- These 15 players are some of the greatest offensive players ever in isolation
- From Bob Cousy to Allen Iverson, the evolution of the way the ball is handled in the NBA has been incredible
- Not only are these 15 players elite at handling the ball but are also among the NBA’s most talented finishers and passers
As an NBA analyst and writer, I rarely get to step outside the realm of statistics and quantifiable information. Of course, the eye test is important for every article I produce, and film study is a part of my day every day of the week. However, it is rare that I get to write an article that uses no quantifiable statistics to back up my arguments and opinions. Today that will not be the case.
When speaking about the NBA players with the greatest ball-handling s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s in history, there are no stats to measure the beauty and rhythm in which they move. There is no way to measure the impact they have on their respective teams by being able to operate with the ball on a string, obeying every command of the player in charge of its control. There is no way to separate the greatest ball handlers from the next tiers of players, other than to have watched them in action, whether that was live or from tape.
The greatest ball-handlers in NBA history just so happen to include some of the best scores, passers, and playmakers in history as well. This is because of their ability to control the ball at an elite level while creating these opportunities to make players for themselves and others. They aren’t too prone to turnovers, and their imaginations are constantly being brought to the forefront due to the consistent level of creativity that keeps evolving with time when it comes to the art of handling the basketball.
Today, we honor the pioneering, artistic, and innovative players known as the greatest ball-handlers in NBA history.
15. Bob Cousy
You can make all the jokes you want about the handles of the past players, especially during the 1950 and 60s. The fact remains that you cannot have a list of the greatest ball handlers in NBA history without the man they referred to as “The Houdini of the Hardwood”. Bob Cousy was a pioneer of the game during his time with the Boston Celtics during the 1950s and 60s with his ability to not only confuse and bewilder defenders but to play within the strict dribbling rules while surveying the court and consistently weaving his way to the basket.
It’s pretty evident on film that Cousy was far ahead of his time as a dribbler, and there is no telling what it would look like if he had the more relaxed rules of today in his favor. Cousy would become an MVP of the league in 1957 as well as a six-time NBA champion, 13-time All-Star, and a winner of eight career assist titles. Cousy would rank a little higher on this list if I knew of some more evidence that shows his ability to be ambidextrous with the ball purely as a passer and dribbler.
14. Walt Frazier
In another nod to the players of yesteryear, Walt Frazier comes in at No. 14 on the list of greatest ball-handlers in NBA history. Frazier is noted on this list for being a great ball-handler as well as what he did with those handles after using them to get past defenders. Frazier possessed a beautiful combination of speed, control, agility, and situational awareness that made him one of the best point guards of the 1970s with the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Frazier’s abilities never won him a scoring title or an assists title either, but he does have two NBA championships with New York that he played a major part in accomplishing. His superior handles and smart decision-making are what made the Knicks such a formidable opponent during the decade, and it carried throughout his career. Frazier was also a seven-time NBA All-Star and a four-time member of the All-NBA First Team.
13. Nick Van Exel
The next player on our list is a bit unorthodox in his approach as a ball-handler which likely worked to his advantage for most of his career. Nick Van Exel was referred to as Nick The Quick for the entirety of his basketball career, which applied to the speed he possessed with the ball both in and out of his hands. As a southpaw, this made Van Exel even more difficult to defend, as defenders often found themselves catching a quick glimpse of the back of his head on the way to the rim.
Van Exel was the original video game ball-handler. His control of the ball on his dribble freed up a ton of space for him to create an outside shot at a time when that wasn’t part of many players’ games. He was able to break into and knife through the lane with ease with his handle and is more than deserving of his spot on this list. Van Exel was never an NBA champion, but he did earn an All-Star appearance in 1998.
12. Magic Johnson
Handles are not often one of the first things that get brought up when speaking about Magic Johnson. That is usually because his scoring and playmaking were so elite, that handles often took a backseat to the s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s in his arsenal. It also probably doesn’t get mentioned because it was extremely rare for Magic to break down opponents from the perimeter. He would much rather operate from the post as a 6’9’’ freak of nature point guard.
However, something has to be said for becoming the greatest fast-break playmaker in NBA history. You do not earn that title or do the things Magic did as the offensive initiator without becoming one of the better ball-handlers ever. Magic would weave in and out of traffic on fast breaks with a form of beautiful simplicity. He rarely turned the ball over in these situations and, not to mention, usually finished these possessions with a pass that nobody saw coming. If that isn’t elite ball handling, I don’t know what is.
