Which big had the best handles ever?

[Im Still Ballin]

Not flashiest. Just the best, which to me means most effective. Ball control/protection/avoiding turnovers (steals, carries/double dribbles/travels/charges, etc). Being able to get to where they want to go off the dribble.

[Im Still Ballin]

Is separating skill from athleticism and anthropometry pointless in this discussion? There are bigs with better ball handling skill/technique than Giannis but Antetokounmpo is just so long and explosive he can get where he wants to.

Makes you wonder how we define/judge "skill."

[Kblaze8855]

If we are calling a big anyone say 6’9” and up? It would have to be McGrady Odom or Kevin Durant unless you choose to ignore the reports of their actual heights being greater than sometimes listed

[Neal Romer]

I would say in the spirit of the thread 'big' should be interpreted as someone whose typical style was playing a traditional back to the basket game. We all know there's a bunch of tall wings who have handles. I mean if you're gonna call Giannis a big you might as well call Lebron a big, in which case he's the answer.

If we're talking 'post player' bigs the best handles is... Shaq.

Prove me wrong.

[Duffy Pratt]

If we are calling a big anyone say 6’9” and up? It would have to be McGrady Odom or Kevin Durant unless you choose to ignore the reports of their actual heights being greater than sometimes listed

If it’s 6’9” and up, don’t you think the answer is Magic Johnson?

That said, I think the answer is either Wemby or Joker.

[Kblaze8855]

Magic was hard to take the ball from, but his handles weren’t particularly advanced as much as his body control, experience, and his era allowing him to protect the ball by backing down for extended periods of time. Magic had exceptional handles for his size but not in a breaking down his man kinda way. He just did what he needed to do and protected the ball from people who thought they could take it. He was a great defensive ball handler for lack of a better term. He could keep the ball from you and make you pay for gambling. But he wasn’t especially tricky or advanced with his moves as a ball handler. Just efficient.

[Duffy Pratt]

Magic was hard to take the ball from, but his handles weren’t particularly advanced as much as his body control, experience, and his era allowing him to protect the ball by backing down for extended periods of time. Magic had exceptional handles for his size but not in a breaking down his man kinda way. He just did what he needed to do and protected the ball from people who thought they could take it. He was a great defensive ball handler for lack of a better term. He could keep the ball from you and make you pay for gambling. But he wasn’t especially tricky or advanced with his moves as a ball handler. Just efficient.

Agree with all this, and it makes the case for Magic as the best by the OP’s criteria (effectiveness). His goal was almost never to break someone down one on one to set up his own shot.

If you go by the tricky/advanced stuff, I still go with either Wemby or Jokic. Jokic doesn’t show it often, for the same reasons as Magic, but I’ve seen him do remarkable things off the dribble. And Wemby is kind of mind boggling for his size, doing things I typically only expect flashy guards to do off the dribble.

[iamgine]

I assume this is actual bigs and not the Lebron/Magic type bigs.


Embiid has some moves:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H3GQ7uN8UU

[Neal Romer]

I assume this is actual bigs and not the Lebron/Magic type bigs.


Embiid has some moves:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H3GQ7uN8UU


^ High level.


v Next level


https://youtu.be/2I5q-IEh7Kg?si=C3WeUXfgIZwf5rzC


https://youtu.be/QT8w8Ot8Pcw?si=j54XaeNxmHZFhE47

[L.Kizzle]

Magic is 6'9. True. He's not a big tho, he plays point guard. On the other hand, the 6'4 Charles Barkley is considered a big. I'd go with Barkley.

[Meticode]

Wemby and he's only going to get better. He literally dribbles like a guard, but he's 7'4". I mean he shammod's the former DPoY as a rookie. :oldlol:


https://youtu.be/JRnHLH2-0LU?si=N50FnTqc6sLx_IpN

[ralph_i_el]

Naz Reid.

Does LeBron count as a big?


https://youtu.be/-Rf1dc8fJVU?si=Y_9jkAUUMFioEeEh

Blake Griffin comes to mind as well. Josh Smith?

[tpols]

Giannis handles are somewhat rudimentary. His only move is to either sprint past / through you, or do a spin move. It's not exactly a dribbling exhibition. Lamar Odom actually had guard handles... crossovers, behind the backs, in and out dribbles, etc. Another mention could be Al Harrington.

[Charlie Sheen]

Not flashiest. Just the best, which to me means most effective. Ball control/protection/avoiding turnovers (steals, carries/double dribbles/travels/charges, etc). Being able to get to where they want to go off the dribble.

In the halfcourt? Pau. He could put it on the deck with either hand and his movement was fluid.

[L.Kizzle]

Chris Webber hasn't gotten a mention yet?

[Kblaze8855]

I thought about him and KG But there were a lot of those guys. Vin Baker, Derrick Coleman and Juwan Howard had handles along those lines. Antoine Walker might’ve had better handles than all of them.

[Jasper]

I will take Moses in yester year

I will take Giannis in todays era.

[3ba11]

AD

[999Guy]

Lamar Odom was legitimately an elite rim protector, rebounder and banger down low. So it has to be him.

I like what KG can do as well. Draymond. Embiid.

[Axe]

Wemby and he's only going to get better. He literally dribbles like a guard, but he's 7'4". I mean he shammod's the former DPoY as a rookie. :oldlol:


https://youtu.be/JRnHLH2-0LU?si=N50FnTqc6sLx_IpN
This. Almighty alien/giraffe.