Who had better handles, Tracy McGrady or Kevin Durant?

SHAQ32 · Post #1 » by **SHAQ32** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 9:55 pm

I say KD.

LukaTheGOAT · Post #2 » by **LukaTheGOAT** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 10:01 pm

McGrady.

I think he got his handle ripped less from what I have seen, while still having an incredibly deep bag of tricks himself. I think that is part of the reason why McGrady could serve more as a primary playmaker for his team offenses than KD, because he could more easily navigate tight spaces than KD.

Primedeion · Post #3 » by **Primedeion** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 10:03 pm

It's T-Mac and it's not even remotely close. Look at his insanely low tov rates. KD's handle has always been incredibly overrated.

rk2023 · Post #4 » by **rk2023** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 10:09 pm

McGrady

homecourtloss · Post #5 » by **homecourtloss** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 10:14 pm

LukaTheGOAT wrote: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.

Post #6 » by **cupcakesnake** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 10:17 pm

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.

LukaTheGOAT · Post #7 » by **LukaTheGOAT** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 10:18 pm

homecourtloss wrote:
LukaTheGOAT wrote: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.

Thanks for making me look good lol

Post #8 » by **penbeast0** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 11:38 pm

Congrats, I think you picked the one tool in the toolbox where Tmac gets the win :-)

(okay, offensive rebounding and steals too but a lot of that is just scheme)

TroubleS0me · Post #9 » by **TroubleS0me** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 11:41 pm

Mac is easy
KD travels lol

SHAQ32 · Post #10 » by **SHAQ32** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 11:41 pm

penbeast0 wrote:Congrats, I think you picked the one tool in the toolbox where Tmac gets the win

(okay, offensive rebounding and steals too but a lot of that is just scheme)

Mac clearly a better passer.

70sFan · Post #11 » by **70sFan** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 6:54 am

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.

rockmanslim · Post #12 » by **rockmanslim** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 6:57 am

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.

AussieBuck · Post #13 » by **AussieBuck** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 10:21 am

It's amazing what KD's carry heavy (getting close to meaningless these last couple years but gimmie some rope here) elaborate crossover has done for his handle rep with a subset of fans. He really doesn't have a notable handle at all for a forward.

SHAQ32 · Post #14 » by **SHAQ32** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 6:12 pm

AussieBuck wrote:It's amazing what KD's carry heavy (getting close to meaningless these last couple years but gimmie some rope here) elaborate crossover has done for his handle rep with a subset of fans. He really doesn't have a notable handle at all for a forward.

He's almost 7 feet tall though

70sFan · Post #15 » by **70sFan** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 6:15 pm

SHAQ32 wrote:
AussieBuck wrote:It's amazing what KD's carry heavy (getting close to meaningless these last couple years but gimmie some rope here) elaborate crossover has done for his handle rep with a subset of fans. He really doesn't have a notable handle at all for a forward.

He's almost 7 feet tall though

Somewhere between 6'9 and 6'10 without the shoes. I don't think he has better handles than Giannis for example and Giannis is probably slightly taller than him.

SHAQ32 · Post #16 » by **SHAQ32** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 6:34 pm

70sFan wrote:
SHAQ32 wrote:
AussieBuck wrote:It's amazing what KD's carry heavy (getting close to meaningless these last couple years but gimmie some rope here) elaborate crossover has done for his handle rep with a subset of fans. He really doesn't have a notable handle at all for a forward.

He's almost 7 feet tall though

Somewhere between 6'9 and 6'10 without the shoes. I don't think he has better handles than Giannis for example and Giannis is probably slightly taller than him.

Giannis and then who?

70sFan · Post #17 » by **70sFan** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 7:21 pm

SHAQ32 wrote:
70sFan wrote:
SHAQ32 wrote:He's almost 7 feet tall though

Somewhere between 6'9 and 6'10 without the shoes. I don't think he has better handles than Giannis for example and Giannis is probably slightly taller than him.

Giannis and then who?

I can argue plenty, but what's the point? You asked who has better handles and it's easily Tmac. I don't get additional points for being taller.

AEnigma · Post #18 » by **AEnigma** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 7:39 pm

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

SHAQ32 · Post #19 » by **SHAQ32** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 11:13 pm

AEnigma wrote: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.

RCM88x · Post #20 » by **RCM88x** » Tue Aug 15, 2023 12:15 am

SHAQ32 wrote:
AEnigma wrote: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.

Better handles