The Nash Dribble. Who can imitate this the best in today’s league?
Did you know Nash led 6 of the top 20 relative offenses ever? He truly revolutionized the game.
As of 2024, he had 4 of the top 5 all time.
Correct me if im wrong but wasnt he an assistant coach for gsw during that time?
Nah he was an advisor.
Oh i see. Amazing how he was still somewhat involved
He got a ring for being advisor
Take the credit. 5⁄5
He and D’Antoni don’t get enough credit for what they did
Nash won 2 MVPs. D’Antoni won 2 coach of the years. Both are in the Hall of Fame. I don’t think there’s a way for them to get more credit for their accomplishments.
I will not be content until there are two 100-meter tall statues, made of pure platinum, of both Nash and D’antoni, on the National Mall in Washington DC.
I disservice the have these glorious statues stationary. They must be taken all around the world for all to bask in its light.
I propose that we turn them into giant automotons, programmed to walk across the Earth to spread the word of high-paced basketball to all of the old heads of the world. Let our new Gods show the pretenders who still believe in the triangle offense who truly rules over this Earth!
best I can do is a 17.76 ft tall golden Enes Kanter
I mean, I’ll take a championship for the Suns with him as an sssistant
Did either ever score 83?
Asking the questions everyone is too afraid to ask
Nah they had the respect™️ for Kobe
Considering everyone and their mother tries to discredit Nash’s mvps, I disagree
I mean there’s the “official credit” that you mentioned but also “credit among the fans”. And players. And experts. Where the usual “but no rings” comes into play. Which makes the mvps and coach of the years kinda worse because for many people those then translate to “not being able to get it done when it matters”.
A lot of people don’t think he should have won either or both MVP. I think this counts as not getting credit for your accomplishments.
I suppose you might say that this is true for anyone. However, as far as MVP conversations go, Nash’s are among the more ‘controversial’ this century. So there’s certainly (and reasonably) room for more credit.
Its more the constant disrespect they get from young folks who dont know they were a literal on court assault away from a championship.
I’m saying after those seasons. A lot of players/coaches won awards while they were playing but get little to no credit once they’re done. I wasn’t the biggest fan of D’Antoni while he was coaching since his teams didn’t always play defense–but he seemed ahead of his time.
All 4 of those guys were special.
Okay maybe he did deserve that second MVP award after all lol
He did, and definitely not the ones who complain and for whatever reason want to diminish him, I was a neutral fan back then and Nash was electrifying. He (and D’Antoni) changed the game. Imo he resurrected the sport from the boring no ball movement ballhog Jordan wannabe team structures. Offenses have been mostly more team oriented since.
That last bit is so true man, early 2000s ball was rough to watch
MDA was smart enough to run a late 2010s type of offense in the heart of the dead ball era, really prime opportunity to put up great relative offensive numbers.
How many did Dirk have?
I believe 4.
Crazy how mid they were together. 2 of the best most brilliant offensive players ever on the same team
I think Nellie(RIP) knew how to develop them, but couldn’t quite make it a playoff monster. 2003 was the year, but Bruce Bowen, and a Manu decided to ruin it.
“led”. I get he was PG, but Dirk was an ISO Force.
TJ McConnell
That man tortured every OKC fan in last year’s finals. Man was unguardable
TJ fucking destroyed us from this very range that entire series. Was so maddening seeing the shortest dude just punk our front court like that.
This is his bread and butter. With the turnaround jumper that’s automatic
YES
The goat
Came to say this, glad someone beat me to it.
I was wondering, who else I seen do this and that’s what I came to the conclusion of TJ.
I miss him so much
God this is amazing, just keeping your dribble alive and pivoting into casual hook shots with either hand is just gangster shit. 🤣
Old manning those fools to death! Looks like Bob Cousy 😂
and this dude is relatively tiny lmao frodo with the ring type shit
Don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing to watch but something inside me is telling me he used to style on his friends and they would call travel all the time so he is like “I’m gonna dribble so well you can’t even argue” and yet it’s so dang fluid.
It was even more disgusting than this clip shows. Because he would dish out assists from this position all the time, too. And then there’s the craziest thing where he would just walk it back out to the three point line and somehow bury it.
Brunson
He’s even said that’s exactly what he’s doing
Yep. That stop start change of pace style is similar. When Nash was playing I was more enthralled by his passing but when I watch this clip now, it is clear that his dribbling style is so similar to how soccer players move.
It’s hard to put into words, but he lets the ball move on it’s own momentum and he shadows it and taps it to change it’s direction, but always “letting the ball roll”, unlike how most players dribble the basketball like its on a yo-yo string. YouTube “Messi dribbling” and you’ll understand what I mean. I always thought Ginobili dribbled like how a soccer player moves too.
Yeah, I think of Nash as a passer and a shooter first and foremost, but he was so creative off the bounce. An underrated 2x MVP, somehow.
I mean, the move was inspired by how Wayne Gretzky would take the puck behind the goal. Basically him being that deep puts the defense in an uncomfortable situation having to face the opposite direction than they usually would have.
