Best handles of all time

[jcardstore]

Shammgod teaching Luka all his moves

[dasiegel]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

Sorry gramps, not all of us here watched the NBA in the 1890s

Originally Posted by rats60

I am a Lakers fan, but any list without Bob Cousy should be ignored. The NBA didn't start in 1991.

AI
Kyrie
Cousy
Isiah
Pistol Pete

It's another one of these lists that depends on times, rules etc. Like fancy breaking ankles moves you are gonna have AI, Kyrie, Steph types but I don't think any of them had actual better handles than Rafer Alston. That being said I think as far as tricks and such Pistol Pete could be #1. In game handles and ability to control the ball and have it on a string you can go with Isiah or Magic. Cousy was ahead of his time but would only be ahead of the era he played in for a list like this. As the game evolved people just started doing different things with the ball.

Anyway my list:

Isiah
J Will
Steph
Kyrie
AI

[ninjacookies]

Craw is still and always will be primo to me. His early NY days with the afro were on another level. I fell instantly and hopelessly in love from the moment I first laid eyes on his patented reverse snatchback cross. Nastiest move I've ever seen. I tried to perfect it myself in game situations but soon gave up...difficulty level on fleek. Now I see why no other nba player's perfected it.
Icing on the cake is that he was an elite finisher and actual good player too...not just a handles show.

Starting at 4:00 things just get nutty.

[heatdawg]

AI hands down

[advan24r]

Even as a warriors fan, I think Tim Hardaway Sr. should replace Steph. Steph should replace Crawford even though Crawford also had a brief stint w/the dubs. Everyone else seems correct.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Craw is still and always will be primo to me. His early NY days with the afro were on another level. I fell instantly and hopelessly in love from the moment I first laid eyes on his patented reverse snatchback cross. Nastiest move I've ever seen. I tried to perfect it myself in game situations but soon gave up...difficulty level on fleek. Now I see why no other nba player's perfected it.
Icing on the cake is that he was an elite finisher and actual good player too...not just a handles show.

Starting at 4:00 things just get nutty.

I have practiced that move hundreds of times. Moving left/right right/left on fastbreaks driving to the hoop. It's really hard to do lol

Jab-step right, behind the back to the left with hard cross back to the right and drive... unstoppable if done properly

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

I have practiced that move hundreds of times. Moving left/right right/left on fastbreaks driving to the hoop. It's really hard to do lol

Jab-step right, behind the back to the left with hard cross back to the right and drive... unstoppable if done properly

I wasted countless hours before coming to the realization that I'm never going to be J Craw. The lateral agility and explosiveness you need to pull off that move is insane..let alone the dexterity required to move the ball quick enough so it's not a travel.

I can see why no other player perfected this move after him..it was like an early streetball adaptation of the euro step.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

I wasted countless hours before coming to the realization that I'm never going to be J Craw. The lateral agility and explosiveness you need to pull off that move is insane..let alone the dexterity required to move the ball quick enough so it's not a travel.

I can see why no other player perfected this move after him..it was like an early streetball adaptation of the euro step.

One of my buddies can do a variation of that move where he fakes right / behind the back left into a hop step which I also can't do.

The problem I have with any kind of advanced dribbling is that my hands are too small to effectively palm the ball so you have to be so precise with the movements.

[jcardstore]

All this talking about dribbling and I'm gonna leave work early to go hoop lol

[gomiamigo]

Most underrated handles of alltime: Steve Smith, that fake spin move he used to do to get defenders to change direction and then go right back the original direction full speed was super-elite.

[bblaue1]

1. J Will
2. AI
3. Steve Nash
4. Magic
5. Kyrie

[Bobbyplaza133]

Seeing AI reminded me that he was left off Bleacher Reports Top 50 players of all time. Insanity.

[atoaz12]

Can't believe no one is giving Crawford a shot

Dude should be on an NBA roster

[Giannis34fan]

My list from old school to new school:

Bob Cousy
Pistol Pete
Tiny Archibald
Isiah Thomas
Magic Johnson
Tim Hardaway Sr.
Allen Iverson
God Shamgod
Jason Williams
Jamal Crawford
Kyrie
Steph Curry

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

The problem I have with any kind of advanced dribbling is that my hands are too small to effectively palm the ball so you have to be so precise with the movements.

Oh yeah. That's a huge component. I can sort of emulate a welfare version of it when sped down and all alone on a court.

But get me in a real game situation and I'll look like Kendrick Perkins trying to juggle a hot potato. I honestly don't think I've seen another nba player do it with consistency since Craw...which boggles my mind since it's virtually unguardable if done propery.

[tlm7995]

Michael Porter Jr.

Anfernee Simons

Michael Porter Jr. again

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Oh yeah. That's a huge component. I can sort of emulate a welfare version of it when sped down and all alone on a court.

But get me in a real game situation and I'll look like Kendrick Perkins trying to juggle a hot potato. I honestly don't think I've seen another nba player do it with consistency since Craw...which boggles my mind since it's virtually unguardable if done propery.

Elite handles and ball control are the most under appreciated and rare nba skills

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

Elite handles and ball control are the most under appreciated and rare nba skills

They are.

I'd say prime cp3 may have been one of the best in terms of balancing flashy handles and efficiency. He just never had the cache that dudes like AI and White Chocolate had, but his moves were mean and career turnover rate is exceptional.

[Pathora]

AI has the best crossover but combine that with finishing at the basket I'm so amazed by Kyrie Irving as a casual fan. Some of the moves he makes and how he scores is insane, if he wasn't such a loon or non-factor on defense he'd be an all-time player.

[Deadshot]

He never played in the NBA, but I'd like to at least give honorable mention to Marques Haynes

[BostonNut]

Rajon Rondo hasn’t been mentioned yet? Wow.

[asujbl]

Dylan
Dylan
Dylan
Dylan
Dylan

He dribbles hot fire

[TRLakers32]

Originally Posted by Deadshot

He never played in the NBA, but I'd like to at least give honorable mention to Marques Haynes

I was going to say that some of the early globetrotters could be in the argument.

I think the best ball handler I’ve ever seen was Isaiah Thomas.

[escapegoat]

Originally Posted by BostonNut

Rajon Rondo hasn’t been mentioned yet? Wow.

[harlem86]

Kenny Anderson hasn't been mentioned.

Tiny Archibald, "Pearl" Washington had great game too.