Latest news with #JamaalTinsley
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tracy McGrady thinks Jamaal Tinsley has better handles than Kyrie Irving: "Probably the best I've seen"
Tracy McGrady thinks Jamaal Tinsley has better handles than Kyrie Irving: "Probably the best I've seen" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Kyrie Irving is one of the most electrifying bucket-getters in the NBA, thanks not only to his scoring arsenal but also to his masterful handles. But according to Tracy McGrady, Jamaal Tinsley was on another level when it comes to handling the ball, even though he admits Irving is still a must-watch. Advertisement "Man, I don't think nobody had better handles than Jamaal Tinsley, even Kyrie," McGrady said on The Young Man & the Three podcast. "I think Jamaal Tinsley's handles were probably the best I've seen. That's an argument, though. He was nice with that thing on a string." The best ball handler debate Most still pick Irving as the best ball handler in NBA history. Allen Iverson, for example, belongs in that group. He aptly described Irving's style as similar to a predator playing around with its prey. "He got the best," A.I. said of Irving's handles on The Big Podcast with Shaquille O'Neal and Adam Lefkoe. "Kyrie will have you beat, and then bring it back and play with it. He's toying with people, you know what I mean? He can still just go, but if he feels like playing with you." Advertisement Now, Shaquille O'Neal disagreed with Iverson's pick, naming Jason Williams, his former Miami Heat point guard, as his personal best. O'Neal said Irving's style is too herky-jerky for his taste, while Williams had the whole package and was a smoother operator. In addition to Tinsley, Irving, Iverson and Williams, Jamal Crawford is mentioned in this conversation. Crawford's handle was so fluid that even seasoned defenders struggled to stay in front of him. He also had patented dribble moves that only he could do in a real game. Then there's Stephen Curry, whose combination of tight handles and unlimited range puts constant pressure on defenses. Curry's handle may not be as flashy as Irving's or Crawford's, but his control and ability to create space using that dribble are unmatched. Related: "Yeah, they'll probably have to do something" - Bird says the NBA will be forced to move the 3-point line back if high volume continues What Tinsley was known for in the NBA After his New York streetball days, during which he earned the nickname "Mel the Abuser," Tinsley went on to carve out a solid 11-year NBA career with multiple teams. As a rookie, he even ranked among the league leaders in assists per game, showcasing his elite playmaking from day one. Advertisement Tinsley's ball handling was controlled and deliberate, with an old-school feel contrasting with Irving's flashier approach. Whether that's a positive or a knock depends on personal taste. However, beyond his handles and playmaking, Tinsley is often remembered for his role in sparking the Malice at the Palace. As Stephen Jackson recalled on the "All The Smoke" podcast, it was Jamaal who told Ron Artest to deliver a hard foul on Ben Wallace in retaliation for a hit Artest had taken during the previous year's Eastern Conference Finals. If it weren't for Tinsley's advice, the worst player-fan brawl in NBA history might've never happened. While his unwelcome participation in the Malice will always be part of Tinsley's NBA story, his ball handling will always come No.1 . It's part of his game that too often gets lost in the conversation and one that earned quiet respect, even if it didn't always grab the spotlight. Advertisement Related: "Isiah Thomas would be right there as 1B"- Jason Kidd's candid take on Kyrie Irving being the NBA's undisputed ball-handler This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mavericks' Kyrie Irving shoots back at Tracy McGrady's handles comment
The post Mavericks' Kyrie Irving shoots back at Tracy McGrady's handles comment appeared first on ClutchPoints. Tracy McGrady didn't mean it as a jab, but Kyrie Irving made sure to address it with poise and precision. After McGrady said Jamaal Tinsley had better handles than Kyrie, the Mavericks guard calmly responded on a livestream, turning the comment into a chance to honor the past and remind everyone who's still setting the standard, SI reports. Advertisement 'When I see these things happen, when I see an OG like T-Mac come out and say that, it doesn't bother me,' Kyrie said. 'I'm a mix of all the great players that came before me.' He made it clear he's not driven by comparisons. Still, he followed that humility with truth. 'I just don't think he has the same movement. Jamaal Tinsley was not moving like me. I don't think anybody moves like me.' McGrady shared his take on The Old Man and the Three podcast, praising Tinsley's smooth control and even putting him ahead of Kyrie. It sparked some debate online, but Kyrie didn't lash out. He laughed. He reflected. Then he rolled the tape. Show Him This As highlights of his signature crossovers played, Kyrie explained his point with actions more than words. 'I love [Tinsley] to death, but look at this,' he said, breaking down footage of himself dancing through defenders. 'On a break. On a fast break I'm doing this.' Advertisement Tinsley, the No. 27 pick in the 2001 draft, had flair and skill. But Kyrie, selected No. 1 overall in 2011, redefined what a ball-handler could do on the biggest stages in basketball. His creativity, balance, and rhythm inspired an entire generation of players. Respect to Tinsley. Respect to McGrady. But Kyrie Irving didn't just carry the torch, he spun it behind his back, split a double-team, and laid it off the glass. Related: BYU's AJ Dybantsa earns $4.1m NIL honor Related: Taylor Swift surprises children at Florida hospital
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tracy McGrady Names Better Ball-Handler Than Kyrie Irving Without Hesitation