I believe he practiced by dribbling a tennis ball everywhere he went.
Nash was his favorite player growing up, makes sense
This is 100% the correct answer.
Yeah, I don’t get why this isn’t the unanimous answer. Not only does it pass the eye test, but also JB has acknowledged the influence.
Brunson, TJ McConnell and Pritchard do it the best in my opinion
I wanted to say Pritchard but didnt know if I was biased here
Well, Pritchard is good as hell.
He’s catching strays for being “Walmart Brunson” after those comments came out.
He could end up being an incredible player considering Boston’s player development.
He’s an evil leprechaun ☘️
Anyone who memes on people saying Payton could be great has just never watched him.
Without Jaylen last year he put up all star numbers. 27/5/7 per 36 minutes. He’s just never had the usage to show what he can do.
PP does this every game for sure
Nah I don’t think that’s bias in this case. Pritchard is the type of player every team wants at least one of.
Nah, bias aside, Pritchard is one hell of a player
Also, Garland imo
Olivia Miles
Came here to say this, she does this all the time and we almost always get a good look off it
I joined in for the Fever hype, and honestly, as good as Fever got at this point, Lynx are absolute monsters
I was amazed by Fever honestly -
Mitchell is as a baller as CC is. That girl is a pure hustle reached Elite
CC is generational talent
Boston is one of the best centers in the league, she has high BBIQ
Cunningham backs up her antics with Steph Curry percentage on 3, she is ridiculous 45%
But bruh, Lynx have the most dominant starting 5 and it’s not even close. Mcbride, Collier, Miles .. who is a freakin Rookie
Facts
She’s so fucking good
Just watched her carve up the Valkyries tonight in the arena. She is something else. Total command and gets whatever she wants
Nash was so fun to watch. This smooth unorthodox combination. He would feast in today’s game.
I miss watching Nash play. One of my all time favorite players to watch.
Steph literally does this most games, and has worked out with Nash, so i doubt it’s a coincidence.
The Nash dribble is pretty much a standard move now. You’ll see pretty much all PGs do it from time to time.
As long as he doesn’t get tackled going down the lane he does it as good as anyone.
Dragic used to be great at this too
Learned it from the man himself.
My favorite version of Dragic was backup to Nash Dragic during that 2008-2011 era. Yeah, he was better later on in his 2nd stint in Phoenix and then later with Miami but his best role in an actual contender was off the bench as a sneaky athletic point guard with good handles and playmaking, felt like every night teams were surprised that Nash’s backup was a good player lol. Especially because he was such a good foil to Nash’s game with the bench unit.
Lamelo has done it pretty well
Probably his most famous example here
Idk why more people haven’t said this
Prime Steph was like this. Putting defenders in blender
McConnell has made a career out of doing this
tj McConnell
Kyrie
!00% and if anything, Kyrie should do this more simply because he’s one of the few who actually can
He’s too quick to find his spot.
This. Kyrie scores by getting his hip past the defender and putting English to keep anyone from touching the layup.
Nash didn’t have the pure horizontal zip or misdirection to get this separation. He got it by playing with timing and rhythm.
Luka and J Brunson. a combination of footwork and dribbling skillls + u gotta have a good defense to read if he either pass it or keep dribbling while slowing the pace and changing gears. Nash would cooked if he played today’s era
Lamelo, Pritchard, Maxey, Brunson, Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo the Manchester United midfielder?
No the other Kobbie Mainoo
That’s the one
tj mcconell carved out a living doing the nash dribble into that stupidly accurate short jumper.
I hate that he was ever a Laker
lots of players took pieces of nash’s game, including this move.
but nash plays with very upright posture and doesnt appear to be too physical or aggressive.
a lot of todays players will bump/run into their defender to create space, so it wont look the same.
Brunson does that shit on the regular.
T.J. McConnell
Steve Nash getting name-dropped by Nelly Furtado in “Promiscuous” lives in my head rent-free.
Lamelo
Brunson or Lamelo.
Podz or TJ Mcconnell
Look at all those Gortat screens. Love it.
Steph
Nash and Gortat really were an amazing combo. They have to chase, cuz hes Nash. You hedge/double he finds the right pass. Now theyre dropping and chasing and they do their thing. Nash can read the Gortat-Screen so well, too.
Nash’s “probing the defense” dribble? Brunson, AR, Steph…
Colin Gillespie has gotten pretty good at it under Nash’s tutelage.
Reaves
Most of Gortat’s career earnings are owed to Nash
Nash was so fucking good
Man… It used to annoy the fuck out of me when nash was doing this to us.
Brunson does this all the time.
One of the main reasons this works its because Nash can also dish out to open teammate at any time, so defenders dont wanna leave their man at any cost. Also Nash himself looks first for a teammate and not to score. You can see it in this clip how reluctant they are even when Steve is dribbling around them at their reach LOL
Cam Thomas, but he could never pass out of it.
LJ Cryer
Podz
I feel like I’ve seen McCain do similar moves. Brunson, too.
I will always love that man.
This shit is obscene. Nash was so good.
Footwork and dribble; Brunson.
