How to know if you made the basketball team

8 Tryout Tips Guaranteed to Get You Noticed (And What To Avoid So You Don't Get Cut)

Do you know exactly what the coach is looking for in tryouts? Do you know everything you need to do?

You may think that you do, but its highly unlikely.

Actually, what you think would help with tryouts may be the exact reason you get cut from the team. Sad thing is that Ive seen players like you make these critical mistakes over and over and over again.

Ive been fortunate to conduct tryouts for youth clubs with over 400 kids. Ive also been part of high school varsity tryouts with 100 kids for a state championship caliber team at the high school level.

Im able to give you the critical tips that can help you make the team and avoid those mistakes that get you cut.

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1. Do what you do well.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is trying to impress the coach by doing things that are outside your skill set. This often results in a disaster for you.

If you are a good rebounder, grab every rebound.

If you are a good shooter, shoot when you are open.

If you are a good finisher, attack the basket when a lane is open.

If you are a good ball handler, make the simple passes, the simple moves.

If you are not a good 3-point shooter, dont step out and shoot one during tryouts. Ive seen kids literally hit the side of the backboard trying to do this.

The coach will instantly think, Wow. This kid does not know a thing about shot selection. Maybe hes a low IQ kid.

Trust me... with the limited time that a coach can see you... this is not the impression you want to make. Even if you play great the rest of the time, the coach already has impression about you and thats hard to change.

Here is a good measure... can you make 7 out of 10 shots unguarded from a spot. Maybe 6 out of 10 for youth players. If not, dont take the shot at tryouts.

2. Hustle! Hustle! Hustle!

There is no excuse for any player on this one. You just have to commit and develop that mentality.

When the ball is on the floor, dive on the floor. Box out on every shot. Sprint on the fast break. Sprint to spots on the floor on defense.

Communicate on defense and offense. Be loud and do it often.

These are things that every player can do and every player should do.

This is why you see players who arent skilled make the team. Theyre willing to do the little things that make teams good or great.

3. Dont be just one of the guys in the crowd - Make a great first impression.

Here is a great way to make a first impression.

When the coach calls everybody in at the beginning of the first tryout...

Instead of walking out there or jogging out there like every other kid.

Sprint! Sprint directly to the coach and stand right in front of him. Stand tall and keep eye contact on the coach during the entire talk.

I guarantee youll have the coachs attention. Ive conducted tryouts. Ive been in rooms with coaches discussing who to cut. This makes a difference.

Your buddies may give you some crap, but youll be the one laughing when you make the team or get more playing time than them.

4. Avoid the amazing play mentality. Do something that makes you stand out in a positive way.

This is not what you think. This is not making an amazing play. Remember... do what you do well.

Flashy doesnt impress coaches. It may look cool on the playground, but thats why you dont see NBA guys doing streetball moves during games. Its flash. Its hype. Its not effective against good players.

You should do something with substance that coaches will notice in a positive way.

Earlier, I mentioned communicate on defense.

One time when I was conducting a tryout for 3rd to 8th graders, we were with the 4th grader session.

All of the sudden, across the gym, I hear a blaring yell Screen! Screen! Screen! It was from this little guy named Tommy.

Ten seconds later, I hear Tommy yell again, I got ball!

This continued the whole day. He communicated early. He communicated loud. He communicated often. (ELO Early Loud Often. Kevin Eastman would have been proud.)

There may have been 30 other kids communicating in the gym, but he is the only one I remembered. I didnt know him before the tryouts, but I sure know him now. Guess what... he made the first team.

5. Dont be shy Talk to the coaches before tryouts.

Too many make the big mistake of being too shy to talk to the coach. And this can make a huge difference with making the team.

Sometimes, this simple act will elevate you in the eyes of the coaches because they know that you care and youll do whatever it takes to help the team.

Be specific. Tell the coach that you really want to make the team. Ask them what they need on their team.

6. Be a great teammate Great attitude and sportsmanship

Every coach wants a player who is a great teammate and makes the players better around them.

