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Kyrie Irving has long been celebrated as one of the most dazzling ball-handlers in NBA history, and now even Luka Doncic is openly conceding the point. During a recent appearance on Hot Ones, the Dallas Mavericks star was asked about Irving’s dribbling wizardry.
“When you think you’ve stopped him, he always finds a way to get to the basket,” Doncic said. “The ball-handling — you can’t learn that. He tried to teach me a little bit, but you can’t do it. The things he do — you can’t.”
Coming from Doncic, a player widely regarded as one of the most skilled offensive talents in the world, this is high praise indeed. Despite his own ability to manipulate defenses with precision and creativity, Luka Doncic acknowledges that Irving’s handles are simply on another level.
The artistry of Kyrie Irving
Irving’s combination of lightning-fast decision-making, agility, and technical mastery has earned him comparisons to street-side illusions. Boston Celtics radio voice Sean Grande likened Kyrie Irving’s quick-twitch ball moves to a high-speed shell game, saying,
“At first it’s going really slow — and then it just starts going super fast, and you just have to make a decision.”
It’s a skill set that makes even elite defenders — not to mention fellow superstars like Luka Doncic — marvel at his ability to manufacture points seemingly from nowhere. His talent doesn’t just leave opponents baffled; it redefines what is considered possible with a basketball.
A challenge for the best
For Doncic, learning from Kyrie Irving was enlightening but humbling. Even with his own repertoire of step-back threes, crafty drives, and post-up moves, he recognizes that some elements of Irving’s game are untouchable.
“You can’t do it,” Doncic stressed — underlining the uniqueness of Irving’s craft.
As NBA fans continue to debate the greatest ball-handlers of all time, this acknowledgment from a peer like Luka Doncic only cements Irving’s reputation. It’s not just about highlight reels; it’s about consistent, creative domination on the court, a quality that few players have mastered.
Irving’s legacy continues
Kyrie Irving’s mastery of the dribble remains a defining feature of his career. While discussions about “the greatest of all time” often swirl around names like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, his ability to leave even top-tier talents like Doncic in awe adds another layer to his legacy.
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