to school in February 2006. Wade was able to collect the ball on the opposite end in addition to dribbling it behind players like Black. There’s little doubt that Sasha will wish to forget this particular event.
Even though Dwyane Wade was an excellent player overall, he was frequently eclipsed by other great players like Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. To put it plainly, he was drafting these players in the same draft as them.
Dwyane Wade’s statistics were more akin to LeBron James’ for almost three seasons. These figures include assists, rebounds, blocks, and points per game in addition to scoring.
9. Tyreke Evans
Tyreke Evans was an NBA player who lacked exceptional athleticism, much like the majority of guys on this list. Rather, Evans’s success frequently depended on his cunning and distinct dribbling skills. Even though he was a dynamic player in college, a series of injuries severely limited his athleticism and niftiness.
Tyreke Evans had become a shadow of his former self by the time the Sacramento Kings selected him in the draft.
However, Tyreke Evans’ lack of athleticism did not prevent him from honing his arsenal of manoeuvres. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have been compared to Evans because of his unwavering defense-opening style and excellent court vision.
Tyreke Evans not only completed the task at hand in his first NBA season, but he also made other players seem silly in the process. Tyreke Evans averaged 20.1 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds a game during his first campaign in the NBA.
Evans was invited to a special tea with Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Oscar Robertson because of these amazing stats. Players who averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in their debut seasons were included in this unique category.
Evans, however, was unable to eventually equal their calibre on the court, in contrast to every other player on this list. Tyreke Evans’s career with the Sacramento Kings developed, as the team kept adding new players. Over the following several seasons, Tyreke Evans’s overall performance and usage rates decreased.
Tyreke Evans quickly became out of position and frequently played small forward or number two guard, especially when guys like Isaiah Thomas were on the team.
10. Pete Maravich
Pete Maverick did not attract a lot of admirers with his spectacular scoring, despite being one of the NBA’s top scorers. Rather, it’s his amazing showmanship and ball-handling abilities.
Pete Maravich, who was widely known as the showman before the show, was instrumental in establishing the game in the 1970s. Many people thought Pete Maravich’s playground antics, dog passes and football shots were ridiculous.
But in spite of his distinctive style, Pete Maravich was frequently criticised by both basketball purists and critics. A lot of them frequently asserted that Pete Maravich’s flair was more important than his delivery.
Pete Maravich frequently let his game do the talking rather than confronting his detractors head-on. Pete Maverick did occasionally put up impressive figures on a daily basis.
Prior to eventually joining the NBA, NCAP Tomorrow created history by being the all-time top scorer. He developed into a formidable opponent for the Atlanta Hawks and the New Orleans Jazz in the NBA. Pete Maravich was regarded as a gym rat throughout his adolescence, devoting a larger portion of his day to honing his skills at the gym.
Following an outstanding time in high school, Pete Maverick eventually enrolled at Louisiana State University. because it was against NCAA regulations for young players to participate on the varsity squad. Pete Maravich was forced to join the junior team at LSU, where he averaged an incredible 43 points per game.
These are the top 10 NBA ball handlers of all time. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
