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The NBA’s rules have changed over the years to allow for flashier styles and more exciting plays as both fans and the league expect the players to be flashy and creative. However, the art of dribbling still brings up a lot of memories and debate. People have different ideas about when the rules of the game started to change as the league went from rough half-court fights to fast-paced, guard-dominated spectacles. At the heart of this change is a rule called “carrying” that used to mean an automatic turnover but now just gets an acceptance from refs.

Guards with handles as dazzling as their shoes have embraced what was once an unusual violation and made it a modern ball-handling standard. The leniency on carrying shows a more general change in NBA officiating, whether it is Ja Morant’s hesitation moves or Stephen Curry’s sliding crossovers. But who actually started it? Was it Allen Iverson, whose famous crossover caused opponents to trip and fans to cheer? Could it also be a quieter, more cunning predecessor who controlled the dribble long before palming the ball became fashionable?

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd claims that the answer isn’t who you assume. Kidd refuted the widespread assumption that Iverson started modern-day carry when on The Dan Patrick Show. Rather, he blamed a highly unlikely name: John Stockton. “I don’t think it was Iverson,” Kidd said. “I think it’s the guy we were just talking about. Stockton was the first guy to carry the ball. He knew how to manipulate the dribble.” Kidd added that Stockton, often labeled as “dirty” by opponents, was simply “smart.” That small compliment made the point clear: Stockton may have changed the way people controlled the ball decades before Iverson made it cool.

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Kidd’s remarks affect two generations of basketball fans and players. Iverson’s dribble was especially the fatal hesitation crossover used to shake Michael Jordan in 1997 which ignited a cultural revolution. It also attracted charges of carrying, though. Rarely punished, Iverson’s hand position under the ball was hard to miss. While traditionalists complained, the league maybe tolerated leniency to drive excitement by pushing into his appeal. Using smooth pauses and delicate hand movements to negotiate defenses, Stockton was long admired for his efficiency and court vision which quietly pushed the same limits. Even if his clever dribble set the standard, Iverson was the one who elevated it to a national level.

Did Jason Kidd make a giant statement on Dallas’ future?

The Dallas Mavericks shocked everyone in the NBA when they jumped from having the 11th-best chances to getting the first pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Now that they have the pick, all signs point to Duke’s Cooper Flagg, who is hailed as the best player in the draft and is likely to be joining a team full of veterans in Dallas. On the same episode of The Dan Patrick Show, head coach Jason Kidd pretty much revealed that the team planned to draft the 18-year-old.

Convinced the Mavs would either stay at No. 11 or fall more, Kidd acknowledged he wasn’t even following the lottery running. “I just felt, you know, we were going to stay around 11, if not go backwards, just the way the things were going for us this year,” Kidd said. “But incredible to get number one.” The unexpected jump to the top position now offers Dallas the unusual chance to pair a generational rookie with a seasoned core, like one that just made the Western Conference Finals.

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Allen Iverson vs. John Stockton: Who truly changed the game with their dribbling style?

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Widely regarded as a franchise cornerstone in the making, Flagg turns 19 in December. Kidd underlined how Flagg’s move to the pros will be made easier by the presence of experienced players such as Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and maybe Klay Thompson who should he join in free agency. “Being able to have older players—and when I say that, out of respect, they’re not dinosaurs—but when you look at the age of 30, Ky, AD, guys that are here, Klay could definitely help him with the process of going through a rookie season,” Kidd said.

Jason Kidd has been very vocal, and his comments reflect a clear belief that Cooper Flagg is walking into an ideal environment in Dallas. With experienced players Kidd believes the young forward won’t have to carry the burden typical of No. 1 selections. Flagg will have the freedom to grow at his pace.

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Allen Iverson vs. John Stockton: Who truly changed the game with their dribbling style?

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