If you're planning to break ankles and leave defenders questioning their life choices, you need to know who's got the best handles in the game. For the second straight year, Kyrie Irving sits alone at the top with a perfect 99 ball-handling rating. Meanwhile, four players are tied for fifth place, and Devin Booker somehow made the list.
Every player in this list possesses a 92 or higher ball-handling rating, which means that these players are your best bet to break down defenses.
The Best Ball Handlers in NBA 2K26
Here are the best ball handles this year in NBA 2K26:
Rank | Player | Team | Ball Handling Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kyrie Irving | Dallas Mavericks | 99 |
2 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | 97 |
3 | Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies | 96 |
4 | Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | 96 |
5 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | 95 |
T-5 | Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 95 |
T-5 | James Harden | Los Angeles Clippers | 95 |
T-5 | Luka Doncic | Los Angeles Lakers | 95 |
9 | Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | 93 |
10 | Kevin Durant | Houston Rockets | 92 |
Kyrie Irving is the Dribble God
We all know that nobody's touching Kyrie when it comes to handles. His 99 rating comes with all HOF-level Ankle Assassin badge and HOF-level Handles For Days badge to break down weak defenders as well as Gold level badges for Strong Handle and Unpluckable, so it's pretty much impossible to take the ball away from Kyrie.
Curry's Handles Are Elite Too
Steph Curry is the greatest shooter of all time, but anyone who watched him play knows that he's got some of the best handles in the league. His dribbling badge setup includes Gold levels for Handles For Days, Unpluckable, and Strong Handle. It's a slight level down from Kyrie, but if you're the one defending the goat shooter in the league, this is already too much to handle.
Ja Morant Is a Surprising Top 3
We've seen flashes of ball-handling brilliance from Ja Morant, but it's still surprising that he's in the top three and even managed to surpass Trae Young and James Harden. The Grizzlies star comes with Gold level badges for Ankle Assassin, Handles For Days, Unpluckable, and a single Silver level badge for Strong Handle. Couple that with his 95 Speed, and you're posterizing anyone who fails to poke the ball away from him.
3-Way Tie Between Brunson, Harden, and Doncic
Jalen Brunson, James Harden, and Luka Doncic all have the same 95 Ball Handling rating, but Luka is the overall better player out of the three since he's also the better playmaker and the better passer.
Outside of Luka Doncic's Hall of Fame-level offensive prowess are Gold-level badges for Ankle Assassin, Handles For Days, Strong Handle, and Unpluckable. With his size, he's got plenty in the tank to back down his defender or get some moves and break him down for a layup or a dish to a corner three.
Devin Booker Makes the List
Devin Booker isn't exactly known for his handles since he plays within a system that complements his offensive talent well. However, in this year's NBA 2K26, Devin Booker makes the top 10 with a 93 Ball Handling rating and nine Playmaking Badges, four of which include Gold level badges for Ankle Assassin, Handles For Days, Unpluckable, and a Silver level Strong Handle.
While Devin Booker is capable of breaking down a defender for a middy or in transition, it's not exactly his best attribute because where you'd want him most of the time is to stand in the corner, ready to launch a three, since he's a better shooter than most players in the NBA.
Kevin Durant
KD is truly an aberration. He's a 6"11 player who moves like a guard with inside/outside scoring. You won't need flashy crossovers with KD, though, since he's a lethal scorer from virtually anywhere on the court.
Honorable Mentions:
Damian Lillard (91 Ball Handle)
Dame Dolla is one of the best three-point shooters in the game despite having a disappointing season with the Bucks. This year, he's got a 91 Ball Handling rating and nine playmaking badges. You won't need much to get Damian Lillard going, as he's one of the best players with the longest range in the league.
Tyrese Haliburton (90 Ball Handle)
Despite succumbing to a season-ending injury that cost the Indiana Pacers the championship last season, Tyrese Haliburton remains one of the best Point Guards in the league. Sporting a 90 Ball Handling rating and Gold level badges for Strong Handle and Unpluckable, and Silver level badges for Ankle Assassin and Handles For Days, Tyrese Haliburton is your premier Point Guard who excels at getting his teammates better.
And there it is! That's the list of the best ball handlers in 2K26 this year. These players can take on even the most elite defenders, especially Kevin Durant, who's a jack-of-all-trades in the NBA.
NBA 2K26 is launching on September 5, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
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