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How to work on footwork for basketball
Fundamentals of Basketball Footwork
Proper footwork is the foundation of the game of basketball. Building a skill set of solid footwork techniques can help ensure the proper development of 12-year-old youth players and high school players.
Some footwork techniques included here are time-tested basic fundamentals. Others may be completely unfamiliar, but are widely used in other sports and are applicable to basketball.
Proper footwork helps enhance any player's ability to play offense, defense, rebound or any other part of the game of basketball. Hopefully, coaches and players do not forget to focus on footwork during practices.
The following are 10 important aspects of footwork:
Ready Position
You can't score unless you make shots. A quick surefire way to improve your shot is simply to have your feet and hands ready to catch and shoot, even before the ball is passed. To play defense properly, most coaches and players understand that you must start with a ready position that allows the defender to move in any direction, including jumping up to block a shot or standing still to take a charge. The basic ready positions for both offense and defense in basketball are essentially the same. This is the most basic and necessary athletic stance for success in most sports, including basketball.
Heels Up Coaches in every sport teach players to "get low" and "stand on the ball of the foot" or "on your toes." These phrases are metaphors to more easily explain how to perform this technique. When done correctly, it actually is the area of the foot directly behind and across all of the toes, which includes the ball of the foot, that will bear and support the weight of the body. Raising the heels off the floor automatically causes the legs to bend, making it easier and more natural to lower the body into a slight squat that provides balance, power and enhances propulsion. This bio-mechanically correct contact point of the foot, combined with a low center of gravity, is the optimum position for basketball players to start any movement. Players will find it easier to sprint, jump, slide, stop, pivot and hold their position.
Wide Base Maintain a wide stance with both feet about shoulder-width apart. A shoulder-width stance is sufficient enough to increase the ability to quickly move forward, backward, or shoot jump shots and free throws. To increase the ability to move laterally, separate the feet even more than shoulder-width. Establishing post position requires an extremely wide stance.
Jump-Steps
As a former 100-meter sprinter, I know the value and technique of the proverbial quick first step. Sprinters are trained to explode out of the blocks, pushing off with one leg while bringing the opposite knee up toward the chest. Sprinters emphasize not just the speed of the first step, but also how much ground is covered by the step.
To modify this technique for basketball, start from a low, ready-position stance, practice jumping as far and fast as you can off one foot at a time, then land on the other foot while regaining and maintaining balance. This should generate movement towards your desired direction, not upward movement.
The best players can do this moving forward, laterally or even backwards. Develop the ability to do this off both feet. The best players in the game utilize this technique to move or change direction forward, backwards or laterally with explosive results.
Speed is a combination of physical strength and coordination. Quickness is that combination, plus the mental focus to anticipate and be prepared to move when and where you need to. Both stem from jump steps. Examples of how this is utilized in game play include driving to the basket, moving into 1-2 step footwork on jumpshots, and the first step of defensive slides.
Sprinting
Most people assume we all know how to run. No, we don't. Even world-class sprinters consistently work on their technique, and so should basketball players. After the initial jump-step mentioned above, learn to lift the opposite leg and the knee high up toward the chest, while also making sure to alternately and aggressively pump the arms.
The fastest sprinters in track often measure both the speed of their first two steps, as well as how far they go with each step. In a practical example, to truly run a fast break, it's important to actually sprint. The benefit of maximizing the ability to reach and maintain top speed in basketball games is evident on both offense and defense. It makes sense for players to learn to sprint properly.
To really improve speed, get quality coaching. While speed and conditioning coaches currently are very popular, seeking help from an experienced local track coach could prove to be more effective and less expensive.
Two-Foot Jump Stop
Like the ready position, this is one of the most basic yet useful types of footwork. The jump stop is essentially a technique used to transition from moving (even quickly) in any direction, into stopping and reestablishing the ready position described above. To execute the jump stop, simply get both feet airborne, land with both feet touching the floor simultaneously and immediately drop into a ready position stance to help regain balance.