You can do this by...

• Being a great practice player and challenging your teammates during practice to make the team better.

• By putting everybody in a better mood with your positive attitude. Lets face it... were all humans and its more enjoyable to have a little fun in life. Nobody wants to be around a person with a poor attitude.

• Display great sportsmanship. When a coach sees you helping players off the floor and playing hard but clean basketball, they know that they can count on you not to lose your cool and hurt your team in a negative way at an important time.

7. Get there early / warm up properly.

Getting there early shows the coach that you care and that he can depend on you to show up on time to practices and games.

Also, make sure to warm up prior to playing, so you are playing your best as soon as the whistle blows. First impressions are very important.

8. Who cares if you screw up Next play!

If you make a mistake... oh well, it happens. Everybody makes mistakes.

Always go on to the next play.

The best players react in a positive way to those mistakes and dont let them snowball into a bunch of mistakes.

There are no guarantees in life. However, if you use the tips mentioned above, you will dramatically increase your chances to make the team and earning more playing time.

If you are serious about becoming a better player, we offer Basketball Camps throughout the country during the spring, summer, and fall.

To check out the different camps, Click Here.

Recommended DVDs & eBook:

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What to Expect at Basketball Tryouts

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Butterflies in your stomach. Sweat on your brow. The feeling that everyone is watching your every little move.

Tryouts can be stressful.

Your coach will challenge you both physically and mentally at a tryout. You will encounter drills that test your shooting, dribbling, defense and rebounding skills. You may have to run through some offensive or defensive plays. You might even play in a scrimmage.

“When walking into a tryout, coaches are looking for players with a work ethic,” said DICK’S Sporting Goods Associate Maureen Lawrence, a former Division I player and coach. “They want players with a willingness to go through drills and will look at skill sets.”

So, throw on your favorite shoes, grab your water bottle and get ready to hit the court. Tryouts can be tough, but DICK’S Pro Tips is here to help you head into the experience with some added confidence.

Every coach looks for something different. But there are always certain skills you can work on to stand out.

Executing basic offensive skills like layups, jump shots and free throws are all crucial.

When working on layups, try to get comfortable using either hand to score. You will tend to only shoot jump shots with your dominant hand. But when it comes to layups and scoring in the paint, there are times you will use your dominant hand and other times you will need to use your other hand. This is a skill coaches seek out in players.

When you’re working on your shot, have a friend help you out.

“Anyone can shoot for an hour and hit 100 baskets,” said DICK’S Sporting Goods Associate Derek Liebert, a former coach at the collegiate level. “[But] it is totally different from shooting with someone guarding you with a hand in your face. It is also important to be able to shoot off the dribble as well as catch and shoot.”

Rebounding, dribbling, passing, footwork and defensive skills are all going to be tested at a tryout as well. You can work on these during the offseason to help improve each skill set. Even dribbling a basketball to the end of your driveway and back can be turned into a mini practice session by adding a second basketball to the mix and working on two-ball dribbling drills or set up cones to dribble around.

Keep in mind the position you play as well. If you’re a guard, focus a little more on your jump shot and ball handling. If you typically play in the post near the basket, work on your jump hook or drop step.

It’s also important to come physically prepared to play. Tryouts are a draining experience, so working on your conditioning weeks in advance is a must.

“Be in shape when heading into a tryout,” said DICK’S Sporting Goods Associate Nick Rivers, a former Division I player. “That is one major thing coaches can identify. They want players who can run up and down the court, who are in shape and who prepared for this moment.”

Discover a variety of basketball drills to try to help you train and develop before heading to the tryout.

You have put in countless hours of work getting ready for your tryout. You’ve fine-tuned your offense and defense and you are ready for the big day.

But what exactly should you expect?

Coaches will use a variety of drills to test your skill level. Every coach will have their own way of running a tryout, but the skills tested probably won’t vary too greatly. Coaches will want to see what you can do with shooting, ball handling, defense, passing, rebounding and footwork.

