"It's a tough place to be, mentally" - T.J. McConnell on why Kyrie Irving is the toughest guy to guard in the NBA
T.J. McConnell is one of the peskiest defenders in the NBA today. The 6'1" guard, who has a habit of picking up opponents full court and harassing them from end to end, proved his worth in the 2025 NBA playoffs, especially during the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
However, when it comes to guarding Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Kyrie Irving, McConnell himself admits there's almost nothing he can do.
"You're on an island," the Indiana Pacers point guard said. "And you just don't know what he's gonna do. You can force him one way, but he still ends up getting the way you don't want him to go. Like he just… his handle is impeccable. He's got the greatest handle I've seen. And he can really shoot it, like he's fast. It's just, it's a tough place to be mentally, guarding Kyrie."
Kyrie has ridiculous handles
Many consider Irving the most offensively skilled player in the game today. He is incredibly shifty and has great ball control, which enables him to get to his spots on the court. Once he gets to where he wants to be, the Mavericks point guard is impossible to contain — he is a great penetrator and finisher, but also has a very effective jump shot from all areas on the floor.
Still, the most jaw-dropping aspect of his game is his handling. Irving is a magician with the basketball, and many pick him as the greatest ball handler in NBA history. McConnell feels the same way.
"I don't want to talk about the whole era thing. But like, the best handle I've ever played against? Easily him, yeah," he added.Iverson's praise for Irving as a ball handler
McConnell was also offered an alternative: to pick Allen Iverson as someone who had better handles than Irving. But the Pacers guard didn't do it.
In fact, neither did Iverson himself. The Philadelphia 76ers legend once admitted that Irving is a better ball-handler than he was. And like McConnell, he also singled out his jumper as the thing that makes him unstoppable.
"Hell yeah, he has the best. He's the best. And Steph's handle is crazy, but Steph... And Kyrie's jumper is wet, too. But Steph, his jumper gets him over a lot. 'Cause he hit you with the handles, and he crosses halfcourt, he can let it go," A.I. said.
"I heard Rod Strickland on 'All the Smoke,'" the legendary guard added. "And I love Rod Strickland, too. And he said basically, he just goes, 'Kyrie will have you beat and then bring it back and play with it.' Like he's toying with people. You know what I mean? Like, he can still just go. But if he feels like playing with you…"
Irving may not be considered the greatest player ever, but when it comes to the best handles of all time, most players, current and former, mention his name at the top of the mountain. That's a testament to his on-court greatness, without even mentioning the accolades.
But basketball, for players at least, has never been about that. It's always been about the experience; about what happens on the court. And McConnell is just one of many who said that it doesn't really get tougher than facing a guy wearing a No. 11 Mavericks jersey.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
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