Ayrton Oneill
Getting good at basketball requires a combination of physical skills, mental toughness, and consistent, focused effort. It's important to work on your dribbling, shooting, finishing, defence, and cardio fitness. Drills are an effective way to improve your skills, and it's beneficial to practice at game speed. Playing with others is also a great way to develop your skills, and pick-up games can help you practice at game speed and put your training to use.
How to 'git gud' at basketball
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game | Steep learning curve, not as simple as checkers |
| Player attributes | Height: 6'4" - 7'3", weight: 290-340 lbs, max wingspan |
| Player type | Big man, slasher, wing player, slashing SF, slashing rebounder, rebounding athletic finisher |
| Actions | Set screens, get boards, dunk, control the painted area, layups |
| Learning resources | Watch NBA basketball and 2K videos, play MyCareer |
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What You'll Learn
- Dribbling: keep your eyes up, practice with both hands, and focus on ball control
- Shooting: get arc, practice your form, and improve accuracy
- Defence: develop a tough mentality, quick feet, and active hands
- Endurance: build stamina with cardio exercises like running, cycling, or swimming
- Practice: play at game speed, learn the rules, and be consistent
Dribbling: keep your eyes up, practice with both hands, and focus on ball control
Dribbling is one of the most important skills in basketball, and it can be practised almost anywhere. The key to improving your dribbling is to spend as much time as possible with a basketball in your hand, honing your ball control. Here are some tips to improve your dribbling:
Keep your eyes up: A common mistake many players make is looking down at the ball while dribbling. This takes your eyes off the court and can slow down your progress. Focus on a spot on the wall or the rim while you dribble to keep your head up. This will help you develop peripheral vision and allow you to be more aware of your surroundings and the other players.
Practice with both hands: Being able to dribble with both your right and left hands is essential. You want to be comfortable dribbling from any position on the court, so work on drills that focus on alternating hands and crossing the ball between your legs. One such drill is the "front V-dribble": start by dribbling the ball side-to-side in front of your body with your right hand, forming a "V". Then, switch to your left hand and repeat. This drill is excellent for practising in and out fake moves that can help you get around defenders.
Focus on ball control: The more control you have over the ball, the more options you'll have on the court. To improve your ball control, dribble the ball hard and focus on using your fingertips instead of your palm to guide the ball. The harder you dribble, the quicker the ball returns to your hand, giving you more time to react and make decisions. Try drills like dribbling figure 8s, spider dribbling, and drop and catch to improve your ball handling and control.
Additionally, don't be afraid to experiment and push yourself outside your comfort zone. Try dribbling at faster speeds or with heavier balls to challenge yourself and improve your skills. The more you vary your dribbling practice, the more versatile and effective you'll become on the court.
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Shooting: get arc, practice your form, and improve accuracy
To improve your shooting in basketball, there are several techniques and drills you can practice.
One fundamental aspect of shooting is getting the right arc on your shots. The arc refers to the trajectory of the ball as it leaves your hand and heads towards the basket. A good arc will give your shots a higher chance of going in, as it provides a larger margin for error. To practice this, start with shots from directly under the basket and focus on getting a nice, high arc as you shoot. As you move further away from the basket, maintain that arc and focus on your follow-through.
Another important aspect is your shooting form or technique. This involves the positioning of your body, arms, and hands when shooting. Consistency in your form will lead to more consistent shooting. One drill to improve your form is to take one-armed shots. This drill helps you focus on your follow-through and ensures you are flexing your wrist every time. Start close to the basket and make five shots, and then take a step back and repeat. The power for these shots should come from your legs, and you should follow through on every attempt, keeping your arm extended after the shot.
To improve accuracy, it's crucial to develop a feel for the target. One drill to help with this is to practice taking shots from four different spots on the court, making five net shots (where the ball only touches the net) at each spot. This will help you build a sense of touch and improve your accuracy. As you practice, start with easier shots closer to the basket and work your way outwards. Additionally, after every missed shot, take a moment to reflect on what went wrong and what adjustments you can make. This will help you build strong shooting habits and improve your accuracy over time.
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Defence: develop a tough mentality, quick feet, and active hands
Defence in basketball requires a combination of a tough mentality, quick feet, and active hands. These are essential skills that can be developed through practice and a strong understanding of defensive techniques.
Developing a tough mentality is crucial for defenders in basketball. Mental toughness is about resilience, focus, and the ability to bounce back from setbacks. Players should learn to handle negative situations, such as poor shooting, bad referee calls, or limited playing time, without letting them affect their performance. Team conditioning drills can help build mental toughness, as players must push themselves to give their best effort even when physically and mentally exhausted. Coaches can also create adverse situations in practice, such as starting a scrimmage with a points deficit, to help players develop mental toughness and learn to overcome challenges.