When it comes to testing your offense, a coach may give you a set amount of time to make layups with both hands.

“You can expect some kind of shooting drill,” Liebert said. “There are some drills that will test your ability to catch and shoot. There might be another drill where you catch the ball on the wing, take two dribbles and shoot. A lot of coaches will do anything they can to test your skills by putting you in game situations.”

Your ball-handling skills will also be put to the test. This can include dribbling around cones, full-court dribbling, zig zag drills and stationary drills too.

“There is the 3-man weave [drill] that is all about passing and communicating,” Liebert said. “You will need to make good, crisp passes as well as communicate to make a layup at the other end.”

A popular drill in tryouts that tests players passing, floor vision, transition game, offense and defense is the 3-on-2/2-on-1. The drill starts with three players on offense coming down the court attempting to score against two waiting defenders. The player who attempts the shot, whether it is made or not, will then get back to play defense, while the two original defensive players now attempt to score.

Many coaches may also incorporate some sort of scrimmage during the tryout. Whether it is 5-on-5, 4-on-4 or 3-on-3, you can count on playing in some sort of game. This is a time when a lot of skills are being tested, and coaches can get a feel for how you’d react in game-like situations. They’ll also test for skills like passing, shooting and rebounding.

“Most coaches believe rebounding is 90 percent effort and 10 percent skill and positioning,” Lawrence said. “Rebounding is something coaches will throw in during a tryout to see what effort and toughness the potential players will have.”

Your basketball skills can take you a long way in a tryout, but so will your attitude. Coaches want players who are willing to learn and put it all on the court, so make sure you are ready to hustle and show some grit.

“If it ever comes down to two players, I will go with the one who plays the hardest, someone who talks the loudest and someone who shows they are selfless and wants to be part of a team,” Liebert said. “That kind of stuff will make me want to take someone with a little lesser skill if they are going to work hard.”

Remember: a good first impression goes a long way — introduce yourself to the coach before getting started and remain well-mannered throughout the tryout. If the coach calls everyone in to say something, move quickly — rather than walk — to where they are.

Coaches take notes on players. Things like work ethic, aggressive play on defense and rebounding, and the player’s support of the other athletes can go a long way.

“You want to bring up other players when they get down,” Rivers said. “Coaches want players who can be coaches on the court. Coaches won’t always be there to tell the team what to do, so you want to be a player who can pick the team up and keep them focused.”

Get to the tryout a little early to get warmed up and ready to go. This will also show the coach that you are dependable and can be relied upon to show up on time.

This is what it may all come down to. Don’t beat yourself up over a bad pass or a missed shot. It happens to everyone. Coaches will be watching to see you handle to setbacks.

Don’t let that one bad play stick with you. You can erase that from everyone’s minds a minute later by coming up with a big rebound or sinking your next shot. Having this mentality is not only key for the tryout, but for the entire season.

“You need to treat each possession on offense and defense as a new possession. A team is only as strong as its weakest link.  Once a player loses confidence, it can bring the whole team down,” Liebert said.

When you head into tryouts, don’t sweat the small stuff. Come prepared, be confident and ready to give 100 percent. It’s time to show the coach how you’ll be an asset to the team.

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How to get into the basketball club - what is a draft in basketball?

Many of you regularly ask questions about how to get into the Nizhny Novgorod BC, or rather, into the junior team and the junior youth team. After talking with the head coach of BC "NN-2" and BC "NN-3" Roman Gorelovsky, we decided to answer all at once and give you a detailed plan on how to conquer Nizhny. Let's get started!

So, I'm a basketball player. I think I'm pretty good. How old do I have to be to get into the structure of the club?

Answer: BC "NN" is considering candidates born in 2000 this year. and younger.

