Amanda Knapp
Becoming a better big man in basketball requires a combination of physical attributes, skills, and a deep understanding of the game. While height and weight are advantageous, a great big man also needs soft hands and strong arms, as well as well-developed finger strength and good hand-eye coordination. They should be quick on their feet, relentless in their pursuit of rebounds, and always hungry for scoring opportunities. A well-rounded big man will have a variety of low post moves, such as the baby hook, drop step, and jump hook, and will be able to create space and scoring opportunities for themselves and their teammates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Physicality | Be aggressive and relentless. Go after rebounds and loose balls. Foul hard. |
| Mentality | Be aware of your positioning and have a feel for the game. Be intelligent and bait defenders. |
| Practice | Work on your touch, finishing footwork, and basic moves like the jump hook. Practice with weights, but be careful and start small. |
| Drills | Focus on ball handling, low post moves, and finishing drills. Practice the Crab Dribbling Drill to improve ball control and positioning. |
| Skills | Develop soft hands and strong arms with good finger strength and hand-eye coordination. Learn to shoot from different angles. |
| Game Awareness | Recognize scoring opportunities but also when to pass out. Don't sulk if you don't get the ball. Be aware of your teammates and trust them. |
| Defence | Keep yourself between the basket and the ball. Don't leave your position or give up fouls. Keep the ball tucked under your chin. |
| Offence | Be active on the offensive boards. Use your body to shield the ball and create space. |
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What You'll Learn
Develop a feel for the game and improve positioning
Developing a feel for the game and improving positioning are crucial aspects of becoming a better big man in basketball. Here are some key tips to achieve that:
Firstly, understand the importance of positioning. On offense, walk your defender down to the block, use your forearm to create space, and then spin and seal. Getting deeper and closer to the basket is advantageous for a big man. Use your body to shield the ball from the defender and initiate contact early. This will help you establish a strong position and make it easier for your teammates to find you.
Work on your footwork and ball handling skills. Crab dribbling drills can improve your ball control and body positioning, protecting the ball in the post. Practice keeping the dribble low and using both hands to dribble, improving your versatility. Develop soft hands and strong arms to ensure you can catch passes securely, with good hand-eye coordination.
Be relentless on the offensive boards and loose balls. Great big men have a strong desire to score from these situations, always keeping themselves between the basket and the ball. This will also help you avoid foul trouble, as you won't need to leave your position often.
Additionally, understand the concept of the low post. Although the modern game has moved away from it, the low post is still vital for creating scoring opportunities and drawing fouls. Develop a variety of low post moves, such as the baby hook, drop step, and jump hook, to create space and score efficiently.
Finally, develop a well-rounded game. Recognize scoring opportunities but also know when to pass out, similar to Shaq. Don't be a "black hole" or always expect the entry pass. Work hard, and your teammates will recognize your open scoring chances.
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Master the low post, ball handling and finishing moves
Mastering the Low Post
Although the modern game has moved away from the low block, the low post remains a vital area of the basketball court. Players occupying the low post should aim to pin their defender to their back before receiving a pass. To score effectively from the low post, big men should master a variety of moves, including the baby hook, the drop step, and the up-and-under.
The baby hook is a simplified version of the traditional sky hook, a more advanced move. The offensive player creates space from their defender by turning halfway and using one hand to take a shot attempt over the defender. This move requires a wide stance and a solid base.
The drop step is a simple maneuver that creates space at the rim for a layup. The offensive player dribbles with their back to the defender and uses a shoulder fake to position the defender near their pivot foot. The offensive player then uses their other leg to wrap around the defender's foot and "drop" toward the basket, pushing the defender aside and creating an opening for a layup.
The up-and-under is another effective low post move that can create fouls on opposing defenders. This move is often used after a few baby hooks, as the initial "up" portion resembles a hook shot. The offensive player performs a ball fake to get the defender to jump, then steps through while the defender is out of position, creating an open look at the rim.
Ball Handling
To become a better ball handler, focus on developing a feel for the basketball through various dribbling drills. Stationary and slow-moving drills, such as the Maravich series, one-ball dribbling, and two-ball dribbling, improve hand-eye coordination, hand quickness, and ambidexterity. More advanced drills, such as dribbling through cones and the Steve Nash passing series, can also be incorporated.
In game situations, the back-up dribble is a useful technique to create space and handle defensive pressure. The cross-over dribble is another effective move to break down defenders and create scoring opportunities.
Finishing Moves
As competition increases, crafty finishing moves become more important for big men looking to score efficiently. The Ginobli Euro Step, or side step, is a great move to use when the defender takes away the offensive player's driving lane. The offensive player uses a side step to get around the defender and create an opening for a layup.
The Steve Nash No-Jump Layup is another effective finishing move. Instead of jumping, Nash uses his quickness to get the ball up before the defender can recover or the helpside defense can rotate over to block the shot. This move throws off the shot blocker's timing and can be very effective.
