Who had better handles, Tracy McGrady or Kevin Durant?

[Harry Palmer]

This is, respectfully, not even remotely close.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Kevin Durant as he is a modern ball handler in the 2020s

Spoiler:

I’m kidding guys dont worry

[OhayoKD]

McGrady.

I think he got his handle ripped less from what I have seen, while still having an incredibly deep bag of tricks himself.

According to BKREF, KD (36,000 minutes played) has almost twice as many lost ball turnovers than Tracy McGrady (30,000 minutes played) does. Obviously not every loss ball turnover is related to his handles, but the eye test seems to be corroborated here.

He also handled the ball way less

[Pelly24]

KD's just too tall to have mega functional handle. In terms of pure dexterity, I think KD's handle is as good as most guards, but there's only so much you can do when the ball is coming that high off the ground. KD doesn't have the strength to shield with his body either, so he just can't get to as many places with the dribble. Durant also has really hight shoulders, so while his wingspan and standing reach are big pluses, his hands are even further away from the ground that most comparably sized guys. High dribble + non-elite strength or burst... it's just not a recipe for elite functional ball handling.

People like to exaggerate T-Mac's height and I don't know exactly how tall he was. I'd guess he was 6'7" barefoot with plus length. He was able to get pretty low on his drives and get to his spots a little better.

I think TMac was 6'6" without shoes, which is really like 6'7" in NBA terms. Kobe was 6'4.75," as was MJ, but them being listed at 6'6" instead of 6'5" threw everyone off.

KD I think his handle is too high so it can be loose at times. I think as a No. 1 option, this held him back at times. It seemed like he would be better off being a couple inches shorter with a denser build that doesn't get tired, and so he could be more aggressive driving and finishing while being able to control the ball. This is why I always thought LeBron had a clearly superior handle. He wasn't quite as fluid or shifty, but his turnover rate is super low and you know he'll be able to control the rock. Much stronger body, pretty low handle for his height, which is about a legit 6'8," about two inches shorter than KD.

[One_and_Done]

T-Mac. Not close. Not saying KD had bad handles, but McGrady had legit point guard skills in his prime.

[Gibson22]

KD doesn't have good handles. Even for his size it's not remarkable nowadays. Just someone like banchero is slightly shorter but way bigger and has a way better handle

[Jaivl]

Durant does not have that meaningful a height advantage over Magic, Lebron, and Paul George, but the disparity in ballhandling is still significant.

It's not just about height (even tho KD is a legit 6'11 and is clearly taller than all of those guys), but the wingspan too. And I definitely think that factors into the equation.

KD is not a legit 6'11". KD is not a legit 6'10".

He has extremely high shoulders and looong arms, so functionally yes, he has the basketball body of a near 7' guy, but he's not actually close to it.


(Face to face with 6'11" Marc Gasol)

[eminence]

I can't think of any player swingman-sized or taller with better handles than T-Mac. Eventually someone will come along, but currently he is the gold standard when it comes to handles at the 2/3 position or taller.

I think a bit worse, but among players notably larger than T-Mac I was always very impressed by Odoms handling.

[oaktownwarriors87]

Durant does not have that meaningful a height advantage over Magic, Lebron, and Paul George, but the disparity in ballhandling is still significant.

It's not just about height (even tho KD is a legit 6'11 and is clearly taller than all of those guys), but the wingspan too. And I definitely think that factors into the equation.

KD is not a legit 6'11". KD is not a legit 6'10".

He has extremely high shoulders and looong arms, so functionally yes, he has the basketball body of a near 7' guy, but he's not actually close to it.


(Face to face with 6'11" Marc Gasol)

Cousins is 6'9.5" without shoes

[70sFan]

It's not just about height (even tho KD is a legit 6'11 and is clearly taller than all of those guys), but the wingspan too. And I definitely think that factors into the equation.

KD is not a legit 6'11". KD is not a legit 6'10".

He has extremely high shoulders and looong arms, so functionally yes, he has the basketball body of a near 7' guy, but he's not actually close to it.


(Face to face with 6'11" Marc Gasol)

Cousins is 6'9.5" without shoes

This proves 6'11 KD is a fantasy.

[SHAQ32]

KD is clearly 1.5 inches taller than Cousins there

[70sFan]

KD is clearly 1.5 inches taller than Cousins there

What...

[MyUniBroDavis]

Y’all arguing over 2 inches is crazy

[Jaivl]

KD is clearly 1.5 inches taller than Cousins there

Trying to rewrite what 1.5 inches are may work with your missus, but that's not gonna fly here, man.

[therealbig3]

Durant does not have that meaningful a height advantage over Magic, Lebron, and Paul George, but the disparity in ballhandling is still significant.

It's not just about height (even tho KD is a legit 6'11 and is clearly taller than all of those guys), but the wingspan too. And I definitely think that factors into the equation.

Are you talking about relative to height or just in general? In general this is TMac no question, he's in a different universe. Relative to height, I guess KD has an argument then but probably not a great one.

Relative to height, I think T-Mac is the best swingman-sized ball handler I've ever seen. Legitimate PG skills as a ball handler and passer, which is why he actually played PG for extended stretches of his career. For example, I'd take T-Mac pretty easily as a ball handler over LeBron James, who I think is an elite ball handler in his own right for a guy his size.

Durant really isn't a great ball handler tbh, he turns it over a lot whenever he tries to be a primary on-ball creator and doesn't decide to pull up for a 3.

And he wasn't even that much taller than T-Mac. KD is listed at 6'10, T-Mac at 6'8. Both of them in actuality probably an inch shorter than that.

[Mr Swagtastic]

McGrady easily, he's one of the biggest what ifs in terms of he stayed healthy. He retired at 32.if he played in this style of play that's more offensive driven I could easily see a 25+/8/+/8+ season

KD is very good but people forget how damn good McGrady was in his Magic run that crossover was lethal

[McBubbles]

Tracy and it's not even close. McGrady had legit guard handles, while Durant gets the "7 feet guard" label which means... he's not really a functional guard with his handles.

Reminds me of Anthony "He was a point guard in High School" Davis. Doesn't even have outlierish handles or playmaking for his position

But yeah KD is actually probably the most overrated ball handler of all time. The fact it's overwhelming consensus that he has better handles than Lebron is more evidence that most fans don't know how to watch basketball.