Comment: This year we will bet on 2003 and 2004. But do not think that everything will be limited only to these ages. If a guy a little older wants to get into the youth team or junior junior league, then we will definitely look at him so as not to miss anyone. But this is selective. By and large, a boy who comes to play with us must be a practically ready-made basketball player. Of course, we allow a certain level of shortcomings, permissible marriage, but still an understanding of the game should already be formed, because this is the maximum age for the main team. That is, a player who comes to us at the age of 20 cannot be at the same level of development as a guy born in 2004. As for the younger age limit, it is about 8-9Class.

Excellent. I fit the age criteria. What to do next?

Answer: send an application. We will talk about how to do this a little later.

Commentary: Initially, we look at where a potential player is from. If this is Nizhny Novgorod and nearby cities, then they just need to contact the club management or us, leave a request for viewing and arrive at the appointed time. If these are guys from other regions, then everything is a little more complicated here, but still the principle is the same. The necessary phone numbers and email addresses are publicly available on the site, so there should be no problems with this.

Understood. I sent an application. When can we expect a viewing?

Answer: We usually hold screenings during the May holidays or at the end of April, so as not to coincide with the days of school exams.

Comment: When applications have accumulated, we hold a meeting with the coaching staff, where we determine the date and place of viewings (usually these are May holidays), and even then we invite all the guys who left applications. We have been following some of the local guys for more than a year, we will see someone for the first time, but we still try to look through everyone in order to find out who deserves special attention in the future.

Let's say I came to this preview and the coaching staff liked me. What then?

Answer: do not rush to relax! Another viewing session ahead.

Commentary: We have a second preview for the guys we singled out on the first one. It passes at the beginning of summer. In fact, these are some kind of fees. Last year we went to the Gorodetsky district, this year, perhaps, there will be the Meshchersky sports complex or the base on the Bor. In a word, at these training camps we make a final conclusion on each player and understand whether he made it to the team or not.

I figured it out. And what happens on the screenings? What to be ready for?

Answer: in fact, this is a regular training, but only with a special purpose.

Commentary: We simply give the guys elementary basic exercises, on which we look at the technical preparedness of the player. That is, how he handles the ball, his dribbling, how much he controls his body, coordination, balance, how the guy learns information in exercises in pairs and triples, his physical condition and endurance, ability to play 1x1, well, game thinking . Although all this is difficult to see in one viewing fee, since constant communication and observation is necessary to fully understand the level of the player. And yet, some moments are noticeable already at the first interactions.

Will all players have a chance or do you select candidates for certain positions?

Answer: We are interested in absolutely all players, regardless of their role on the court.

Commentary: Absolutely any player can come and declare himself. Most importantly, send applications and indicate your data. We will definitely look at each guy, whether he was born in 2000 or 2004.

I am going to visit you from another region. Is it possible? Or are you looking for guys only from the Nizhny Novgorod region?

Answer: First of all, we are interested in local students who have been trained in sports schools in the Nizhny Novgorod region. But this does not mean that the doors of the club are closed to players from other regions.

Commentary: A person can come even from the other end of Russia. As, for example, the player "НН-2" this season Yegor Chepik. We saw this guy at the IES-BASKET SBL Superfinal, brought him from Blagoveshchensk, and he has been playing for the youth team for a year now. I can say that he has made great progress this season.

I looked at your current line-up and saw that there are a lot of young guys in the rosters. Does this mean that the set will not be as large?

Answer: not at all. The fact that there are practically no children of the maximum allowable age in the teams does not mean that the squads are completed for the next season. Viewings will take place as usual.

Commentary: We do not have a plan to take as many people as possible or, conversely, to limit the limit. Our goal is to focus on the quality of the players. We want to find guys who can potentially progress better than the rest.

If everything goes according to the best scenario, will I be able to get into the main team?

Answer: of course! You don't have to look far for an example. Ex-youth player Georgy Zhbanov is currently playing for the main team, and in a recent home match with CSKA he updated his performance record (18 points). In a word, everything is in your hands!

Everything is cool, but I sent a request for a long time, and you still have not answered. Why?

Response: We are not currently responding to these applications because the exact viewing dates have not yet been determined. As soon as everything is known, we will definitely let you know.

