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.
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"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."
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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.
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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.
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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.

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