Best handles in the NBA: who has the meanest handles in the NBA?

Best handles in the NBA: who has the meanest handles in the NBA?

Kevin Omuya
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:09 PM

As the NBA moves toward positionless basketball, ball-handling has become a must-have skill. The best handlers in the NBA like Kyrie Irving and former NBA star Allen Iverson can handle and pass like guards despite being centers while point forwards have become more prevalent in recent seasons.

Best handles in the NBA
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

In most cases, the quickest method to win over the hearts of viewers is to impress them with a spectacular dunk, block shots, or make the shots that win the game. However, the ball-handling abilities of the best basketball players give us something more to think about.

Best handlers in the NBA history

Since the National Basketball Association's inception, there have been top handlers, and their occurrence has increased in recent seasons. The top 10 best handlers in the NBA are listed below.

10. Kemba Walker

Best handlers in NBA history
Kemba Walker. the #8 for the New York Knicks in action against the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on December 21, 2021, in New York City. Photo: Mike Stobe
Source: Getty Images

Born: May 8, 1990

Position: Point Guard

Achievements: All-NBA Third Team in 2018-2019, All-Star, 4 Times

Walker spent three seasons with the Huskies of the University of Connecticut, where he averaged 16.0 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game after competing in the renowned McDonald's All-American Game in 2008.

9. Chris Paul

Top 10 best handles in the NBA
Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns drives the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on April 28, 2022, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Chris Graythen
Source: Getty Images

Born: May 6, 1985

Position: Point Guard

Achievements: All-NBA (4 First Team, 3 Second Team, 1 Third Team), All-Star (9 Times), All-Star Game MVP Award, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team.

Chris Paul is one of the top passers in basketball competitions because he relies on serving, the right teammates at the right moments, with the perfect passes. In addition, he has quick hands, an excellent court vision, and a terrific play feel.

8. Tim Hardaway

Best handlers in NBA history
Tim Hardaway of the Detroit Pistons watches his team warm up before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Palace of Auburn Hills on January 18, 2017, in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Photo: Rey Del Rio
Source: Getty Images

Born: September 1, 1966

Position: Point Guard

Achievements: All-NBA (1 First Team, 3 Second Team, 1 Third Team), All-Star (5 Times), All-Rookie First Team

Hardaway was chosen by the Golden State Warriors in the 14th round of the 1989 NBA Draft and was a crucial cog in the team's success. The Warriors had made the playoffs in 1987 and 1989 after emerging from a decade-long rebuilding phase in the 1980s.

7. Jamal Crawford

Who has the best handles in the NBA 2022?
Jamal Crawford of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 31, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Christian Petersen
Source: Getty Images

Born: March 20, 1980

Position: Point Guard & Shooting Guard

Achievements: NBA Sixth Man of the Year (3 Times)

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected "J Crossover" in the eighth slot of the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft but he was quickly sent to the Chicago Bulls. He spent four seasons playing for the Windy City before being traded to the New York Knicks in 2004. There, he and guard Stephon Marbury split time at guard.

6. Pete Maravich

Who was the best ball handler of all time?
Pete Maravich of the New Orleans Jazz dribbling the ball past the New York Knicks.
Source: Getty Images

Born: June 22, 1947

Position: Shooting Guard

Achievements: Hall of Fame, All-NBA (2 First Team, 2 Second Team, 1 Third Team), All-Star (5 Times), All-Rookie First Team, Scoring Champion.

Pete Maravich was born in 1947 and was interested in sports from a young age. He was a big fan of basketball, and people said that when he rode his bike to school in the morning, he dribbled a basketball. He is the oldest and best handler in NBA history.

5. Isiah Thomas

Who has the best NBA handles?
Isaiah Thomas of the Charlotte Hornets brings the ball up court against the Denver Nuggets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 28, 2022, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo: Jacob Kupferman
Source: Getty Images

Born: April 30, 1961

Position: Point Guard

Achievements: Hall of Fame, NBA Champion (2 Times), NBA Finals MVP, All-NBA (3 First Team, 2 Second Team), All-Star (12 Times), All-Rookie First Team.

Although Thomas did not create dribbling techniques like the behind-the-back or between-the-leg crossover, his style of dribbling, shooting, and fantastic passing were ahead of their time. It was nearly impossible for opponents to steal the ball away from him because of the manner he dribbled.