Can I get some advice from the coach before the screenings? What qualities will help me in the first place?

Answer: in short, you just have to be strong in spirit.

Comment: Unrealistic desire, perseverance and diligence. After all, to become a good player and prove yourself, often enough just a strong character. You may be weaker physically, but mentally you are already ready to endure all the difficulties of the training process and progress every day, and this is the most important thing. All the same, many, becoming players of the youth team and junior youth league, face great difficulties, because here you are far from your home, and being a schoolboy, it is very difficult to take such a step and completely change your life. At such moments, the character comes to the fore, so that in spite of everything, you continue to train and do not turn off the path you have chosen.

I understood everything. Please provide a link so I can submit the application.

More news from the Generation-НН category Volna takes revenge on the Seven and becomes the U10 championGeneration-NN Volna takes revenge on the Seven and becomes the U10 champion

Today we're going to take a look at the main aspects of the NBA draft. It is likely that you have already heard about it, but perhaps you do not know how the procedure itself is arranged. .

The

NBA Draft takes place annually and serves to attract new players to the league. Most of its participants, these are students playing in the NCAA, also cannot do without European players who have proven themselves well in the Euroleague and in international competitions. Often, high school students take part in the draft, although the league is struggling with this, it wants to see educated basketball players in it. By the way, it was from the school bench that Kevin Garnett and LeBron James came to the league. But Kobe Bryant got into the league after high school, straight off the street.

Let's talk about the draft procedure. Now it consists of 2 rounds. Each NBA club selects fielded players in order of their turn. Priority is given to weaker teams that did not qualify for the playoffs. Recently, a lottery procedure has been introduced. This was done so that the teams did not deliberately fail the end of the championship in order to get the first number in the draft.

A player selected for the draft NBA is obligated to sign a contract with the club that chose him, this is the law. The first contract for young players, as a rule, does not promise much profit, so they are happy to accept an invitation from any team. For them, the main thing is to get and gain a foothold in the NBA.

Quite often our players get drafted, so it was with Andrey Kirilenko, Alexey Shved, Viktor Khryapa and Sergey Monya, the list goes on, but here are those who were able to achieve at least something in the major league. By the way, in his first season, Andrei Kirilenko was one of the league's best rookies, which allowed him to take part in the All-Star game.

But you need to know how to get on the basketball team and what it takes? After all, the skills of the game can only be learned in a team.

Basketball team: what does it take to get into it?

Of course, everyone wants to be on a professional team. But this is not easy to do, for this you need to have 1 category in basketball. Any men's basketball team, just like women's, needs only professionals. But keep in mind that this sport is divided into two categories: professional league and amateurs.

If you have been playing basketball since your school days, and then participated in university city and district competitions, this is not a guarantee that you will be interested in a basketball club. For them, the main thing is how often your team won. And if the indicators turn out to be weak, then the road to professional basketball will be closed to you. But still, what ways can you take to get there?

1. All professional basketball clubs are represented on the Internet. You need to go to the site and submit your application. If they are interested in a high-level player, they can invite you to watch. But if you get a refusal, do not despair, there are other options to get into a professional club.
2. In every city there is a weaker both men's and women's basketball team, where it is much easier to get into. If you think that you deserve the best, then you need to show yourself as a leader in this team. When your team starts to win, then there is a chance to move to a higher level. After all, in professional clubs they are watching which players from the minor leagues they can strengthen their team.

In order to get into a lower-level basketball club, you also need to go online and apply. They will definitely ask where you performed. And then they will check what kind of team it is and how it showed itself in the competition.

Creation of an amateur basketball team

In fact, you can play basketball not only in a professional team, but also in an amateur one. Of course, the conditions here are not so good, but you will be doing your favorite thing. After all, in addition to the professional league, there is also an amateur one. To do this, you need to create your own basketball team with your friends. If there are not 10-12 avid basketball players among your friends, then you can go the other way.

