GET HANDLES LIKE KYRIE: THE ULTIMATE SOLO TRAINING BLUEPRINT – Part 1 of 2

Listen up – if you’re trying to develop that nasty handle package like Uncle Drew, you gotta put in that lonely work. No shortcuts to breaking ankles like Kyrie. This summer program is designed for the hoopers willing to put in that sweat equity ALONE – no gym required, no partner needed, just you, a ball, and that dog mentality.

What makes Kyrie’s handle different ain’t just the flash – it’s the function. The man can get anywhere on the court at any time against ANY defender. That’s what we’re building toward.

PART 1: THE FOUNDATION (FIRST 4 WEEKS)

WEEK 1-2: BALL CONTROL MASTERY

Daily Warmup (10 mins)

• Two-ball pound drill: 2 mins each (same height, alternate height)
• Fingertip quicktaps: 30 secs each hand
• Spider dribbles: roll ball across fingertips without losing control
• Circular hand wraps: 1 min each direction

Monday/Thursday: TIGHT HANDLE PACKAGE (45 mins)

1. Kyrie Stationary Series (15 mins)
   • Low crossovers (stay below knees): 2 mins
   • Between-legs pendulum (figure 8 pattern): 2 mins
   • Behind-back wrap (tight to body): 2 mins
   • Hesitation combo: pound-pound-freeze-GO: 2 mins
   • Inside-out exaggerated: 2 mins
   • Two-ball stationary combo: 5 mins
2. Shadow Boxing With The Rock (15 mins)
   • Shadow defender drill: Imagine defender’s feet, attack the lead foot
   • North-South combos: 3 dribble max to get by imaginary defender
   • Retreat dribble to space creation: pound back 2-3 hard dribbles then attack
3. Handle Conditioning (15 mins)
   • 60-second crossover burnout (max speed): 3 sets
   • Heavy ball drills (if available, otherwise add backpack): 5 mins
   • One-handed control drill: 5 mins each hand

Tuesday/Friday: KYRIE SEPARATION PACKAGE (45 mins)

1. Space Creation Series (20 mins)
   • Hesitation-crossover combo: 5 mins
   • Behind-back retreat dribble: 5 mins
   • Half-spin to crossover: 5 mins
   • Inside-out to drive: 5 mins
2. Cone Gauntlet (15 mins) Set up 5 cones/water bottles/whatever in zigzag pattern:
   • Tight crossovers only: 3 sets
   • Behind-back only: 3 sets
   • Freestyle combo at each cone: 3 sets
3. Handle Recovery (10 mins)
   • Self-deflections: Intentionally bounce ball off leg/foot/random surface and recover
   • Off-balance drills: Create awkward body positions and maintain dribble control

Wednesday/Saturday: KYRIE RHYTHM PACKAGE (40 mins)

1. Pace Change Master Class (15 mins)
   • Slow-Fast-Slow: Change speeds drastically mid-dribble
   • Stop-on-a-dime: Full sprint to dead stop with ball control
   • Hesi-explosion: Exaggerated hesitation to burst
2. Basketball & Tennis Ball Reaction (15 mins)
   • Dribble basketball while tossing tennis ball against wall: 5 mins each hand
   • Bounce tennis ball off ground while maintaining basketball dribble: 5 mins
3. Blindfolded Feel Work (10 mins)
   • Close eyes or use blindfold (t-shirt works):
     • Stationary dribbling pattern: 5 mins
     • Figure 8 blind: 5 mins

Sunday: CHALLENGE DAY (30 mins) 60-second max rep challenges:

• Crossovers: Beat last week’s number
• Between-legs: Beat last week’s number
• Behind-backs: Beat last week’s number
• Complex combo: Create a 4-move combo and hit max reps

WEEKS 3-4: CONTROL TO CREATION

Monday/Thursday: KYRIE COMBO PACKAGE (50 mins)

1. Signature Move Development (20 mins)
   • Kyrie hesi-crossover stepback: 10 mins
   • In-and-out to between legs cross: 10 mins
2. Chair Workout (20 mins) Set up chair as defender:
   • Attack chair with specific combo, finish with shot: 10 mins
   • Retreat from chair pressure, create space: 10 mins
3. Handle Stamina (10 mins)
   • 2-ball handling circuit: 30 secs work/15 secs rest x 8 rounds

Tuesday/Friday: DEADLY DIRECTION CHANGES (50 mins)

1. Multi-Directional Attack (25 mins)
   • North-South-East-West drill: Change directions on command (self-talk)
   • 5-spot dribble drill: Place markers in pentagon, hit each spot with different move
2. Kyrie Escape Package (15 mins)
   • Sidestep escapes: Hard drive followed by sudden lateral escape dribble
   • Retreat power dribbles: 2-3 hard dribbles back to create space
   • Spin escape sequences: Drive, spin, second counter move
3. Two-Ball Control Challenge (10 mins)
   • Walking figure-8 with two balls
   • Alternate pound while walking/jogging

Wednesday/Saturday: GAME SPEED APPLICATION (50 mins)

1. Full-Court Gauntlet (20 mins)
   • Full-court crossover zigzag sprint: 4 sets
   • Full-court behind-back zigzag: 4 sets
   • Full-court freestyle attack: 4 sets
2. Fatigue Handles (15 mins)
   • 10 pushups → 30-second handle combo: 5 sets
   • 20-second defensive slides → handle series: 5 sets
3. Kyrie Finisher Package (15 mins)
   • Combo move to finishing package at rim
   • Focus: low dribble to explosive finish

Sunday: PROGRESS CHECK (40 mins)

• Film yourself: Record your handles from front and side angle
• Challenge: Recreate a specific Kyrie combo from YouTube
• Self-evaluation: Compare week 1 film to current abilities
• Check out our player assessment for a full view of your game

Remember, Kyrie didn’t develop that handle overnight. He’s been putting in those lonely hours since he was a kid. This program ain’t magic – you get out what you put in. Every day you drill these moves, you’re depositing skill in the bank that pays interest when the lights come on.

Now get to work. Summer handles become winter highlights.