Despite the changing trends of the times, there are certain types that have remained popular for better or worse. It”s a style of play that”s often described as flashy, dynamic, and showtime. They are dribble masters. There”s no such thing as a basketball player who can”t dribble, but there”s a special breed of dribbler, the so-called artisanal dribbler, who has a huge fan base and whose style is the first to appeal to even those who don”t know much about basketball.
These players are considered to be masters of their craft, and their dribbling skills are considered to be unique in the league, turning even their peers into fans. Dribbling is such a basic skill that it doesn”t take much to make it stand out. It”s only when it”s accompanied by an impact and consistency that it”s truly awe-inspiring.
In the post-1980s era, some of the most recognizable dribblers among fans are Detroit Bad Boys star Isaiah Thomas (62-185 cm) and killer crossover master Tim Hardaway (57-183 cm), Allen Iverson (48‧183cm), a lanky scoring machine, Chris Paul (38‧183cm), a pure point guard and dual guard, and Kyrie Irving (31‧187. 2cm), whose career has been hindered by his antics.
As you can see from the fact that they are all short, dribbling skills are the most competitive weapon a short player can have, along with shooting ability. This is because they”ll be forced to play the guard position, whether they want to or not, and the ability to protect and carry the ball is essential. It doesn’t matter how good your other stats are, if your ball handling isn’t up to par, you’ll never survive in a league of big men.
The Bad Boys, who dominated the league in the late 1980s, were rough and tough. Their leader, Thomas, brought a delicate sense of stability to the team. Despite his lack of size, Thomas had speed, athleticism, and a dribbling skill that everyone recognized. He was always dribbling the ball down low to set up his teammates, and he was also known for stealing the ball from opponents countless times while rarely getting it himself.
Hathaway didn’t have the kind of career that makes him one of the greatest guards of all time. He wasn’t overwhelming compared to his contemporaries, let alone all-time. However, there are plenty of fans who still remember him after all these years. This is because he was a number one who had a distinct character of his own, based on his undoubted strength of dribbling. Despite his small and chubby build, he had a spectacular but stable dribble and a good finish after breaking through, especially his crossover dribble, which is still considered one of the best of all time.
Iverson’s name is often mentioned when discussing the best dribblers of all time. He was as good a crossover specialist as Hathaway, and his 토토사이트 dribbling skills made him look like he was one with the ball. Even Michael Jordan, the “Emperor of Basketball,” had his tongue stuck out after seeing Iverson’s dribble. The scary thing about Iverson’s dribbling is that he was able to combine it with his individual skills and shooting ability better than anyone else. It’s a fancy-looking dribble that’s actually more about substance, incorporating speed, change of direction, and moves in the paint, so when he put his mind to it in his prime, it was virtually impossible to stop.
So who are the best dribbling masters of all time? Nine times out of ten, the answer is the same player. Kyrie Irving.
Lee Hang-beom (42‧168cm), a representative of JBJ Basketball Club, said, “As someone who was crazy about the NBA in the 1990s, I still have fantasies about the legends of the past. But Irving is different, because he’s not like them. I don’t think there’s anyone in the history of the game that I can put on top of Irving in terms of dribbling. Iverson, for example, had a bouncy, rhythmic dribble and a crossover that shook the opponent’s center in a matter of seconds. Most of all, I remember his dribble-to-break, dribble-to-shoot, and dribble-to-pass moves. Irving, on the other hand, has a lot of other things going for him, but his dribble alone is amazing. It’s amazing how he can dribble so low and so fluidly. I would describe it as a dribble that flows naturally, like water,” he said, raving about Irving.
Lee, who is also famous for being the youngest player ever drafted in the KBL, had to fight against his size throughout his basketball career. He wasn’t just small, but far below average, so he had to create his own basketball to overcome various limitations and prejudices, and dribbling was the part he worked hardest on. Even Lee praises Irving’s dribbling, saying, “When I watch him dribble, it’s like he’s from another world.” He is confident in his dribbling.
Jeon Tae-pung (43‧179cm), who is indispensable for dribbling skills in the KBL, is also scared to talk about Irving.
“I love Jimmy Butler’s competitiveness and backstory, and I love Steph Curry’s amazing game control, but I personally like Irving the most. Irving is a magician. He has a different level of dribbling. It’s one with his body. When I watch him dribble, I feel like I can’t do it with other players. He’s a special dribbler. There’s not a lot of space, there’s a lot of defense, but it doesn’t matter. He dribbles low with both hands and he just goes in. You can’t take it away. The ball sticks to the floor. It doesn’t need an explanation. It’s a thumbs up.”
Despite this, Irving is criticized for not having a career or titles to show for his skills. This is because he has many off-field incidents and is not solely focused on basketball. In that regard, both Lee and Jeon are disappointed. “If Irving had Butler’s mentality and attitude, he would have followed in the footsteps of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant,” said Jeon. “He still has a lot of fans, but if he had put his personality aside and focused only on winning, he would have become an icon representing the league,” said Lee.
Irving, who moved from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks last season, is now a free agent. However, his name is not as popular as it should be. He’s hard to use, and it’s doubtful that he’ll be able to stay healthy for the duration of his contract. No matter how many times he says, “I’m different,” the shepherd boy image he’s built up is too big. It’s a depressing picture of a great dribbler.