11. Chris Paul
When it comes to balance as an NBA ball-handler, there is none quite as aligned as Chris Paul. Throughout his entire career, Paul has used a blend of flash and simplicity in his handles to become one of the best in NBA history. As amazing as he is at keeping his dribble alive and in control in tight situations, he is equally great at breaking down defenders with his crossovers, hesitation moves, and quick first steps to break down defenders.
In his prime, there was no player that used the Shammgod or Smitty crossovers other than Paul. As he got older, he used his superior IQ and handles to pick apart opposing bigs in pick-and-roll switch situations. Although he won’t finish at the rim as much anymore, his pull-up jumper from the foul line extended has been nearly automatic over the last several seasons of his career. His handles have remained one of the best in the NBA, even at an older age.
10. James Harden
There haven’t been more explosive and entertaining offensive players to watch at their peaks than James Harden was from about 2015 through 2020. Of course, there were always the ones who couldn’t stand his playstyle that, included the obvious flailing and foul-baiting that has become synonymous with today’s league. Even if you couldn’t stand that, there is no denying Harden’s ability to handle the ball. It enabled him to have one of the greatest offensive stretches of all time, winning three straight scoring titles from 2018 through 2020.
While maneuvering the ball between his legs like a machine gun, Harden will bait defenders by dominating possessions. In one quick move, Harden would throw a counter move that showed he was on the attack. If the defender committed to the lane, Harden would hit him with a stepback three that he hit at a high rate. If the defender was overexcited, it was one Euro step and to the rim for Harden from there. It was a thing of beauty to watch in all its glory, and there weren’t many, if any, who could slow the attack down.
9. Steve Nash
One would not look at Steve Nash and think he was one of the best ball-handlers in NBA history. Five minutes into watching him play the game would certainly open your eyes, though. His game will not wow you as some of the more flashy players on this list will, but it was just as effective nonetheless. His handles were about fundamentals, efficiency, and selflessness. It helped him become a two-time league MVP and one championship shy of being considered a top-five point guard ever.
The way that Nash ran offenses with both speed and precision was incredibly difficult to defend or even keep up with. Nash would slice his way through defenses with seemingly little to no effort as he found his teammates regularly for easy and open buckets. Nobody kept their dribble alive, especially in tight situations, as Nash did at his peak, navigating defenders left and right. As far as handles go, Nash won’t wow you with flash, but he will floor you with his ability to cut up opponents and leave a massacre in his wake.
8. Stephen Curry
When you combine the greatest shooter that ever lived with some of the greatest handles in NBA history, it is a recipe for one of the most lethal offensive players in NBA history. That is exactly who Stephen Curry has been for the majority of the last decade in the NBA, as he has won two MVP awards, broken every three-point record there is, and won four NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors.
Curry’s ability as a dynamic basketball player who uses his dribble to perfection while creating shots has led to an abundance of scoring opportunities at all levels of offense. With speed, quick lateral and vertical movement, and precision, Curry uses his first step and change of direction to create space for his deadly outside shot. This ball-handling ability and the already-established shooting greatness combined have made Curry one of the greatest offensive weapons the NBA has ever seen, and it isn’t remotely close.
7. Jamal Crawford
I have seen a video recently of Jamal Crawford in his 40s still with the athleticism and ball control of the player he was in his prime, and right now, I would put him as a top-five ball-handler in the NBA. I know it sounds redundantly cliche, but if you ever wonder what actually having a ball on a string looked like from a ball-handler, look no further than Jamal Crawford.
I have never seen the overexaggerated crossover work as it did coming from Jamal Crawford. He would yank the ball side-to-side, freeze the defender with hesitation, and give his man two hard dribbles before pulling up or just blowing by him to the rim. It’s a move that almost stands still in time when I think back on it and the results that came from it repeatedly. With a combination of crossovers, double wraparounds, behind-the-back pullbacks, and so many other moves, Crawford was a master of creating space with flash and style.
6. Tim Hardaway
Even 30 years after he made it famous, Tim Hardaway’s Killer Crossover is still one of the most devastating moves in NBA history. There is no count for the number of ankles snatched by Hardaway during his career. Built like a brick wall as well, Hardaway could slice through the lane by engaging his defender and getting by them with in-and-out hesitation moves along and finish them with a pull-up jumper or finish at the rim.
