How to Use ball handler in a Sentence

ball handler

noun
  • Young is wise beyond his years as a pick-and-roll ball handler.
    — Michael Shapiro, SI.com, 26 July 2019
  • Foul the ball handler dribbling the ball up the floor before half-court.
    — Shannon Russell, The Courier-Journal, 27 Nov. 2020
  • That kept the young ball handler out for his team’s first winning campaign.
    — Tony East, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
  • Sykes has a chance to give the Pacers bench a boost at the lead ball handler spot.
    — Tony East, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2021
  • The ball whipped around the floor, pinging from the ball handler to the roller to the corners.
    — Jovan Buha, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • But Ingles has looked passive as the pick and roll ball handler.
    — The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Nov. 2021
  • The only two exceptions are if their man cuts or sets a screen for the ball handler.
    — Jeff Greer, The Courier-Journal, 24 Apr. 2018
  • As a point guard and a primary ball handler, that’s what is going to help.
    — Brendan Marks, charlotteobserver, 8 Mar. 2018
  • The thought is that Shamet can come in and make shots while being a secondary ball handler.
    — Keith Pompey, Philly.com, 7 July 2018
  • In doing so, though, the team created a logjam in the ball handler spots.
    — Tony East, Forbes, 29 June 2022
  • That evolved into using Jokic as a pick-and-roll ball handler.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Flashy ball handler, with a range of hesitation and change of pace dribbles.
    — Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 25 June 2022
  • The defenders collapse around maybe the strongest ball handler the game has seen.
    — Dan Woike, latimes.com, 15 June 2019
  • Both of them are nimble enough to roam out to the perimeter to check ball handlers and step away from the paint to knock down jump shots.
    — The Si Staff, SI.com, 16 Feb. 2018
  • Odom's arguably Xavier's best ball handler and one of its best defenders.
    — Adam Baum, The Enquirer, 1 Mar. 2022
  • Toronto's attempts to pick up ball handlers 90 feet away from the hoop were futile.
    — Chris Fedor, cleveland.com, 11 May 2018
  • Brown will join Parks as a key ball handler and athlete, making an impact on both sides of the ball.
    — Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2023
  • The ball handler pump fakes, getting the defender to jump in an effort to block or contest a shot.
    — Akeem Glaspie, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Oct. 2021
  • In the past year, his overall shooting and being a better ball handler has improved the most.
    — Dallas News, 22 Feb. 2021
  • And while the Hoosiers add Robert Phinisee this summer, good teams need more than one ball handler.
    — Zach Osterman, Indianapolis Star, 30 May 2018
  • And while the Hoosiers add Robert Phinisee next season, good teams need more than one ball handler.
    — Zach Osterman, Indianapolis Star, 19 Apr. 2018
  • Knowing to step up and take that charge or pick up the ball handler, that’s a good game time learning situation.
    — Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
  • Gardiner, the best ball handler of the three, plays on the wing and averages the second-most assists on the team.
    — Alex Vejar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Feb. 2021
  • Due to his 7 ‘6 wingspan, throwing lobs to him is much easier for the ball handlers.
    — Mikai Bruce, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
  • The game had tightened and Thomas is an excellent ball handler and (save for these first two games) foul shooter.
    — Joe Vardon, cleveland.com, 7 Jan. 2018
  • After all, Wade is second on the team in assists and one of the primary ball handlers.
    — Chris Fedor, cleveland.com, 13 Jan. 2018
  • But if Calderon falters, Lue may need to play Green as an extra ball handler with the first unit.
    — Joe Vardon, cleveland.com, 22 Apr. 2018
  • Sid’s usually guarding the ball handler, and Addy’s on the wing.
    — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
  • For a team that has long lacked a reliable ball handler off the bench, the Wizards were smart to pick up Rivers.
    — Rohan Nadkarni, SI.com, 26 June 2018
  • The Knicks are down two ball handlers and staring down one of the most grueling final stretches in the league.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ball handler.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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