When thinking about elite point guards, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Penny Hardaway, and Stephen Curry are just some of the names that immediately come to mind. They all have distinct playmaking abilities that made them the great players that basketball fans recognize today. However, among those players, the best ball handler that has ever stepped foot in the league will still be Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving.
The former Duke Blue Devil immediately showcased his dribbling skills right from the get-go as a rookie for the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2011. Former Cavs head coach Byron Scott went on to hand the keys to Irving where he had the green light to do whatever he wanted on the court. Given how he always had the ball on a string, he was able to easily maneuver through defenses and blow past defenders in his first few seasons in the league.
His signature crossover moves on the hardwood eventually bedazzled fans which made him a favorite to headline the annual All-Star games where he has already garnered a total of six appearances in his young career. His best performance in the star-studded exhibition match came in the 2013-2014 season when he served as the starting point guard for the Eastern Conference and recorded 31 points along with 14 assists en route to being named the All-Star game MVP.
Kyrie Irving carried over his stellar play during the regular season where he eventually became the face of the Cavaliers franchise who hoped to build around him for the future. His role in the team gradually changed when hometown hero LeBron James came back for a second-stint in 2014-2015 which relegated him to the backseat.
Irving's touches soon became limited with the four-time MVP handling most of the playmaking duties. Despite having James at the helm, Irving still managed to show his ability to close out games thanks to his rare combination of tight handles and a sweet-shooting stroke.
His reliable shot-making abilities also paved the way for him to snag the NBA Three-Point Contest title back in 2013 where he went up against some of the league's best shooters. Irving often relied on his shooting to ice countless games throughout his nine-year career. Among all the shots that he previously drained, none could ever be bigger than his iconic three-point basket that sealed the Game 7 victory for the Cavs in the 2016 NBA Finals.
Kyrie Irving always made it a point to put on a show for the fans regardless of the jersey that he was wearing, be it in the league or overseas. He previously took his dribbling exhibition to the international stage where he headlined the Team USA squad that went to the FIBA World Cup back in 2014.
The Mike Krzyzewski-led team struck gold in the tournament where he was subsequently named as the FIBA World Cup MVP after averaging norms of 12.1 points and 3.6 assists per game including 26 points in the championship game against European powerhouse Serbia.
As one of the rising stars in the league, Irving has played the game unlike any other player would – truly resembling the New York brand of basketball. He handled NBA games similar to how he would play 1-on-1 against his opponents and serve them buckets on the blacktop in true Uncle Drew fashion.
Indeed, his style of play managed to set him apart from his counterparts and was one that the league and its fans have never witnessed before. His masterful ball-handling ultimately made him the icon that he is today and Kyrie Irving will aim to put in on full display as he continues to star for his hometown Brooklyn Nets next season.
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