There is no need to jump up or jump high. In fact, the lower you remain to the ground the quicker you will be able to transition into whatever movement you choose to do next. The two-foot jump stop allows players to gain, reestablish and maintain balance in order to transition into the next movement needed to make a play. On defense, the jump stop can be used to establish defensive position to either take a charge or shift quickly into a defensive slide. On offense, both post and perimeter players use the jump stop to enhance their ability to catch a pass, (commonly referred to as "coming to the ball") and create the option of establishing either foot as a pivot. In the modern game, the jump stop is used by many shooters instead of the traditional 1-2 step when shooting.
Tripod Lunge Step
When conducting coaching clinics, I find this technique is unfamiliar to many coaches, although as far as I know, it has been around for almost 60 years. The tripod lunge step is the absolute best way to learn or improve a player's ability to do an off-hand layup.
Modern sports science and bio-mechanics research has shown a right-handed person's left leg is stronger and more dominant than the right leg. Obviously, this is the opposite for lefties. The problem with most players attempting to make an off-hand layup isn't strength or control of the arm or hand, it's that the player has to jump off the non-dominant leg.
When approaching the basket to shoot a layup, take as long of a step as possible with the foot of the outside leg (the leg furthest away from the basket and closest to the sideline). Next reach out with both hands--also as far as possible--to grab the basketball. In this position, the player should have the outside leg and foot as one point of the tripod, and the two hands, also stretched out, make up the other two points of the tripod. It may be beneficial to have the ball sitting still just outside the block in a chair or being held still by someone when learning or practicing this technique.
Think of chair drills or especially the Mikan drill, only stretched out. It may prove helpful to research the "Mikan Drills" even if you think you know how to do all of them. From the tripod position, first pull the basketball into "the chin and protect position" with the elbows out. Next, with the opposite/inside leg, take a lunge step towards the top corner of the white square of the backboard and jump up off this leg towards the top corner of the white square on the backboard. The knee of the outside leg should now be lifted with as much upward thrust as possible to help increase the vertical leap off the floor. Finally the eyes, hands and fingers must remain projected and pointed at the target.
Many basketball coaches and players prefer to aim at the top corner of the backboard. Another very helpful technique is to keep the eyes and fingers on the target, the top corner of the backboard, as long as possible--even after landing on the floor and having momentum take the player away from the basket.
Pivoting
The purpose of pivoting is to gain a positional advantage. Learning to pivot in the direction that gives the offensive player positional advantage is an acquired skill. A foot becomes a pivot foot, because it is the last foot to touch the floor, or the other foot leaves the floor first. Because the pivot foot can turn as long as it remains anchored to the floor, the player is now able to move the other foot without a causing a traveling violation.
Most players keep their entire foot on the floor when pivoting. Most coaches allow this and many teach it. Although commonly used, this not the best bio-mechanical way to place the foot on the floor. If the foot is flat, the player stands straight up instead of being low, balanced and powerful. Remember "heels up." The pivot foot should contact the floor only with the area of the foot directly behind and across all the toes.
A pivot should only be used to gain a positional or tactical advantage like maintaining balance, to get away from the opposing player or to protect the basketball. Once in the ready position following a two-foot jump stop, either foot may be used as the pivot foot. Virtually every basketball movement requires or can be enhanced with proper pivoting.
Plus Sign Pivots -- This is one of the best ways to learn proper pivoting. Find two lines on the court that form perfect 90-degree angles that look a like giant extended (+) plus sign. Place the left pivot foot on the floor at the center of where the lines cross. Then get the body into the ready stance with the heels up. Practice this while holding the basketball in a triple-threat or chin-and-protect position. Be mindful to keep both elbows up to protect not only the ball, but to also help keep defenders from bodying up and crowding the offensive player. Failure to keep the elbows high allows the defender to force the offensive player to step backward and lose balance. That allows the defender to get close enough to swipe the ball away.