4. Stephen Curry

Best handlers in the NBA
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts to a play during the 2022 Playoffs Western Conference Finals at American Airlines Center on May 24, 2022, in Dallas, Texas. Photo: Tom Pennington
Source: Getty Images

Born: March 14, 1988

Position: Point Guard

Achievements: NBA Champion (3 Times), NBA MVP (2 Times), All-NBA (3 First Team, 2 Second Team, 1 Third Team), All-Star (6 Times), Scoring Champion.

The Warriors appointed former NBA player and general manager Steve Kerr as their head coach before the start of the 2014–15 season. As a result, Curry was given more shooting flexibility, and the club's playing style was significantly altered by Kerr, who also helped the team become a title contender. 

3. Derrick Rose

Who has the best handles in the NBA?
Derrick Rose of the New York Knicks warms up before playing the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena on December 10, 2021, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photo: Mark Blinch
Source: Getty Images

Born: October 4, 1988

Position: Point Guard

Achievements: NBA MVP (1 Time), All-NBA First Team, All-Star (3 Times), Scoring Champion, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team.

Derrick Rose is a shadow of the player he once was. But Rose, in his peak, was one of the greatest athletes the game has ever seen. He was renowned for his thunderous dunks, ankle-breaking crossovers, and mid-range shooting. Derick Rose frequently uses an agile ambidextrous crossover. 

2. Allen Iverson

Who has the best handles in the NBA 2022?
Allen Iverson salutes the crowd during week one of the BIG3 three-on-three basketball league at Barclays Center on June 25, 2017, in New York City. Photo: Al Bello
Source: Getty Images

Born: June 7, 1975

Position: Point Guard & Shooting Guard

Achievements: Hall of Fame, NBA MVP (1 Time), All-NBA (3 First Team, 3 Second Team, 1 Third Team), All-Star (11 Times), All-Star Game MVP (2 Times), Scoring Champion, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, Scoring Champion (4 Times), NBA Steals Leader (3 Times).

Have you heard of the phrase "Look at the way Allen Iverson handles!" from critics? It was something that enabled him to give the GOAT, Michael Jordan, a run for his money. The Philadelphia 76ers first chose Iverson in the 1996 NBA Draft.

Who has the best handles in the NBA?

1. Kyrie Irving

Best handles in the NBA right now
Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets during the 2022 Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden on April 20, 2022, in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo: Matt Stone
Source: Getty Images

Born: March 23, 1992

Position: Point Guard & Shooting Guard

Achievements: NBA Champion (1 Time), All-NBA (1 Second Team, 1 Third Team), All-Star (6 Times), All-Star Game MVP (1 Time), Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, Three-Point Shootout Champion (1 Time).

Kyrie Irving handles the ball with precision, as expected. He demonstrated command of a vast array of dribbling moves from crossovers to step-backs. He is widely recognized as one of, if not the greatest ball-handlers in NBA history.

Who has the best handles in the NBA 2023?

On NBA 2K22, Kyrie Irving, who has the best handles in NBA 2k22, is attributed the highest rating of any player currently playing. Stephen Curry comes in second, and James Harden comes in third after him.

Who has the best NBA handles?

Who has the best NBA handles?
Kyrie Irving (right) of the Brooklyn Nets vs Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics during the Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022, in Brooklyn, New York City. Photo: Elsa/Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

The NBA's most captivating player, Kyrie Irving, has the best handles in the NBA right now. He also possesses some of the best ball-handling skills in league history.

Who was the best ball handler of all time?

Isiah Thomas and Pete Maravich are reputed to be the competing duo in the rating of the best NBA ball handers of all time.

Who has the meanest handles in the NBA?

The NBA's all-time meanest handler was Bruce Bowen, although he misses out on our list of the best handles in the NBA.

READ ALSO: Ranking the top 10 players with the most steals in an NBA game

Sportsbrief.com recently published an article about the top 10 ranked players with the most steals in an NBA game. Allen Iverson is the only player to have nine or more steals in a playoff game since the campaign began in 1973–74.

Players with the most steals in an NBA game are mostly not found on the box score, but that does not make them any less impactful. Click on the link above to discover the top 10 players with the most steals in an NBA game.

Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.