Kyrie Irving has a mile-long mixtape breaking his ankle and hitting the enemy with a mind-blowing crossover, but according to Tracy McGrady, one former player has a better handle.
The NBA has seen more than a significant percentage of inventive ball handlers. From Bob Coocy, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson and Kyrie Irving, the league has always had a wizard glow that fans have never seen before.
In many cases, excellent handles add scoring skills to the player’s repertoire, and the best ball handlers are remembered as Hall of Fame talent.
Irving has had the case to become the greatest dribbler of all time, and his nine All-Star nods solidify his spot at Springfield, but one former player thinks an overlooked player will beat him.
Tracy McGrady’s 15-season career overlapped with Irving, Iverson, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Jason Williams and Stephen Curry. While all these players have the weapon of moves that create space and create embarrassing defenders, McGrady thinks someone else will take the cake.
“Do you remember Jamal Tinsley?” McGrady asked in an episode of Young man and three. “I don’t think anyone has a good handle, even Jamal Tinsley, Kylie.
I think Jamal Tinsley’s handle was probably the best I’ve seen. But that’s a debate. ”
Tinsley was by no means a teammate at McGrady’s, so this is not an example of T-Mac giving praise or praise to his best friend. He played 11 seasons in the NBA and was by no means an All-Star. In fact, he averaged only 8.5 points per game during his career, but he was able to dribble to the best.
“He was kind, that was on the string,” McGrady finished.
In 2007 he went viral to dribble Yao Ming’s legs while facing McGrady and Houston Rockets. He scored 22 points in that game and joined six assists, but the Indiana Pacers lost 10 points.
In his 11 seasons, he played three times in over 70 games. Tinsley had a prolonged foot issue and a deal with the Pacers between 2008-09.
In seven seasons with Pacer between 2001 and 2008, he averaged 10.4 points and seven assists, serving as a solid starting point guard when he was healthy. However, he was not the best defender, not a shooting threat, and accounted for 29.9% of his attempts in his career.
| team | GP | ppg | APG | RPG | SPG | FG% | 3pt% |
| ind, mem, uta | 547 | 8.5 | 6.1 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 39.3% | 29.9% |
In 2001 he became one of 15 players in NBA history, scoring a “5×5” game, with 12 points, 15 assists, nine rebounds, six steals and five blocks. Tinsley, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Camby, George Johnson and Jusuf Nurkic are the only non-stars to record their feats.
He has some flashy highlights and pass-first insights, but he has not been able to find the same amount of NBA success, not a perfect player like Irving, Iverson, and Nash.