Hardaway’s real reason for being so highly ranked on our list is simple. He ushered in the era of the great ball-handling score-first guards of the 1990s. It was he who inspired and introduced the crossover as a main weapon of choice from the perimeter, which led to an influx of players perfecting and evolving the move over time. Hardaway’s influence on the game goes completely underrated when it comes to his s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s as a ball-handler, but they are remembered quite fondly by this 90s basketball fan.
5. Jason Williams
Jason “White Chocolate” Williams can quite possibly lay claim to the greatest collection of highlight reels in NBA history. Williams was a wizard with the ball in his hands and the first player I can remember watching where I truly did not know or could figure out which way he was going to go next. At the height of the physicality and hand-check era, Williams and other point guards helped bring in some flair that brought us the beautiful balance of basketball during the 2000s.
Williams’ handles teetered on the edge of the rules and never disappointed in their delivery. Both as a passer and dribbler, Williams took the NBA and highlight shows across the world over with his nightly bevy of hesitation crossovers that stunned opponents, followed by a ridiculous one-handed, no-look pass of some sort. Williams was an even bigger problem for defenders in transition as he loved to push the pace and let his momentum open up his creative mind, which left opponents, fans, teammates, and everyone watching stunned and amazed at the same time.
4. Pete Maravich
If there is one player whose handles and play style were far too ahead of their time, it’s Pete Maravich. With pull-up jumpers, no-look passes, ball fakes, wraparound dribbles, and series of fake passes and changes of the direction he had in his arsenal, Maravich, in a time machine, would not look out of place on the court today. Well, as long as he was wearing some modern-day apparel.
You can look around the NBA at the most accomplished ball-handlers and see the influence they gained from Pete Maravich. As one of his teammates, you had to have your head on a swivel and be aware of his location at all times, even if he was 60 feet away and looking in the opposite direction. Other than his ability to score at an elite level, Maravich’s handles earned him a reputation as a ball-handling legend, wizard, and pioneer. No one else did what he did during his era, and now everyone has a little slice of his game within theirs.
3. Isiah Thomas
As one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, Isiah Thomas displayed some of the best ball control we have ever seen. In many ways, Thomas is directly responsible for modern-day ball handlers we see today with his use of crossovers and direction changes as a normal attack with the ball in his hands. Thomas combined a fast lateral movement with his crossover combined with a supersonic burst toward the hoop that made him impossible to predict at times.
Thomas pretty much introduced the machine-gun dribble into the NBA, a maneuver used to freeze a defender or make him reach by firing the ball between your legs at a high rate of speed over and over again. The amazing thing is that on more than one occasion, you could find Thomas weaving through defenders and getting so low that he only needed two inches of space above the floor to control the ball. Talk about using your size to your advantage, am I right?
2. Allen Iverson
If the player who resides at number one on my list didn’t exist, this category would be Allen Iverson’s to own without any close competition. Trust me, it hurts as someone who grew up wanting to be Iverson to think anyone has better handles than he did, but here we are. Iverson was a blue on the court who stood just 6’0’’ and moved with the quickness of a cheetah. Iverson’s crossover is one of the deadliest in NBA history and has claimed the ankles of some of the greatest defenders to ever hit the court.
It wasn’t all about the flash and swagger of Iverson, though. It was also about the purpose in which he had behind all of these moves. His lethal first step led to him blowing by defenders on his way to four NBA scoring titles and an MVP award in 2001. Iverson was the bane of so many people’s existence at his peak, including the NBA, who repeatedly went to war with the guard and even tried to institute a harsher rule for carrying or palming the ball based on his success. Even with the rule change, Iverson’s moves were too complex for the nɑƙeɗ eye, and he thrived for years while embarrassing defenders left and right.
1. Kyrie Irving
I can sit here and list off every move that I have ever seen in the NBA from every elite ball-handler in the game’s history. The fact would still remain that Kyrie Irving has all of it in his bag and then some. Irving is not only the most aesthetically pleasing ball-handler of all time, moving through his reps with an artistic flow. His ability to contort his body and routinely finish tougher and tougher shots at the rim has also made him perhaps the most exciting point guard to watch ever.
Body Control, spins, agility, quickness, fakes, Irving uses it all each and every night on the court. It takes just a few seconds for Irving to adjust to any defense he sees in front of him, only to slice and dice his way through it for an acrobatic score and find one of his teammates. Irving has a purpose with every movement and every dribble, with no move going wasted on a meaningless possession. In creating a perfect NBA player, Irving’s handles would be the only choice every time.