Initially, practice just getting into the ready stance with a slightly wider base and establishing balance with the left foot (the pivot foot) on the center of the plus sign. Once comfortable, begin pivoting by moving the right foot and shoulder forward together until they reach the same horizontal line from where the pivot foot (left foot) is anchored.
The most important part of the movement is to keep the pivot foot on the floor while turning on the plus sign. If the foot is not still in the same exact spot when you touch the right foot to the horizontal line, the pivot was done incorrectly. After that, simply reverse the right shoulder and foot back to their original placement. Switch and pivot on the right foot as well to learn and strengthen both legs.
These two movements are commonly referred to as an outside or front pivot and the inside or reverse pivot. Practicing 25 to 50 inside and outside pivots not only teaches great skills development, but is also a great warm-up activity. Practice 100 or more on each foot, and it becomes an excellent strength and conditioning activity. Practicing 300 or more can take a player's game to the next level.
Straight Line Pivots -- Learning and executing this pivot is the same as the horizontal + "plus pivot" except for two things. First, the use of the vertical line of the + sign on the floor instead of the horizontal line. Secondly it is also helpful to start holding the basketball under the chin with elbows up. Then position and sweep the ball up over the head or low near the ankles as this protects the basketball from defenders.
This move is highly effective in protecting the basketball when trapped by two defenders. A player utilizing a pivot foot and adding a pass fake becomes very difficult to contain in a trap. This helps players trapped at half court or in a full-court press. Post players and rebounders also benefit from straight-line pivots and pass fakes to make outlet passes when trapped. Perimeter players use straight line pivots on the perimeter attack moves, such as a jab step, to set up a shot or drive.
Jab Step
The jab step is basically a combination of a pivot and a fake jump-step. First establish a pivot foot. Keeping the heel up on the pivot foot allows a player to have balance, the ability to change the direction before dribbling, and the ability to push off with enough power to maximize quickness of the individual player.
The jab step is used to get defenders to move away or turn in an attempt to stop the offensive player. Players often jab to the left or right, but sometimes it is more effective to jab directly at the spot just outside and past the defender's foot. Experiment to see if the defender has a pattern of putting more effort in turning or moving back more when you jab at their front or back foot, or both equally.
Practice shooting as well as moves that attack both sides. If the defender steps back, the offensive player can return to the original position with momentary clearance in time to get off a good shot. If the defender turns to cut off the angle of the jab step, the offensive player goes opposite, often attacking the front foot of the defender to gain a positional advantage to drive past the defender.
It is very important to actually be trying to beat the defender by exploding into a first step. This move should be done only if you read the defender and realize that you have not created a positional advantage.
Crossover Step
Starting from a low-ready position, protecting the ball in a chin, low sweep or rip through, pivot in the direction you want to travel while simultaneously bringing the opposite shoulder, hip and foot across the body and in the same direction. To maximize the effect of this move, push off the pivot foot like a sprinter using a jump step and raising the opposite knee high to increase explosiveness. This move is highly effective without any fakes, especially if you can lull the defender into being still and flat-footed. It becomes a race, and the offensive player gets to say go. If playing against a quicker or active defender, use the jab step first to help set up your attack.
The crossover can also be used without the basketball to cut off the offensive player on defense and to gain box-out position as a rebounder. Combining the ready position, crossover, jump step and two-foot jump-stop is a highly effective and disruptive use of proper defensive footwork.
Drop Step
This move can be used to counter an aggressive defender over-playing one side of the offensive player--who is trying to receive a pass or gain a positional advantage to drive or shoot when they already have the basketball. The drop step, like the crossover step, can also be utilized by rebounders to gain and maintain a positional advantage. The move is essentially a reverse pivot where the player uses their leg and hip to block and hold off the opposing player.
