PART 2 OF 2: HANDLES LIKE KYRIE – WHERE THE REAL ONES SEPARATE (ADVANCED WORKOUTS)

Aight, listen up. If you made it through Part 1, don’t gas yourself up yet. That was just the price of admission.

The next four weeks? This is where we separate the Instagram hoopers from the real bucket-getters. The ones who just wanna look good with the rock from the ones who’ll break a defender’s soul on game point.

Most cats quit right here. They learn a few combos, post a slo-mo clip, and think they’ve arrived. Nah. The difference between having moves and having THAT PACKAGE is the work nobody sees.

Kyrie wasn’t born breaking ankles. That man was in empty gyms at 6 AM, drilling the same move 500 times until it became automatic. No shortcuts, no excuses.

From here on out, we’re pushing past comfortable. Your hands gonna burn. Your legs gonna be dead. There’ll be days when that ball feels like it’s fighting you. GOOD. That’s the process.

What we’re building now is a handle that delivers when it matters:

• Fourth quarter, shot clock winding down
• Defense knows your go-to move and takes it away
• Your legs heavy but you still need to create space
• Pressure defense trying to speed you up

The foundation was about control. This advanced work? It’s about WEAPONIZING your handle. Wanna look at your full game check out our player assessment too.

Don’t just read this program. ATTACK IT. Every rep matters. No half-stepping. No phone breaks every two minutes. Lock in like your reputation depends on it—cause on the court, it does.

You said you want handles like Kyrie? Prove it these next four weeks.

Let’s get to work.

PART 2: ADVANCED KYRIE PACKAGE (WEEKS 5-8)

WEEKS 5-6: COUNTER MOVES & CREATIVITY

Monday/Thursday: ADVANCED COMBO DEVELOPMENT (60 mins)

1. Triple-Threat Handle Series (20 mins)
   • Start in triple-threat, initiate with jab step to:
     • Crossover escape: 5 mins
     • Between-legs retreat: 5 mins
     • Inside-out hesitation drive: 5 mins
     • Jab-jab-behind back: 5 mins
2. Kyrie Counter System (20 mins)
   • For each move, develop immediate counter when defender “takes it away”:
     • If crossover is denied → through legs escape
     • If between legs is denied → behind back spin
     • If drive is overplayed → stepback separation
3. Handle Flow State (20 mins)
   • Continuous dribbling sequence: No pause between moves for 2-min rounds
   • Add music: Match dribble rhythm to beat (Kyrie famously practices to beats)
   • Freestyle expression: Develop your own signature combination

Tuesday/Friday: DECEPTIVE HANDLE MASTER CLASS (60 mins)

1. Advanced Misdirection (25 mins)
   • Eyes/head fake with crossover: Look one way, go another
   • Shoulder fake series: Drop shoulder before change of direction
   • Kyrie’s multi-level hesitation: Sell with entire body
2. Pattern-Breaking Drills (20 mins)
   • 3-move sequence, then unexpected 4th move
   • Random command drill: Call out move changes mid-combo
   • “Surprise yourself” drill: Make spontaneous decisions
3. Two-Basketball Advanced Series (15 mins)
   • Walking crossovers with both balls
   • Figure-8 while moving
   • Alternating behind-back sequence

Wednesday/Saturday: GAME-SITUATION ISOLATION (60 mins)

1. Clock Drill (20 mins)
   • Set imaginary shot clock to 7 seconds
   • Start at top of key, create advantage with handle, get to scoring position before “buzzer”
   • Focus on efficiency of moves, not flash
2. Recovery & Reaction (20 mins)
   • Off-balance handling: Create purposeful awkward positions
   • Low-dribble recovery: Keep dribble alive when knocked off balance
   • Fumble-to-function: Intentionally loose dribble, regain control instantly
3. Kyrie Signature Series (20 mins) Pick 3 specific Kyrie moves from games/highlights:
   • Break down the footwork
   • Master hand positioning
   • Replicate exact timing and rhythm

Sunday: CREATIVITY LAB (45 mins)

• No structure day: Pure creative expression with the basketball
• Film from multiple angles
• Develop one completely original move sequence
• Review film from previous weeks, identify improvements

WEEKS 7-8: ELITE HANDLE INTEGRATION

Monday/Thursday: HANDLE-TO-SCORER PACKAGE (60 mins)

1. Kyrie Stepback Series (20 mins)
   • Crossover to stepback jumper
   • Between-legs to side-step three
   • Behind-back to hop-step jumper
2. Tight Space Operation (20 mins)
   • Phone booth drill: Maintain dribble in very small area
   • Pressure handling: Imagine double-team, keep dribble alive
   • Low pocket manipulation: Never let ball rise above knee
3. Finishing Sequence (20 mins)
   • Handle combo directly to finishing move:
     • Hesitation cross to eurostep
     • Behind-back to reverse layup
     • In-and-out to floater

Tuesday/Friday: SPEED & PRECISION ELEVATION (60 mins)

1. Speed Handling Circuit (25 mins)
   • Perform all basic moves at 25% faster than comfortable
   • “Panic dribble” drill: Handle as if being trapped
   • Rapid-fire combo: Hit 3 moves in under 3 seconds
2. Precision Control (20 mins)
   • Tape small targets on ground, hit with ball while maintaining dribble
   • Thread-the-needle drills: Dribble through tight spaces
   • Target practice: Set up objects to hit with passes directly off dribble
3. Reaction Amplifier (15 mins)
   • Tennis ball reaction: Advanced patterns
   • Random command execution: Have audio recording randomly call out moves
   • “Chaos handling”: Create unpredictable environments

Wednesday/Saturday: KYRIE COMPLETE HANDLE INTEGRATION (70 mins)

1. Full Sequence Development (30 mins) Create 3 complete sequences that include:
   • Initial move
   • Counter move if defended
   • Final scoring action
   • Practice until automatic
2. Situational Mastery (25 mins)
   • Last-second situation: 5 seconds to create shot
   • Full-court pressure handle: Imagine full-court press
   • Half-court offensive initiation: Start offense with specific handle sequence
3. Handle Conditioning Finale (15 mins)
   • 60-second continuous combo drill: 5 rounds
   • Fatigue test: 20 defensive slides → handle sequence → finish: 5 rounds

Sunday: FINAL SHOWCASE (60 mins)

• Film complete handle workout
• Create “highlight reel” of best moves
• Compare to Week 1 video
• Develop 8-week plan for continued improvement

MINDSET & APPROACH

What separates Kyrie’s handle from others isn’t just technique – it’s mindset. Throughout this program:

1. Stay low – Your handle should rarely rise above knee level
2. Protect the rock – Keep defender on your hip, ball away from defense
3. Be unpredictable – If you know what’s coming next, so does the defender
4. Control tempo – The great ones speed up, slow down, and pause at will
5. Play chess – Think 2-3 moves ahead, always have a counter ready

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

• Basketball (indoor/outdoor depending on your court)
• Tennis ball (for reaction drills)
• Cones/water bottles/any markers
• Second basketball (ideal but optional)
• Phone/camera for recording progress
• Optional: heavy basketball or weighted gloves for resistance

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.