Basketball has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I played it all throughout school, and have been a fan of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs for years. Even though I never went pro, I still love watching and playing the game whenever I can. Part of what makes the game so special for me is that it’s one of the easiest sports to learn. Which is why I always seek to improve my game, so the next time I’m in a pickup game I can hold my own against bigger and better players.
This blog will cover some of the basic fundamentals every player should have that will help them take their game to the next level. Whether you’re picking up a ball for the first time, or a seasoned player just looking to improve, the tips I will talk about are essential.
Fellow basketball lovers ascend with me!
I’ll go over the basics of the game on subsequent pages, but I briefly want to talk about a few examples of players who embody why the essentials I’m going to cover are so important. One of the great things about basketball is you don’t have to be 7″0 or the best athlete to be a great player.
Here’s 3 examples of players who embody why this is true.
Steph Curry:
Steph Curry is the greatest shooter the game has ever seen. And despite being only 6″3, he’s had profound impact on the game and revolutionized it for an entire generation. Now every kid believes if they master shooting they can be just like him. He’s reached the greatest heights because of the skill he mastered.
Kyrie Irving:
Kyrie Irving is arguably the greatest ballhandler the game has ever seen. And despite being only 6″2, he’s become one of the greatest point guards ever and has inspired kids everywhere to work on their handles. Mastering the skill of ballhandling the ball helped propel him to superstar status.
Draymond Green:
We all know defense is just as important as offense. While the above 2 players mastered offensive skills, Steph Curry’s teammate mastered the art of the defense. Despite being only 6″7 and undersized for a big man, Draymond Green mastered the intangibles of defense to help fuel a dynasty and becoming a hall of famer.
These 3 players illustrate why shooting, dribbling, and defense are the core essentials every player needs to improve to take their game to the next level. Now let’s talk about what goes into these skills and how to improve at them. Read the articles to the right to find out more!