Tracy McGrady Names Better Ball-Handler Than Kyrie Irving Without Hesitation originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kyrie Irving's 2024-25 season ended a lot sooner than he'd have hoped, as he tore his ACL in March during a game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings. Irving had averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks per game for the Mavericks before being sidelined with the injury. Advertisement Irving's absence was a huge blow to the Mavericks. It was part of an injury crisis after the Luka Doncic trade that led to them finishing 10th in the Western Conference with a 39-43 record. Just a year after getting to the NBA Finals, the Mavericks would fail to even make it to the playoffs, losing to the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament. Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) is recovering from a torn Miron-Imagn Images Irving is targeting a return in January 2026, and the hope is that it won't take him too long to get back to his best. The nine-time All-Star has been a joy to watch on the court over the years thanks to his incredible ball-handling. On the latest episode of the "Young Man and the Three" podcast, former NBA star Tracy McGrady called Irving one of his favorite players to watch. Advertisement That led to co-host Tommy Alter asking McGrady if he had ever seen someone with a handle like Irving's. McGrady claimed he had actually seen someone with a better handle. "Yeah, Jamaal Tinsley," McGrady said on The Young Man and the Three. "You remember, Jamaal Tinsley? Man, I don't think nobody had better handles than Jamaal Tinsley, even Kyrie. I think Jamaal Tinsley handles was probably the best I've seen." Jamaal Tinsley is a name you don't see get brought up all that often these days. The Vancouver Grizzlies had selected Tinsley with the 27th pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, but traded him to the Atlanta Hawks, who then sent him to the Indiana Pacers. Advertisement Tinsley spent 11 seasons in the NBA during which he averaged 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks per game. His career wasn't as great as Irving's, as he never even made an All-Star team, but McGrady reckons his handles were better. Related: Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis' Role in Keeping Jason Kidd With Mavericks Revealed Amid Knicks Interest This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Paul George opens up on his disappointment with Pacers organization
PHILADELPHIA -- When the Philadelphia 76ers paid a visit to the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 18 to begin a 3-game road trip, it marked another return for Paul George to Indianapolis where he spent the first seven seasons of his career. George averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.2 rebounds while being named an All-Star four times and leading the Pacers to the Eastern Conference finals in 2013 and 2014. While he was unable to play in the game due to injury, and obviously not his first time back in Indiana, it was peculiar that the Pacers didn't at least acknowledge their former star. However, according to George in a candid interview with Sixers Wire, this isn't anything new. "I'm not sure, you know?" George said of the lack of acknowledgment from the Pacers. "We were joking with the guys, and they were like, you know, 'Do you still get a tribute video when you go to Indiana?' I was like 'I've never gotten a tribute video since I've been going back to Indiana' and that was eight years ago. It does, you know, it sucks. I think the way things played out still holds a grudge to them and they don't realize the great runs we had in the time I was there." It was, obviously, a bit of a messy exit. George wanted to get out of there and he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2017 offseason and he listed his grievances previously while on an episode of "Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles". With that being said, George began to lead the Pacers on a bit of a resurgence. The franchise was still reeling a bit from the "Malice at the Palace" brawl in November of 2004 and had off-court incidents including Stephen Jackson, Jamaal Tinsley, and others in 2006. The selection of George in 2010 was the beginning of an Indiana resurgence. "I came into that situation where Indiana was struggling," George added. "They just got over the 'Malice at the Palace'. They just got over the Jamaal Tinsley situation, or someone, I can't remember, someone had a shooting out of a room, or something like that. There were some dark clouds covering that Pacers team, and, you know, they weren't, you know, a force in the East. Obviously, they had good talent with Danny Granger there, but I thought I was a part of that resurgence." Of course, the Pacers added to the core around George with Roy Hibbert, George Hill, Lance Stephenson, David West, and others all playing a major role for Indiana, but George was the leader of those groups. It is strange that the Pacers won't let bygones be bygones and acknowledge him for what he was able to do for the organization. "I won't take all the credit," George finished. "Obviously, we had an amazing team with Roy, George, David West, Danny, Lance Stephenson, but I thought I was a huge part of turning that program around, and, you know, it does suck. Obviously, there are some banners in there that I've raised or helped raise. Just the acknowledgment would have been appreciated, but it is what it is. They're salty that I left and I thought I left for the right reasons for myself." Before the Sixers took on the Pacers, there was a video played on the jumbotron at Gainbridge Fieldhouse highlighting all of the history of the organization from each decade. When the video got to the 2010s, there was not a single George highlight to be found. The Sixers will not visit Gainbridge Fieldhouse again in the 2024-25 season barring a playoff matchup so George will have to wait again in the 2025-26 season to receive that acknowledgement from the Pacers.
