Who has the best handles in the NBA? Luka? Shai? Kyrie? Harden?

[FrodoBaggins]

I've been thinking about this and I'm not quite sure. Kyrie probably has the most aesthetic ball handling, but being the best is about function (not form) at the end of the day. Although form and function are intimately related, good technique is usually effective. A functional handle is one that allows a player to get from point A to point B without losing the ball.

What makes the topic even more interesting is how size and athleticism can play into it. I've always felt LeBron's ball-handling technique had some holes, but his wide-bodied, 260-pound frame and explosive athleticism allowed him to shield/protect the ball and get to anywhere on the court without losing possession. Ditto for Giannis.

A functional handle is a functional handle.

Ben Simmons and Lamar Odom have to have the best ball handling for guys 6'10"+, right? Technique and functionality.

[Optms]

Kyrie and its not even close, imo.

If we talk about getting from point A to point B, I have seen elite defenses trap guys like Shai and Luka only to see them pick up the dribble and pass it to the open man. Kyrie has numerous plays where he beats the trap where the rest of the league would pass. In order to do even do it, you have to have a functional handle. Kyrie's skills go well beyond that. Best question is who has the second best handles.

[zimpy27]

Curry should be up there

[Mr Puddles]

CB's handles have always been criminally underrated.

[Mavrelous]

SGA, Kyrie is the prettiest like you said, but functionaly, the player most capable to go wherever he wants is SGA.

[C0bR]

SGA - nobody else gets to his spots at will while never turning the ball over

[FrodoBaggins]

Shai does sport a ludicrously low turnover rate. 8.5% over the 2024 and 2025 RS (151 games); 8.7% over the 2024 and 2025 PS (33 games). He's taken it to another level (6.2%) so far this season. We'll see if it holds.

[Sane]

Kyrie is the best all time.

[MavsDirk41]

Kyrie Irving

[cupcakesnake]

Kyrie and its not even close, imo.

If we talk about getting from point A to point B, I have seen elite defenses trap guys like Shai and Luka only to see them pick up the dribble and pass it to the open man. Kyrie has numerous plays where he beats the trap where the rest of the league would pass. In order to do even do it, you have to have a functional handle. Kyrie's skills go well beyond that. Best question is who has the second best handles.

Disagree with this characterization of Kyrie.

First of all, passing out of traps is what you're supposed to do. It automatically gives your team a 4-on-3 advantage. Trying to beat traps by "elite defenses" with dribbling and you're going to be turning it over at an unacceptable rate. Kyrie is not exception to this. Passing, not dribbling, is what beats traps 9 times out of 10.

Secondly, Kyrie's handles don't get him to the rim all that often. Kyrie will stack crazy impressive dribble combos together... only to end up taking a fadeaway with his defender still in front of him. Kyrie also isn't great at holding his dribble in a crowded paint. The best "functional" ball handlers can probe into the paint, draw help, maybe Nash the baseline or whatever, all while keeping a live dribble and looking for passing/scoring opportunities. Kyrie mostly goes from point A to point B.

Kyrie has the most technically impressive, and most beautiful handles I've ever seen in the NBA. I don't hold him in high regard as a functional ballhandler though. Most of Kyrie's offensive value has come from his shooting, and his ability to generate solid scoring on the weakside.

[cupcakesnake]

SGA - nobody else gets to his spots at will while never turning the ball over

Shai does sport a ludicrously low turnover rate. 8.5% over the 2024 and 2025 RS (151 games); 8.7% over the 2024 and 2025 PS (33 games). He's taken it to another level (6.2%) so far this season. We'll see if it holds.

Shai basically has the lowest dribble we've ever seen. He's like a snake in the grass. The turnover rate is no coincidence. How are you ever going to knock the ball loose when it barely leaves the ground.

[cupcakesnake]

CB's handles have always been criminally underrated.

Are we talking Christian Braun or Chris Boucher.
(Seriously though, I have no idea who CB is?)

[MoneyTalks41890]

Kyrie can do the most tricks and the craziest ones consistently. There was a time there when he was doing in game shamgods that made you leave your seat.

But Shai takes care of the ball and is always in full control even when he’s shifting weight and directions. He does some flashy stuff, but it’s mostly just extreme fundamentals/balance/coordination.

[MoneyTalks41890]

CB's handles have always been criminally underrated.

Are we talking Christian Braun or Chris Boucher.
(Seriously though, I have no idea who CB is?)

[FrodoBaggins]

SGA - nobody else gets to his spots at will while never turning the ball over

Shai does sport a ludicrously low turnover rate. 8.5% over the 2024 and 2025 RS (151 games); 8.7% over the 2024 and 2025 PS (33 games). He's taken it to another level (6.2%) so far this season. We'll see if it holds.

Shai basically has the lowest dribble we've ever seen. He's like a snake in the grass. The turnover rate is no coincidence. How are you ever going to knock the ball loose when it barely leaves the ground.

Just read that he's only committed 4 lost ball turnovers in 14 games and 470 minutes played. 294 FGAs/nearly 350 true shot attempts (TSA). Incredible.

[infinite11285]

Right now it’s Shai. But Kyrie at full powers? That’s a different creature entirely. The stuff he’s done with a basketball should require a wizard’s wand, a spellbook, and probably a league investigation. He can pull off things Shai just can’t, and maybe only one or two guys in NBA history ever could.

I mean seriously, he did this effortlessly before he could legally drink.

[MessiahUjiri]

CB's handles have always been criminally underrated.

Are we talking Christian Braun or Chris Boucher.
(Seriously though, I have no idea who CB is?)

Same.

Neither is good enough to warrant an acronym, therefore he must be talking about Chris Bosh, aka RuPaul, aka 3rd wheel Heatle.

[Haldi]

Kyrie and its not even close, imo.

If we talk about getting from point A to point B, I have seen elite defenses trap guys like Shai and Luka only to see them pick up the dribble and pass it to the open man. Kyrie has numerous plays where he beats the trap where the rest of the league would pass. In order to do even do it, you have to have a functional handle. Kyrie's skills go well beyond that. Best question is who has the second best handles.

Have to agree here. The question of best handles is like the one about best shooter. The first place guy in both those categories is so ahead that we’re better off debating about who’s in second.

[TheNG]

CB's handles have always been criminally underrated.

Are we talking Christian Braun or Chris Boucher.
(Seriously though, I have no idea who CB is?)

Same.

Neither is good enough to warrant an acronym, therefore he must be talking about Chris Bosh, aka RuPaul, aka 3rd wheel Heatle.

He meant Charles Barkley

[infinite11285]

Poetry in motion.

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