Kyrie Irving has some of the best handles in NBA history, but this is straight up disrespecting your opponent.
Pulling off a streetball move in an NBA game is almost blasphemous, but Steve Francis did it often. And combining a Kyrie Irving type of handles with Ja Morant type of nuclear explosiveness, Steve Francis was one of the most electrictifying players of the 2000s.
And there were a few others from that era that deserve their own video.
So sit back, cause this is going to be fun. What up everybody, my name is Stefan and this is Heat Check. Let’s get into it.
Besides his talent and the career 18 points per game, what really made the Franchise super popular among fans was his flashiness.
Oftentimes he would cross an opponent but then instead of going forward, Francis would come back for another move, just like they did it on the streets.
He didn’t just have great handles, but was disrespectful with it. This showmanship would stop the offensive flow, so his teammates and especially coaches didn’t enjoy it, but the fans absolutely loved it.
And even tho he was only 6-3 or 190, Francis was freakishly athletic.
He would go full speed to the rim and catapult for a dunk regardless of who was in front.
The smaller size, and his ability to contort his body mid air, made for some stunning looking dunks.
This was the reason why Francis was invited to the Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie. And actually did great, but he will forever be overshadowed by one of the greatest performances in Slam Dunk history by Vince Carter.
Still, the offensive production and especially the style made him a 3 time All Star while on the Rockets. But the lack of success and only 1 playoff appearance, which was a first round exit, was the main reason he got traded from Houston to Orlando to the Knicks. And from then on, it’s pretty much downhill for him as attitude issues and injuries plagued him during those years.
Francis only played 9 seasons in the league and this is probably why he’s often forgotten in NBA conversations.
Next up is a player that was a star in the NBA, but a legend in China.
This is one of my all time favorite dunks and super underrated in my opinion.
A reverse alley oop, one handed flush all that by a 6-2 or 188 Stephon Marbury.
And this is one of my all time favorite passes and the sole reason for me throwing away countless turnovers on the playground.
Starbury is another player with an insane career mixtape. When you think of speed, Allen Iverson is the guy that comes to mind from that era, but in his New Jersey Nets years, Stephon was just as unguardable with his lightning quickness, the crossover, and he also had the tremendous hang time for dunks but to me just as spectacular up and under layups.
Kobe, Shaq and the Lakers witnessed all of this in 2001 and saw Marbury count to 50 on his point total, which would end up being his career high.
Although he was only a 2 time all star, Steph made it count as one of those appearances was possibly the greatest all star games in NBA history, as the East came back from down 21 in the fourth all the way to win it in dramatic fashion, and the catalyst for that was Marbury himself who came up super clutch hitting 2 threes in a row in the final moments of the game.
A career 19 point and 7 and a half assist player, Marbury provided a lot of excitement for the crowd whether that was during his early days in Minnesota, his peak with the Nets, and the Suns, or his NBA decline with the Knicks where he was actually teammates with Steve Francis.
And similarly, his attitude had a lot to do with him ending his NBA career at only 31 years of age.
His basketball story was far from over tho, as Stephon achieved true legendary status in China where in 9 seasons won multiple championships, and became so beloved and iconic there, that they even built him a statue.
Moving on. If this guy played in today’s social media era, he would have broken twitter.
You’ve all seen possibly the greatest pass in NBA history by Jason Williams.
Thing is, he gave us something similar each and every night. That was just his style of play that was light years ahead of his time. Put him in today’s NBA and he still would be the flashiest.
Look at this- a crosscourt behind the back pass on the money for the layup.
A casual, wrap around lookaway throw similar to the one from Stephon Marbury.
And how do you even think of the idea of attempting this hop, fake behind the back into a jumper for the swish.
J-Will made a legendary defender in Gary Payton attempt to trip him after he was left in the dust on this iconic play.
With all that flavor in his game, White Chocolate is one of the most perfect NBA nicknames.