Every basketball fans loves seeing a good dunk. Whether it’s something creative in the open floor by yourself, or banging on somebody in traffic, the dunk is generally regarded as the most exciting play in the game. However, a great dunk isn’t what does it for me. A player that shakes up a defender with crafty handle is what I’d rather see. Some people are simply just blessed with hops, and don’t really have to work at it. Surely, you know a few. But no one is born with handle. Ball handling has to be cultivated and nurtured, and when it’s perfected, it can be some thing special.
I have two general criteria for good ball handling: 1) you can manage to dribble your way out of traffic, and 2) you’re handle is elusive enough to get by a defender at will. Based on those two, here are my top 5 ball handlers in the NBA today:
Chris Paul
Unlike some of the other guys on this list, I think Chris is more likely to shake a defender while running at them on a fast break, whereas others can get by the hapless opposition just as easily in a half court set. Nonetheless, he’s still a top-notch ball handler.
Deron Williams
Deron is very deceptive. If you never saw him play, and judging by his frame, you would never guess that he can handle the ball the way he does. His handle is very compact with makes for short, quick crossovers in either direction, helping him to get by a defender.
Rajon Rondo
He doesn’t really crossover many people, but he can dribble out of a jam like nobody’s business. He also has the uncanny ability to find the tiniest seems to dribble through, while always maintaining possession of the ball.
Derrick Rose
Sometimes when I watch Rose dribble, I see Marbury. Don’t laugh. Even though he isn’t regarded as highly anymore, Steph was an exceptional ball handler during his Minnesota and New Jersey days. But Rose is more elusive with the ball than Marbury was. Combine Rose’s array of moves with the rock with his blinding quickness, and it’s lights out for anyone facing that unfortunate situation one-on-one. He has probably put more defenders on the ground than any active player.
Jamal Crawford
Jamal may very well be the most elusive ball handler in the League. In fact, he’s the only non-Point Guard to make this list as he possesses that playground-style handle. Whether he’s running at you on a fast break, or lulling you to sleep in the half court, he gets by defenders just as easily. Because he’s 6’5″, he covers alot of ground with his blow-by moves which makes him extremely difficult to contain.
If you’re looking for your everyday, predictable basketball talk, then you’ve come to the wrong place, because Kevin Burke of The Kevin Burke Project brings provocative, thought provoking content about basketball as only he can. Kevin also hosts The Hoop Doctors weekly podcast show, which you can subscribe to for free on iTunes. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Facebook