Quick feet are essential for defenders to stay ahead of the ball and force the ball handler to change direction. Defenders should focus on maintaining their stance and positioning their feet to control the ball handler's movements. Drills that work on quick turns, hip movement, and sprinting can help improve a defender's ability to cut off offensive players while maintaining a defensive stance. Additionally, defenders should learn to recover quickly if the offensive player gains a step on them.
Active hands are crucial for defenders to distract the offense, deflect passes, and guard the ball effectively. Coaches often instruct players to keep their "hands up" to be ready to block or deflect. However, there are different hand positions depending on the situation. For example, when guarding a dribbler, hands should be down, faking at the ball to stay balanced. When guarding a player who has the ball but has not dribbled, one hand can be at waist or knee level, while the other is stretched out towards the ball handler's belt buckle.
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Endurance: build stamina with cardio exercises like running, cycling, or swimming
To excel at basketball, you need to build endurance and stamina, which will enable you to perform at your best for longer periods. This involves improving your cardiovascular and muscular endurance. Cardiovascular endurance refers to the ability of your heart, lungs, and blood vessels to support rhythmic exercises, while muscular endurance is defined by how long your muscles can work without getting tired.
One way to build endurance is to focus on cardio exercises such as running, cycling, and swimming. These activities can improve your cardiovascular health and increase your endurance capacity. For example, running long distances can build endurance by improving the efficiency of your body in using oxygen and energy. Similarly, cycling is an excellent cardio exercise that increases your aerobic capacity and improves cardiovascular stamina. Swimming is another effective cardio exercise that engages multiple muscle groups and improves cardiovascular endurance.
In addition to traditional cardio exercises, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can also enhance your endurance and stamina. HIIT involves short bursts of intense activity, such as sprinting, followed by brief periods of active rest, such as jogging. This type of training improves your body's ability to recover quickly and enhances your tolerance for high-intensity work.
It is important to note that building endurance and stamina is not just about cardio. Strength training and compound movements, such as squats, step-ups, and push-ups, also contribute to improving your overall endurance and stamina. By incorporating a variety of exercises and consistently challenging your body in different ways, you will be well on your way to becoming a basketball superstar.
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Practice: play at game speed, learn the rules, and be consistent
To improve your basketball skills, it is important to practice playing at game speed, learn the rules, and be consistent. Here are some tips to help you do that:
Practice at game speed
Playing at game speed helps you simulate real game scenarios and improve your performance. Try practising combos like tween-tween-shot at full speed to get closer to game speed. You can also add challenges to your drills, such as sprinting to half court and back after each shot, to mimic the fatigue you'll experience during an actual game. Practising quicker releases is another way to improve your game speed. Imagine a defender is guarding you and work on getting your shot off in as little time as possible while still being accurate.
Learn the rules
Basketball has its own unique language and rules. Familiarise yourself with the fundamental skills and basic rules of the game. Each team consists of five players, and the objective is to outscore your opponent by shooting the ball into your basket while preventing them from scoring in theirs. Points are awarded based on where the shot is taken on the court, with three points for shots taken beyond the 3-point line and two points for baskets made from anywhere else. Games are divided into periods, typically consisting of four quarters or two halves. When a violation occurs, the referee blows their whistle, play stops, and the ball is given to the other team.
Be consistent
Consistency is vital for success in basketball. Set realistic short-term goals that contribute to your long-term progress. Analyse your current abilities and create a plan with specific targets to help you stay motivated and track your improvements. Develop a routine and stick to it, as consistency in your process will lead to better results and higher confidence.
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Frequently asked questions
Getting good at basketball takes consistent, focused effort. Here are some tips:
- Practice dribbling with each hand, keeping the ball close to the ground.
- Learn to dribble without looking at the ball.
- Practice your shooting form, follow-through, and mental focus.
- Develop your defensive stance and footwork.
- Work on your cardiovascular fitness and endurance.
Here are some drills to improve your skills:
- Dribble the full length of the court using different moves (crossover, between the legs, behind the back).
- Set up chairs and dribble around/through them.
- Practice your free-throw shooting.
- Play "Horse" to develop your shooting accuracy from all corners of the court.
- Do ladder drills and cone drills to improve your agility and footwork.
Here are some tips for improving your physical condition:
- Increase your cardiovascular fitness through activities like running, cycling, or swimming.
- Use the HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) method to simulate the stop/start nature of basketball.
- Strengthen your core with exercises like planks or sit-ups to improve your balance and absorb contact.
Here are some ways to improve your mental game:
- Study the game by learning the rules, watching old games, and reading about the sport.
- Practice at game speed to simulate the pressure and intensity of a real game.
- Develop your confidence by putting in the work and believing in your abilities.
- Don't be afraid to fail and make mistakes; see them as part of your growth and learning process.