Commonly used on offense in back-to-the-basket post moves, it is equally effective by perimeter players who are being overplayed. First, make sure to use the two-foot jump stop to help ensure catching the basketball. As the catch is made, determine where the opposing player is coming from and prepare to land with a two-foot jump stop and immediately start a reverse pivot, leg sweep towards the basket utilizing the hip to both seal off and push the defender away.
Inside Foot 1-2 Step
This is the most effective and fundamentally sound way to shoot a jump shot. Many coaches still prefer the inside foot 1-2 step, because when the shooter spots up and tends to be standing still, it is used to generate lift and rhythm for the shot. It also is a very effective way for the shooter to regain balance and control when on the run from the left, right or straight ahead.
When the shot actually is taken, proper shooting footwork is the same as the basic ready position except that the right foot is slightly ahead of the left foot to line-up the body towards the target (the basket). The shooter's feet should be in the ready position long before the ball is passed.
Statistically, most missed jump shots hit the front of the rim. Expert shooting coaches with training in behavioral science can predict that a shot will be missed as the shooter catches the basketball or as the player picks up the basketball off the dribble. This is easy, because we can see that the shooter was not truly ready to shoot before catching or picking the ball up off the dribble. Also, this is an indicator that the shooter's mindset only is ready to take the shot, but not ready to make the shot. This concept is a topic for another article, but is pertinent here because preparing in advance of receiving the basketball to execute the inside foot 1-2 step can be an indicator of the shooter's focus to make the shot.
If dribbling, it is best to make the first step into the shot with the inside foot, which is always the foot closest to the basket, when the player is not directly and straight ahead facing the basket. Off-the-dribble or catch-and-shoot, always step into the basketball with inside foot 1-2 step footwork. When the shooter's feet and shoulders are already facing straight ahead towards the basket, a right-handed player's footwork should go in the left--right order. This allows the player to brake, stop and gain balance and control utilizing the dominant leg. The left foot should touch the floor, heel first. The right foot should come forward and point towards the basket.
The two-foot jump stop has become popular with many coaches and players. It can also be very useful when doing a step-back jump shot, moving very fast going left or needing to use a quick release shot. However, research has shown that when players learn the 1-2 step jump shot first, they actually will use the two-foot jump stop shot when pressured or rushed. What is intriguing is that this often occurs when the player has never practiced this technique, because the player has already learned to control their momentum to stop and square up to the basket from using the 1-2 step jump-shot.
Finally, many players step or hop into a 1-2 step or jump-step after they catch the ball thinking they are gaining the advantage. Using either the 1-2 step or the jump stop, the player receiving the basketball should use this footwork as they catch the basketball. Said another way to make this concept even clearer, players should use this footwork, in order to catch the basketball.
Conclusion
Striving to master these 10 footwork techniques in everyday practice and training will enhance basketball conditioning and proper skill development. Practicing pivoting is not easy; it's hard and sometimes monotonous work. Everyone wants to practice shooting, or just go out and play games. Learning, practicing and utilizing proper footwork, however, can change a player's game for the better and separate them from the rest of the pack.
Most top coaches understand that the best players in the history of basketball, from George Mikan, Bill Russell and Oscar Robinson, to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, utilized proper footwork to gain an edge over opponents. The next time you see highlights, watch and look for what you can learn from their footwork.
23 Basketball Footwork Drills for Coaches & Players
Below are footwork drills for basketball coaches to use during practice and for players to use during workouts.
Footwork must have a purpose; if footwork is good in one area of the game, its good in all areas of the game. That means on offense, it can control and dictate a helpless defender and on defense creating indecision in the offensive player being guarded.
Proper footwork is essential in supporting a players overall performance on offense and defense. We have identified 4 keys to building proper footwork of beginners, intermediate to advanced players. While this is not THE list, its a list to support what we have discovered to work for our coaches that have supported Breakthrough Basketball over the last 10 years. Some may be tried and true concepts and others may be introduced for the first time to you. Either way, we will provide a brief description of each one to support your journey on helping players learn how to develop and master footwork for peak performances on the court.