To create a basketball team, a recruitment must be announced. And for this, there are special sports forums on the Internet. You should immediately contact the representative of the amateur league at the regional level and find out what conditions exist so that the team can participate in tournaments. We should try to discuss in advance on what conditions your team will be able to take part in the competition.

If you have leadership qualities, then you can definitely create a basketball team and become its captain. The main thing here is desire. And if you become a great player, you can find a sports agent who will look for a club for you at a higher level.

In the history of Ukrainian basketball there are not many players who have made successful careers abroad. And if it still succeeded, then, as a rule, already experienced basketball players with an established reputation. Standing apart in this row is the pupil of the Nikolaev sport swingman Sergey Gladyr, who left to play abroad at the age of 19. And no matter how critically someone evaluates Gladyr's successes, he has been spending his fifth season in the strongest leagues in Europe and has become one of the leaders of the Ukrainian national team, which has achieved the greatest success over the years of its existence. Due to an injury, Sergei was unable to enter the court in the Euroleague Kiev match with Budivelnyk, but this did not stop PB from talking to him about basketball and more.

- Sergey, at the age of 25 you managed to achieve a lot in sports with your work. And to whom do you owe your arrival in basketball?

- First of all, I owe it to my parents, since I have a basketball family. My father has been working in a basketball club all my adult life, my mother is a physical education teacher at the university, my sister also played basketball, my godfather is Valentin Berestnev. I often came to my dad to work in the gym and over time I fell in love with basketball. And now, since the age of five, I have not parted with the ball.

- Let's go in order. From Nikolaev, you were drafted to the NBA, and then signed a contract with the Spanish Manresa. Was it your goal to leave Ukraine?

-First of all, it was my desire. As a young ambitious player, I wanted to play at a higher level, I wanted to grow as a basketball player. At that time, I received an offer from Spain, and I immediately agreed. In my opinion, this was the perfect career path.

- You stayed in Spain for four years. How can you characterize the DIA League and how is it most different from the Ukrainian one?

- The difference in championships is big. If you compare me in the last season in Ukraine and the last season in Spain, then everything can be seen without words. More specifically, the leagues differ in the overall level of basketball, the skill of the league players, the organization of matches.

- You were selected in the NBA draft, but it didn't work out with America yet. Will there be more attempts to get overseas?

- To be honest, playing in the NBA is my dream. But I want to not just get there, but to play. Sitting on the bench and not knowing whether you will go out on the court today or not is not for me. But I would really like to play there and feel all this rhythm and the whole level of the strongest league in the world. So yes, I will try.

- The coach of the Ukrainian national team, Mike Fratello has considerable experience in America. Do you feel its influence on your gaming development? In particular, it seems that you have added in physical terms after the national team?

- Regarding my physical development, I'm just growing up. And of course, years of hard work come into play. Mike Fratello helps me grow both technically and mentally. But what swings physical training, it depends only on the player himself.

- Throwing is considered your strongest point. How would you characterize your weaknesses on the court?

- My weakness is the passage, I'm not too strong in this component yet. Of course, I know how to walk into the aisle, but still not as good as I would like in the first place myself. Another game aspect in which I have something to strive for is defense. Although I am considered a good defender, I myself am sure that I still need to work a lot on defensive actions.

- The Ukrainian team showed a phenomenal result in Slovenia - you are going to the World Cup. What are the team's ambitions there?

— We are going to the World Championship for the first time. And therefore, by and large, we have nothing to lose there. You just need to go out, play, give your best and that's it! In fact, do everything the same as we did in Slovenia, and then the result may be similar.

- Who is the main motivator of the national team in the locker room. Not counting, of course, the coach?

- Dima Zabirchenko, as a captain, tries to cheer everyone up and create a positive atmosphere. But he can scold, if necessary. In turn, I try to support him in all matters.

— After EuroBasket, where you were one of the leaders of the Ukrainian national team, you sign a contract with Nanterre. Were there any offers from the Superleague?

