Where did the 'Clyde Drexler couldn't dribble without looking at the ball' originate?

[hiphopanonymous]

Every once in a while during the typical Jeff Hornacek Jordan bashing discussions someone brings up that additionally even other greats like Clyde Drexler "couldn't dribble the ball without looking at it". Where did this come from do we have examples or is this conjecture?

[FKAri]

He dribbled with his head kinda down. He could only dribble with his right, could only drive right, could only pass with his right, and could only shoot with his right.

[hiphopanonymous]

He dribbled with his head kinda down. He could only dribble with his right, could only drive right, could only pass with his right, and could only shoot with his right.

I've seen him drive, dribble, and shoot left handed on the very first highlight that came up on YouTube... so is this just a made up criticism?

[Whoah10115]

I've seen him drive, dribble, and shoot left handed on the very first highlight that came up on YouTube... so is this just a made up criticism?

Oy. But facts tho.

[ArbitraryWater]

I've seen him drive, dribble, and shoot left handed on the very first highlight that came up on YouTube... so is this just a made up criticism?

And you saw it done clunky and ineffectively.

So no, he's right.

[Phoenix]

There were times on the break where he took a little peak at the ball. I've seen it. I'm sure most of us who were watching at the time would have observed it. And his style of dribbling on the break had kind of a 'barrelling towards the rim' manner with his head lowered. Saying he's completely incapable of dribbling without looking at the ball is hyperbole, but this is ISH. He wasn't the graceful dribbler by any means, but he got to where he needed to go for the most part.

[FKAri]

I've seen him drive, dribble, and shoot left handed on the very first highlight that came up on YouTube... so is this just a made up criticism?
I just saw a highlight of Lebron hitting a turn around fadeaway from 3 with a defender on him. What's this made up criticism about him not being able to shoot the 3 as well as Curry?


There were times on the break where he took a little peak at the ball. I've seen it. I'm sure most of us who were watching at the time would have observed it. And his style of dribbling on the break had kind of a 'barrelling towards the rim' manner with his head lowered. Saying he's completely incapable of dribbling without looking at the ball is hyperbole, but this is ISH. He wasn't the graceful dribbler by any means, but he got to where he needed to go for the most part.
He had an antiquated style of dribbling(didn't carry) so it looked like his handle was worse than it really was. That being said his handle wasn't great as he was very reliant on his right hand.

[sdot_thadon]

There were times on the break where he took a little peak at the ball. I've seen it. I'm sure most of us who were watching at the time would have observed it. And his style of dribbling on the break had kind of a 'barrelling towards the rim' manner with his head lowered. Saying he's completely incapable of dribbling without looking at the ball is hyperbole, but this is ISH. He wasn't the graceful dribbler by any means, but he got to where he needed to go for the most part.

This. Won't lie I always assumed he was looking at the ball myself. He was still pretty fast on the break despite that but I imagine he'd be a target to draw charges in this era....

[Elosha]

This is basically a myth. Clyde was known as one of the fastest players with the ball. He hunched over a little while he dribbled, but he was extremely fast and in control.

Most of his highlights on YouTube are dunks, but you can still find easily left hand drives, right-to-left crossovers, lightning-fast behind the backs, left-handed dunks/layups, and basically everything you need to know that he good with his left hand. That's not to say that he wasn't right-hand dominant, he was, but this idea that he couldn't do anything with his left is completely false. Again just watching YouTube videos, it's all there for anyone to see. And that's of course just a tiny fraction of his actual highlights, and the vast majority are dunks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR5DCIZTkpM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7cQWV28N_E

If he were playing today, he be blowing past by 95% of the players like they were standing still on his drives. I don't think anyone would be on him for supposedly looking down at his dribble after he dunked on their heads.

[BigShotBob]

He dribbled with his head down but he wasn't looking at the ball he was looking at the opposing player's feet so if they back-pedaled he'd drive to the rim.

[Whoah10115]

No one cares. Just agenda pushing, and actual literacy.

[ralph_i_el]

This. Won't lie I always assumed he was looking at the ball myself. He was still pretty fast on the break despite that but I imagine he'd be a target to draw charges in this era....

That's fair, but half these young kids would get 2+ carries or palming violations a game in his era.

[hiphopanonymous]

Ok based on some collective opinion I'm reading here combined with how he played he did appear to have a downward head tilt pushing the ball in transition and he also appeared to have a more traditional palm down dribble in transition (not on driving though from what I see). I also see his driving is extremely fast, effective, and he can definitely use his left hand to shoot or dribble to get to the basket. Right hand dominant is the description I'd agree with here, not "no left hand". Hypothetically speaking for the ones taking jabs at his method for moving with the ball. If the way he moved around with the ball in his hands worked...

...than what exactly is the problem? Is there any problem whatsoever with this?

[Bronbron23]

It looks weird but its not like it effected him much. He rarely got charges and was actually a pretty good passer.

[Manny98]

Wait, are you seriously telling me there were players that couldn't even dribble without looking at the ball in the 90s?

https://media.giphy.com/media/p0RDMJGgMXF96/giphy.gif

[light]

Every once in a while during the typical Jeff Hornacek Jordan bashing discussions someone brings up that additionally even other greats like Clyde Drexler "couldn't dribble the ball without looking at it". Where did this come from do we have examples or is this conjecture?

Yeah, Bill Russell and Charles Barkley were also like that.

Some players are like that. Dr. J was also a little bit like that.

It is behavior that should be mocked and scorned.

[Bronbron23]

Wait, are you seriously telling me there were players that couldn't even dribble without looking at the ball in the 90s?

https://media.giphy.com/media/p0RDMJGgMXF96/giphy.gif

And wait your telling me that 30 years later that clyde would be most athletic gaurd by a mile? But evolution though:facepalm

[light]

And wait your telling me that 30 years later that clyde would be most athletic gaurd by a mile? But evolution though:facepalm

Drexler wasn't more athletic than Westbrook.

[Bronbron23]

Drexler wasn't more athletic than Westbrook.

Not sure about that. Clyde can jump higher but westbrook is faster. Not sure whos stronger. Westbrook is definitely athletic as hell but he plays 100 mph and hes aggressive as hell. He bullys smaller gaurds but its not like hes throwing bigger stronger guys around. Hes definitely the most athletic point gaurd with the exception of maybe drose but thers been plenty of gaurds as athletic or more than westbrook

[Phoenix]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/FreeAgreeableIndianskimmer-size_restricted.gif



:lol:lol

[HylianNightmare]

Couldn't go left must've been some bum then. Assume he didnt last long in the league?

[Manny98]

Not sure about that. Clyde can jump higher but westbrook is faster. Not sure whos stronger. Westbrook is definitely athletic as hell but he plays 100 mph and hes aggressive as hell. He bullys smaller gaurds but its not like hes throwing bigger stronger guys around. Hes definitely the most athletic point gaurd with the exception of maybe drose but thers been plenty of gaurds as athletic or more than westbrook
Drexler is not close to Westbrook in terms of athleticism, stop it :facepalm

Then you have

Zach Lavine
Ja Morant
Ben Simmons
D'aaron Fox
Donavan Mitchell

Who are all better athletes than Drexler, I'm probably missing someone

[Manny98]

:lol:lol
https://media.giphy.com/media/3FBwwRCNTSa52/giphy.gif

[Phoenix]

https://media.giphy.com/media/3FBwwRCNTSa52/giphy.gif

https://img.cinemablend.com/filter:scale/cb/d/b/a/3/6/f/dba36f8ad7c76a101d303f2c5c6dbb062732b6f8876df35e11 0c3d3f12eae3ed.jpg?fw=1200