1. Universal Stance aka U-Stance
The U-Stance puts you in ready position and is everything in basketball (most sports as a whole). The breakdown of the stance will unlock your players on becoming a threat on offense making plays to becoming a solid defender that stays in the right position playing on or off the basketball.
Wide base Feet are shoulder width apart with heels up (stand on balls of the feet), hips dropped back straight, chin on the shoulders with head and eyes up for great court vision. This is what Jim Huber, Director of Coach Development and a Head Camp Director at Breakthrough Basketball, calls Living Low. A wide base will increase mobility in any direction on catching, cutting, making a dribble moves and shooting on offense. On defense, its the ability to play solid on and off the ball in an on ball-deny-help-recover sequence. Jumping awareness will be enhanced as well for contesting shots and grabbing rebounds. On offense, a wide base established in the post makes a player a tough guard. This position will help players move more fluidly on both sides of the ball.
Pictured above, both players are in the U-Stance and Living Low
2. Length and Angles
Players use length to cover ground and become precise. As a result, they will become quicker at attacking the rim and playing solid defense.
Direction and speed changes directly tie into a players ability to use angles. Players become very active on both ends of the game with the understanding of angles is mastered.
3. Jump/Hop Stop or 1-2 Stop
The jump or hop stop is used at the end of dribbling, catching and receiving a pass, going into a finish or jump shot. On defense, it is used to close out and get into the base defensive positioning after moving.
The 1-2 Stop
All of the above breakdown supports the 1-2 Stop as well. This way of stopping is quicker and more explosive. Speed layups and pull up jump shots require a 1-2 Stop into finish or shooting positioning. An effective 1-2 Step is called Stabbing of the Feet as it supports a sharp stop and a quick lift off the ground into a shot.
4. Pivots and Counters
Simply put, we teach 3 Pivots and 3 Counters. Why? Thats all you need. All of the greatest players to ever play the game had effortless pivot and counter moves and used them appropriately. Below are the moves
Pivots
Counters
Front
Step-Through
Back
Sweep or Step-Through
Drop
Back Pivot (AKA: Reverse Pivot and Inside Pivot)
In conclusion, below, you'll find drills that are of value and will aid in your continued development process of building a solid foundation in footwork for your players. As a coach, by mastering and teaching the art of footwork, you can have a profound impact on a players feel for the game and make them a standout when on the court.
Active feet wont get you beat!
Here are a few good practice drills to introduce jump stops and pivots to beginner youth players. We start with the jump stop, front pivot, and reverse pivot. Once players are competent with this basic footwork, we advanced to other concepts below.
1. Bigelow - Jump Stop Control Drill
2. Jump Stop & Pivot Drill
3. Partner Pass and Pivot Drill
4. Low Post Chair Pivot & Shoot Drill
5. 555 Shooting & Footwork
6. Pivot 21 - Fun Drill
7. 555 Shooting & Footwork
8. Perimeter Chair Rips
9. Chair Pivot Drill
10. Wing Combo
11. Wichita State Attack Series
12. Drop Step Shooting Drill
13. Getting Open - Wing Cuts
14. Low Post Chair Pivots
15. Split Post Pivots
16. Middle Attack
17. Rapid Fire Post Moves
18. Chair Drop Steps
19. Off Ball Defense Footwork & Conditioning
20. On Ball Defensive Footwork
21. Defense Hip Turns
22. Competitive Chair Rips
23. Ultimate Passing / Pivoting
24. Pick & Play 1on1
25. Post Race and 1v1
It's all about the legs. On the difference between "good" and "great" in the NBA - Metta Physics - Blogs
Original - Kevin O`Connor, The Ringer what is happening on earth. When you think of Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, you think of "flying in the sky" but you don't think about the steps you need to take to get there.
