Does Kyrie Irving still have the NBA’s best handles? Top five ranked

Irving will return to action this upcoming season for the Mavericks after an ACL injury kept him out of the picture last year. But is he still the best ball-handler the NBA has to offer?

In short, yes. There are a few star guards who come close, though. Starting with a veteran who has long made his living in isolation.

The NBA’s best ball-handlers

5. James Harden

There was a time when you could make a strong argument for The Beard topping this list. James Harden is one of the best isolation scorers we have ever seen, and he hasn’t lost his dribbling skills with age.

The way Harden could breeze past elite defenders, devastate them with a crossover and glide to the cup was something to behold in his Houston days.

Now playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Harden has lost some of his explosiveness, but his technical skills are still elite. We’ll settle for fifth spot based on recent form, but make no mistake — Harden has some of the best handles we’ve ever seen.

4. Tyrese Maxey

From a seasoned veteran to one of the league’s brightest young stars. Tyrese Maxey is a different kind of dribbler than Harden — one who relies more on his blistering speed to leave the best NBA guards planted on the spot.

Maxey’s shooting has come on leaps and bounds, meaning defenders have no easy option to give up. His stop-start moves, quick crosses and mean step-back continue to leave defenders floundering.

At 25, the 76ers star is entering his prime. With LeBron James and Jaylen Brown added to the ranks, this Philly team are looking extremely dangerous.

But despite all the star power, Nick Nurse has to make sure Maxey is putting the ball on the floor and showcasing those mean handles. Defenses beware.

3. Trae Young

Say what you want about Trae Young, but you do not want to be faced up against him 1v1. He makes up for his slight stature with a shiftiness that allows him to dance through the lane on his way to the hole.

Even more so than Maxey, he has the ability to sink shots from almost anywhere on the floor, so sagging off is not an option.

The last few years in Atlanta have seen Young’s stock take a dive, but the talent is still there. Washington offers the 27-year-old the chance to bounce back alongside Anthony Davis.

He’s the best of the rest in terms of handling the ball, but the distance to the top two means he won’t be moving up — until someone calls time on their NBA career.

1A Kyrie Irving, 1B Stephen Curry

Two of the best of all time with the ball in their hands, Irving and Steph Curry are a different class.

So to answer the question posed at the top of the article — yes, Kyrie is still king of the hill. But Curry isn’t as far behind as some would have you believe. The funny thing is, being the greatest shooter of all time has actually done him no favours in this debate.

When you think of Curry, you think of the limitless range, ridiculous shot-making under pressure and the barrage of threes he can produce at any moment to turn a game on its head.

That means his handles go unappreciated. If anything, that aspect of his game has improved in the latter years of his career, giving him a ridiculous inside-outside scoring threat.

Still, Irving is the gold standard. Few, if any, have matched his ball-handling ability over the years. It truly is a marvel to behold.

These two can break your ankles with the slightest of moves, leave you rooted to the spot, or simply embarrass you with a quick blow-by. All that being said, Irving’s handles take the top spot. It will take a special talent to unseat him.

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