Kyrie Irving is widely considered to be the best ballhandler in NBA history. Whenever he takes the court, the Dallas Mavericks guard is a must-watch with the ball in his hands, primarily because of his unmatched creativity and control.
However, there are other names that might give Ky a run for his money. Allen Iverson, for instance, was just as confident with the ball, relying on tight control to create separation from defenders. A.I.’s handle was as effective as it was flashy, allowing him to attack and dictate the pace on his own terms.
J-Will breaks down the nuances of Kyrie and A.I.’s handles
As a tight ballhandler himself, Jason Williams had the acumen and experience to analyze the finer parts of Irving and Iverson’s handles. White Chocolate did exactly that in an episode of the „Flagrant“ podcast with Andrew Schulz.
„He can get through cracks and crevices like no other and then spin it in, puts it above everybody, can finish at the rim with either hand,“ Williams said of Irving.
When Schulz mentioned A.I. as someone who might compare with Ky, J-Will quipped: „(A.I.) would cross you over, (and he’s) gone. Kyrie can have you spinning in circles and still stand right here and then go by you when you turn back around and finish.“
In a couple of sentences, Williams shed light on what makes these two reside in the top tier of ballhandlers. Of course, J-Will’s money is still on Uncle Drew, but The Answer’s natural gifts, specifically his speed, made him too hot to handle for most.
On the other hand, Kyrie is a master at changing gears.
„The only thing I can compare it to is that shell game that they run on the JumboTron,“ Boston Celtics radio play-by-play announcer Sean Grande said of Irving’s dribbling skills. „At first it’s going really slow and then it just starts going super fast and you just have to make a decision.“
More often than not, Irving will pounce on whatever decision a defender makes. He’s got too many counters in his bag, plus a deadly jumper, all the way to the 3-point line. Kyrie is, after all, a near 40-percent deep shooter over his career.
The secret to Kyrie’s insane handles
Irving had a lot going for him as a kid learning to play basketball. His dad, Drederick, was a Boston University standout who averaged 19.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in his senior year. He was a legitimate NBA-level talent until personal reasons forced him to abandon his dream of turning pro.
His godfather is Rod Strickland, a veteran NBA point guard with nasty handles and an absurd layup package. He was Kyrie’s major influence growing up and one can see elements of Rod’s finishing abilities in Ky’s game as well.
However, Irving did the work for himself and is reaping the benefits. He mastered the fundamentals until they became second nature, and then went from there.
„Everybody always asks, ‘What did you do as a kid to get your handle like this?'“ Irving said, per Bleacher Report.
„And I tell them, ‘I just practiced simple moves first—like crossovers, between the legs, behind the back—and then I would work on combinations in isolation situations by myself. Then I would have counters to every move, always being prepared for that—not only that second move, but that third, fourth, fifth move just in case,“ Ky explained.
Well, ultimately, it’s not really a debate on who had the better handle. Iverson already excused himself and crowned Kyrie as the best, but it’s always interesting for fans to recognize how much of it is learned rather than gifted. A.I. was a natural, but Uncle Drew took it to a higher level.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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