This is a combo associated with Kyrie Irving: two or three dribble moves (crossover, between the legs, behind the back, hesitation) chained with low, hard dribbles and a change of speed, until the defender freezes or leans, then an attack to the rim or a quick pull-up. Reporting on his handle describes quick crossovers, hesitations and a very low dribble, worked as short combinations, not one fixed sequence, so learn it as a chain of moves you already own. The change-of-direction body movement and a low, balanced base are what the analyzer reads; the handle itself is coached.
Set up
Own each piece on its own first: crossover, between the legs, behind the back, hesitation and in-and-out, with both hands.
Simple moves first.
Get in a crouched, bent-over position with the ball low, behind and close to your body, your body between the ball and the defender.
Low and shielded.
Dribble with your fingertips, not your palm, and keep your head up and eyes forward.
Eyes on the defender, not the ball.
Hold your off arm out as a guard. It can bar a reach, but never push off or grab.
Arm bar, no push.
Combo
Come at the defender at about 80% of your top speed so you keep a gear for the burst.
Something left in the tank.
Start the combo a stride or two away from the defender, not on top of them or from far out.
Close enough to make them react.
Keep each link short: two or three low, hard dribbles per combo, the ball staying low and close.
Quick and low, not long and fancy.
Pick links that fit the space. With the defender close, go between the legs or behind the back so your leg or body shields the ball; save the front crossover for when you have room.
Protect it on every link.
Change speed, not just direction: slow for a split second on a hesitation, rise slightly and look at the rim, then go.
Slow, then gone.
Keep your hand on top or the side of the ball through every link. Under NBA rules no part of the hand may go under the ball to carry it or pause it; other leagues word the carry rule differently.
Hand on top.
Finish
The moment the defender freezes or is off balance, attack their outside shoulder at full speed, pushing the ball out in front with a low dribble.
Go on their lean.
Finish with a layup, or pick the ball up quickly into a jumper. Under NBA rules you get two steps after the gather to stop, pass or shoot.
Quick pickup, clean finish.
Never go faster than you can control the ball. If the combo isn't moving the defender, stop adding moves: pass, reset or go back to your go-to move.
Simple beats fancy.
Feel it
You stay crouched the whole way, the ball low and close, each dribble short and hard. The defender's reaction picks your next link: if they take away the first move, the counter is already loaded. The real weapon is the speed change, slow for a beat, then full speed past their outside shoulder. If you feel yourself rising up, looking at the ball or adding moves that don't move the defender, the combo has gone too long.
Fix-its
- You dribble through five moves and gain nothing Cap it at two or three links and go the instant the defender leans. Practise one go-to move and one counter together until the pair is automatic.
- You stand up between moves Stay crouched and keep the ball low for the whole chain. Slow the combo down until you can hold the low base, then speed it up.
- The defender pokes the ball on a front crossover With a defender close, switch that link to between the legs or behind the back so your leg or body is between the ball and their hand.
- Every link is the same speed Build in a real slowdown (a hesitation) and a real burst after it. Use the 80/60/100 chair drill below.
- You get called for a carry on the wrap or the hesi Keep your hand on top or the side of the ball. If your palm turns up under it, slow the move down until it doesn't.
Drill
- Triples, stationary: crossover, between the legs, behind the back, through the legs, then repeat. Eyes up, pound hard, as fast as you can control.
- Two- and three-dribble low combos into a quick pickup and jumper. Andscape reported Irving working this format in short sessions with coach Phil Handy.
- 80/60/100 chair drill: dribble at a chair at about 80%, make a two-move combo at about 60%, then attack the rim at full speed. Go both directions.
- Full-court combo drill: a token defender at the arc, a combo (in-and-out to crossover, rocker step to crossover, stutter crossover), then a layup. Repeat with the left hand. Spend 5 to 10 minutes of each practice on moves, down and back twice per move.
- Live 1-on-1: start with your go-to move and react with your counter when the defender takes it away.
Sources
- Andscape (Marc J. Spears) — How Kyrie Irving became the best dribbler in the NBA (2017)
- Boston.com (Deyscha Smith) — 11 eye-popping Kyrie Irving moves from his time as a Celtic (2019)
- Coach's Clipboard — Dribbling and Dribble Moves
- Coach's Clipboard — Full-Court Dribble-Moves Drill (Youth)
- Basketball For Coaches — Basketball Moves
- Basketball For Coaches — 50 Basketball Dribbling Drills
- Coaching Toolbox (Brian Williams, drill by Joel Hueser) — Moves on the Move (2018)
- NBA — Official Rule 10: Violations and Penalties
Last checked 2026-10-26.