- "Nanterre" is my personal choice. There were proposals from Budivlnik, but we did not agree. Among a number of reasons, I was not happy that I would be the fifth or sixth small player in the squad. I would have to share playing time with players like Summers, Ahearn, Minard and Drozdov. Which means I wouldn't get a lot of playing time. At Nanterre, there were not so many quality players in my position. The high level of the French championship also played a role.

- Unlike Spain, many Americans play in the French league. How do you feel in such conditions?

- I'm getting used to it slowly, with each game it's getting easier and easier. I train with athletic and fast guys, and it spurs me on. It is clear that it is not easy physically, you need to maintain a high pace of games and training. Partly because of this, the knee could not stand it again. But we will work further.

- Continuing the theme of the Americans. At EuroBasket 2013, a new “legionnaire” appeared in the Ukrainian national team - Pooh Jetter. Do you think the Ukrainian national team is strong enough not to attract naturalized players?

- I think that at the moment we still lack the first number. As talented and productive as Mishula is, he lacks international experience. He is young and still needs to learn. For this, he has all the makings. If you take Lipovoy, he can take the ball out, play it, but still he is not the first number. Therefore, the main personnel problem of the national team was precisely in the position of a playmaker. We found a player who, in my opinion, is very suitable for our team. He fit into the team both as a person and as a player. Jeter was often the initiator of evening walks after the game, offering to walk and warm up. As a result, we went out to McDonald's for a bite to eat and talk. Pooh is very sociable as a person. And as a player, he helped us in every match.

- When you throw a three-pointer and hit, you make a characteristic gesture with your hand, putting it to your eye. What does this mean for you?

- In Spain, the games are broadcast on TV, and two years ago one of my friends told me: "Come on, when you score, show me like this!". So in this way, I kind of said hello to him. Since then, it has become a habit, and I already do it for good luck (laughs).

- Apart from basketball, your wife is an Olympic champion (Elena Khomrovaya, fencer - author's note). And you are considered the most successful sports couple in Ukraine. How do two athletes get along at home?

- Get along very well. Actually it helps a lot. We are both athletes, and both understand what it means to be far from home, without loved ones. What is it like to be tired after a workout, when there is no desire to see anyone, but you just want to watch a movie. In addition, Lena goes to all my games.

— And where did you meet?

Sergey: We studied together at the Nikolaev Higher School of Physical Culture

Elena: We studied in different classes. But we got to know each other closely in 2008 after the Olympics (Elena became the Olympic champion just in Beijing - author's note).

Sergey: I was also famous then (laughs). It was my first year in the national team.

— What basketball shoes do you prefer?

- I love Nike LeBron James. 10th model.

- Who was your childhood idol?

- I grew up on the games of MBK "Nikolaev". Didn't miss a single match. Then the leader of the team was Sasha Raevsky. For us, then, his level seemed something unrealistic. The most vivid memory is of 1998, when we beat Shakhtar in 3rd place. And the idol was Michael Jordan. Watching the NBA live at that time was not possible, but if I came across some kind of video, I immediately watched it to the holes (laughs).

— What is taboo in basketball for you?

- I never get into any conflicts and fights. Even if they attack a player of my team, I will only separate them. We play basketball, not boxing.

Source:

How does the draft work?
The NBA draft system is constantly changing. Once upon a time there was an infinite number of rounds, "territorial choice", to stand as a candidate right after school.
All players who meet special conditions can be drafted, which will be discussed in more detail a little later.
Teams also participate in a lottery to determine who and under what number will choose. As a rule, the best players are taken under the first draft numbers, but this does not always happen. For example, Darko Milicic, who was selected at number 2 in 2003 right after LeBron, but never received any big awards in the NBA. On the other hand, there are players who were selected in the second round of the draft but became stars: Nikola Jokic (41st pick), Marc Gasol (48th pick), Isaiah Thomas (60th pick) and the list goes on.
The draft lottery is held one month before the draft. Based on its results, the order of selection of players by teams that did not make it to the playoffs is determined. Playoff teams are assigned a draft pick number based on their final spot in the regular season.
There are 1000 combinations in the lottery. Until 2018, the worst team in the pre-draft season received 250 combinations, which is a 25% chance of getting the first pick, after which the number of combinations decreased among all 14 teams. From draft 2019the rules have changed, now the 3 worst teams of last season get the same number of combinations (140), and the 4th worst team - 125, 5th - 105, 6th - 90, 7th - 75, 8th - 60 , 9th - 45, 10th - 30, 11th - 20, 12th - 15, 13th - 10, 14th - 5. If some teams showed the same result in the NBA regular season, then they get an equal number of combinations by adding the combinations from each team and dividing the resulting number by two. If the resulting number is not evenly divisible by the number of teams with equal scores, then a lot is used.
The NBA is trying to make sure that it doesn't make sense for teams to "merge" the season for the first pick, so they equalized the chances of getting the first pick among the worst teams.

Terms in basketball that everyone should know

These 11 concepts will help even a beginner to better understand the game

WE DECIDED TO HELP LEARN BASKETBALL LANGUAGE FOR BEGINNERS, IN ORDER TO NOT LOSS ON THE COURT AND BETTER UNDERSTAND EXPERIENCED PLAYERS.

RUNNING

Foul when a player with the ball takes too many steps without starting or after dribbling. The simplest and at the same time complex rule, because it has many nuances. This video breaks down the latest amendments and clearly explains what is possible and what is not:

RUNNING

Foul when a player with the ball takes too many steps without starting or after dribbling. The simplest and at the same time complex rule, because it has many nuances. This video breaks down the latest amendments and clearly explains what is and isn't allowed:

PENALTY (PENALTY)

A free throw that is taken after a foul in the "throw phase", a technical or unsportsmanlike foul, or overrun of team fouls. On the site it is easy to find the line from where the free kick is taken.

We have a free throw recommendation article. Read the blog: BASKETBALL PENALTY SHOT


AND1 (END ONE)

An exclamation and sign used by players after a foul shot is scored. Denotes "and one more", because after hitting in violation of the rules, it will perform a free throw, and this is an opportunity to score more points for attack.


PAINT (THREE SECOND ZONE)

An area on the court in which an attacking player cannot stay for more than 3 seconds, otherwise there will be a violation. The name "paint" was derived from highlighting it with color on set.

THREE / LONG / OUT OF THE ARCH (THREE-POINT SHOT)

A 3-point shot in big basketball and 2 points in 3-on-3 basketball. On the court, the 3-point zone is marked with a line in the form of an arc.

LAY UP

The most common shot from under the basket, during which the player usually moves towards the basket.

DUNK / SLAM DUNK

Overhand throw when the ball is released from the hands over the hoop and moves straight down.

ALLEY-OOP

A pass after which the receiving player throws the ball before landing. Most often, such a transfer ends with a dunk, and it looks spectacular.

To dunk and finish alley-ups beautifully, you need to have a good jump. We have a video with 5 top tips for this:


ASSIST

A successful pass, after which the player hits the basket. In basketball, before throwing, he can perform one or two hits without beating the opponent, and the transfer will still be considered in the scoring column.

To give a lot of assists, you need to be able to make different passes. Read the article with types of passes: PASSING IN BASKETBALL


REBELLING

An event when a player receives the ball after a shot or block shot. Some players have made a whole art out of this element of the game. For example, Dennis Rodman:

Do you want to take your first steps in basketball or improve your basic skills? We have a Basic Basketball Skills workout for you. See the schedule and sign up:

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Coach: Yuriy Bespalov

- Professional player of the INANOMO 3x3 team;
- Champion of Russia 3x3 2019;
- Winner and medalist of the MOFB championship;
- 2017 MLBL Summer League MVP;
- Multiple participant of Moscow Open;
- Champion of Moscow 3x3 2017;
- MVP GrunisCup 2017.

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