I don’t have anything meaningful to add, other than the hot mic picking up the defender yelling “OH NO!” when he realized Nash was getting a layup was amazing.
It’s still funny to see Nash as a Laker.
Tony Parker did this . Mousey as hell. I feel like Steph Curry did this back in his physical prime when he could attack the rim.
I’d say brunson. Brunson also has a big ass so it works well. He also does what Luka does and keeps players at his hips. Plays slow… then fast… slow and fast…
beautiful game!
Nash was the most ‘in control’ I’ve ever witnessed on the basketball court. Just calmness, controlling the pace, understanding the options personified
His scoop was such butter
If you’re talking footwork and finding angles, then it’s Jalen Brunson
Jalen Brunson in a way - he has crazy patience with his handle and driving in the paint. Not exactly the Nash dribble but same spirit.
This is just your run of the mill TJ McConnell move.
WTF is that sorcery at 54 seconds?? And yes I watched his whole career live.
Man this dude was so fun to watch
Loved watching this guy when I was a kid. Sad he never got a ring.
Seeing this just makes me think it my older brothers friend we’d play pick up with. Somehow he always made his way to the paint, dribbled around and either passed it out to an open player or took a funky fade away. Made me so mad🤣
Curry, clearly
God I miss watching Nash play
He seems like a Jedi. On most of these I can’t even understand why he is able to get open. Feels like he’s dribbling around randomly and then his man just loses him.
Reminds me of Austin Reaves who has some of the best handles and wiggle in the nba right now
Yes. Nash himself also said this about Austin Reaves on his Mind the Game podcast.
He keeps his dribble alive while probing the defense for weaknesses, then attacks once he spots an opening or a chance to create one.
Nash’s dribbles weren’t fancy crazy, between the legs and behind back dribbles but somehow he was able to penetrate the defense off the pick and roll and kept the chasers off balance and off his back with a bit of hesitation along with bumps to clear spaces.
It was beautiful.
Andre Miller was the next closest to Nash during this era
Didn’t Wayne Gretzky used to go behind the goal all the time in hockey? Reminds me of that actually.
Yeah that was his office. Same with Nash
Rondo
Nash Dribble + Gortat screen is a beauty to behold.
Also, Nash is not foul baiting during his drive. Respect.
Gortat made a gortat screen on every play he was on
Lots of players, it’s how the game grows, kids imitate stars and add their moves to their arsenal.
Seems like a lot of guys use it as a change up, but it was a pretty constant thing from Nash. I just remember that dude looking goofy as fuck running around in circles. No one else does it lime that.
Maybe I’m tripping but I feel like Fred Van Vleet does this all of the time
I truly did not appreciate Nash’s post game enough while he was in the league. His layup package is so smooth.
If you gave TJ McConnell 30% of Kyrie’s ball handling this could be achieved
I stumbled ass backwards into doing what he did in the 2nd clip vs SA in a pickup game. Felt insane. 1 second I was being hounded. Took too long to make a decision. Resulted in a wide open layup.
I havent seen steph much recently as I pay more attention to east coast but ive definitely seen him do this when he was younger.
Payton Prichard does this all the time.
LaMelo does this basically every game.
You can’t let him get that close!
I would say Jalen Brunson does it pretty well
Tj McConnell
Kelsey Mitchell
Darius Garland
Tony Parker
Back to back MVP 2004-2006
Wagler should model his game to Nash’s. Slightly slow, high IQ, angles and change of speed
nash was such a good player. he’s up there with barkley and CP3 and david robinson as some of the very best players that aren’t good enough to win a title as the clear best player on their team but are absolutely good enough to lead excellent teams that make deep playoff runs or even make the finals. people don’t give that kind of success enough respect.
Curry hands down
It’s not there yet but as a rookie, Harper had a hell of a bag near the basket.
Is there anyway we can make the video smaller?
Luka
To answer your question today it’s probably Steph or brunson but rubio was really good at it
Dennis Schroeder
Brunson and Curry
TJ McConnell. This is what he does.
You gotta give credit to Gortat on those patented screen
LaMelo
PP
Lamelo. He’s been doing it since highschool.
The Gortat rolls are a beauty to watch
Maybe Trae Young because he has a good enough handle, about that size guard who needs to keep his dribble alive in the paint and a good enough passer where hes a threat lik Nash..
To answer the question: Lamelo Ball
TJ McConnell & Darius Garland comes to mind
What I can’t figure out is why I can’t do this in pickup? All he’s doing is dribbling to the basket and keeping his dribble without picking up the ball.
Body control and footwork seem to be eerily similar to Trae Young and TJ McConnel
I don’t know if this was said already but Pritchard
6th Man of the Year.. Payton Pritchard
TJ McConnell does they under the basket move every time
Jokic
I feel like Jalen Brunson has some of that in his game
Dam lillard Brooke his knee
Funny enough, tj McConnell and hali
It’s not the dribble, it’s the footwork.
Jordan, kobe, hakeem, they all have incredible footwork.
Curry?
Reminds me a little of Payton Pritchard in the paint.