While it's true that I couldn't find a defintion of "player control" in the NBA online rules, there is a definition for "team control":
Quote:
Rule 4 Section XVII-Team Control
A team is in control when a player is holding, dribbling or passing the ball. Team control ends when the defensive team deflects the ball or there is a field goal attempt.
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So it seems reasonable to infer that a player is in control if he is holding or dribbling the ball.
Of course, you're then left with the definition of a dribble as "a movement by a player who is holding or dribbling the ball. . ." Go figure.