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Be relentless and play with intensity
To become a better big man in basketball, you need to be relentless and play with intensity. This means having a strong desire to get points from loose ball situations and offensive rebounds. You should always play like there are 20 seconds left on the clock and you're down by two points. Go after every loose ball and run as fast as you can on both offense and defense. Be aggressive and play with intensity, but don't reach in or foul unnecessarily. If you are going to foul, make it a hard foul so that your opponent thinks twice before coming into your space again.
Developing a well-rounded game is crucial. Work on your ball handling, footwork, and finishing moves. Improve your ball handling to create your own shots, reduce turnovers, and handle pressure in the post. Practice drills like the Crab Dribbling Drill to enhance your ball control and body positioning. Use both hands and shoot from different angles to improve your versatility.
In addition to skill development, focus on your physical attributes. Strengthen your finger strength and improve your hand-eye coordination to develop soft hands that can securely catch passes. Work on your quickness and agility by doing exercises like machine guns (running in place while bringing your knees as high as you can) and skipping, which will help you get to rebounds faster.
Lastly, don't be afraid of contact. Use your body to shield the ball from defenders and initiate contact when necessary. Plant your forearm in your opponent's chest, spin, and seal to gain a better offensive position. Always be hungry for the ball and show your teammates that you're open and ready to score.
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Build finger strength, hand-eye coordination and technique
To become a dominant big man in basketball, you must develop well-rounded skills, including ball handling, footwork, and finishing moves.
Build Finger Strength, Hand-Eye Coordination, and Technique
A great big man has soft hands and strong arms. They can catch the ball with ease and hold it securely. This comes from developing finger strength and hand-eye coordination. Here are some tips to improve in these areas:
- Practice catching drills to improve finger strength and hand-eye coordination. Start with basic drills and progress to more challenging exercises. For example, catch the ball with your fingertips, focusing on absorbing the impact and securing the ball.
- Develop good technique by keeping your elbows pointed outwards to press the ball inward. This helps to secure the ball and prevent it from being knocked out of your hands.
- Work on your touch and finishing footwork. Ensure you can take a layup with strength and execute a jump hook without looking awkward.
- Practice the baby hook, a simple yet effective shot. Start by turning halfway to create space from your defender, then use one hand to take the shot over your defender. This move requires a wide stance and a solid base.
- Master the drop step to create space for a layup. This involves dribbling with your back to the defender, using a shoulder fake to position them near your pivot foot, and then using your other leg to wrap around their foot and drop towards the basket.
- Learn to shield the ball with your body. Use your backside to position and seal off defenders, gaining a better offensive position and scoring angle.
- Be aware of your positioning at all times. On offense, walk your defender down to the block, plant your forearm in their chest, spin, and seal. Get as deep and close to the basket as possible.
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Learn low post moves like the baby hook, drop step and jump hook
The baby hook, drop step, and jump hook are all low post moves that can help you become a better big man in basketball.
Baby Hook
The baby hook is a variation of the hook shot, which involves using your body to block the defense and then throwing the ball up with one hand. To perform a baby hook, put up the hook shot similarly to a skyhook but with added buoyancy by including a jump. This jump gives you more leverage than if you had one or both feet on the ground. The baby hook is a simple move in theory but can be difficult to execute during a game. To increase your chances of success, position yourself near the baseline of the court, as you'll be more likely to pull off the move considering the short distance to the basket.
Drop Step
The drop step is a basic yet powerful move that every basketball player should know. It is designed to create an open layup for a player who is trying to score on the block. To perform the drop step, start by catching the ball with both feet on the ground. Your top foot becomes your pivot foot. Then, with your bottom foot, take a big step towards the baseline, ideally sealing your defender on your high side so that you have an open layup. After this, use one power dribble and step through with your top leg, getting your shoulders parallel to the backboard. Finally, jump off both feet with the idea of exploding up at the rim.
Jump Hook
The jump hook is another highly effective scoring maneuver. To master this skill, work on keeping the ball tight to your body, getting a good hip pivot, and ensuring the ball comes off your fingertips.
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Frequently asked questions
Essential skills include ball handling, low post moves, and finishing drills. Mastering the low post allows players to dominate the paint, create easy scoring opportunities, and draw fouls.
A great big man has soft hands and strong arms. This comes from well-developed finger strength, good hand-eye coordination, and excellent technique in keeping the elbows pointed out to press the ball inward.
The Crab Dribbling Drill is an excellent exercise for big men to improve ball handling and post control. Players face the basket with their back to the defender, taking a low stance and dribbling while shuffling their feet sideways. This improves ball control and body positioning, helping to protect the ball in the post.
The baby hook is a simple yet effective shot where the offensive player turns halfway to create space from their defender, then uses one hand to take a shot attempt over them. Another move is the drop step, where the offensive player uses physical contact and a shoulder fake to position the defender, before dropping toward the basket and creating an opening for a layup.
Work on your quickness and agility with exercises like machine guns (running in place with high knees) and skipping. Play with intensity and go after loose balls. Develop a feel for the game and improve your positioning, always keeping your hands ready for a pass.
