🏀. Is. Life.

Spoilers below, ballers.

During my renewed 2020 love affair with the NBA, I started hearing the phrase “elite handles” (mostly with respect to, like, Kyrie Irving and James Harden).

It refers to top-level ball-handling/dribbling skill, and it lit up my crossword cortex because the word “handle” can also be used as a synonym for “nickname.” And friends, the NBA has generated some of the best. all-time. nicknames.

HIS ROYAL AIRNESS has always been my favorite, ever since that amazing intro call in “Space Jam,” but the list goes on and on.

“It’s GOTTA BE THE SHOES!”

Happy solving, friends.

-Ross