Basketball is often compared to jazz, because even despite the huge number of tactical schemes, it always seems that all these miracles happen impromptu. Improvisation comes from practice. The actions you saw on the floor are the product of countless hours in the hall. The footwork brings the game to life. A player can push against a double team, but if his body doesn't know how to move properly, he won't be able to react correctly. “I was always working on moves, always working, as a kid,” Bryant told The New York Times in 2009.year. “I just watched different tapes of the game – Olajuwon, Michael, Charles [Barkley] – watched their footwork and tried to imitate them.” Flawless footwork is the hallmark of the greats, whether they're middle-throwers like MJ and Kobe, long-rangers like Ray Allen and Reggie Miller, or low-post giants like Kevin McHale or Tim Duncan.
As JJ Redick told me, “Footwork is the foundation of everything you do on the floor, so if you don't move well, you can't play in the NBA. It's the key to everything." A thread runs through all my conversations with players, coaches, and instructors: Footwork can be the powerhouse that transforms “good” into “great.” He turns MVZ level players into legends. We will look at some of the modern masters of this art, starting with the northern clone of Kobe.
Demar DeRozan didn't wake up like this
Jordan and Bryant's footprints can be found all over the basketball world; but their footprints, or rather their footwork, particularly influenced Toronto Raptors star shooting guard Demar DeRozan, who grew up in Compton, California and idolizes Kobe. “Watching Kobe’s masterful footwork is something you draw from the great, but you also add a bit of your own,” Chris Farr, DeRozan’s trainer, told me. Farr is originally from Oakland and started working with DeRozan before the 2009 draft. year. Since then they have been together. “Chris has upgraded my skills. He never held me back. He never said that I couldn't do something. He has always kept me the player I wanted to be,” DeRozan told me Friday at TD Garden. “He instilled in me a mindset that elevates daily, tedious work to the rank of a habit.”
Each summer, Farr helped to fit Kobe's masterful moves into DeRozan's arsenal. As a result, this season DeRozan shows the best in his career 27.8 points per game and has 48.1% eFG% (Effective Field Goal Percentage), which is a repeat of the NBA record. Like Kobe, DeRozan is unstoppable from the middle distance, where he shows an abundance of movement built on furious footwork. According to Durant in November of this year, DeRozan "probably has the best footwork I've seen in a long time."
"Fake + Pass to the Ring" is one of Kobe's signature moves, and DeRozan uses it extensively when a defender covers a middle shot. The movement starts as a step-back throw, DeRozan stops at the free-throw line and takes a step back. But as soon as the defender enters DeRozan, he abruptly moves forward and makes a floater or layup. “Such movements cannot be done without knowing how to throw in a jump. He's just great from the middle distance," says Farr.
Since Derozan's legs are still developing, so is the body. When Demar came into the league, he lacked the mass to fight positionally. Now his body is fully developed and he can now "bump his ass" as Farr says, which allows him to get into good shooting position, as seen in the video above, in a duel with Steph Curry. “It's like a running back bouncing off a tackle. The fact that he can take a hit and stand still is all footwork,” says Farr.
Derozan got to this level of play thanks to the constant training of muscle memory, repeating movements at the game pace over and over again. DeRozan constantly takes his cousin Sean with him to summer training, who plays with him quite rough. As Farr explains, "the more physical effort is directed against him, the better the legs pump. "
Intense training is the "open secret". They are preached to their wards by all the coaches in the world. But not everyone is hard at work. “Demar didn’t wake up like this. If you train at a game pace, then over time you begin to treat it as a routine. Healthy recklessness makes you resolute, and there is some recklessness in it,” says Farr.
We're actually talking about practice
"Your ability to control your body, use different movements when dribbling is a huge key to success," says Drew Hanlen, CEO of Pure Sweat Basketball and NBA consulting coach. – From an attacking point of view, if you have the ability to use jabs (jab step), stop abruptly, change speed and direction of movement, then it is impossible to defend against you, and in the end you can always make the right decision: make a layup, make a throw or pass to an open partner. Actually, here you can talk about the work of the legs.
Even if you've never heard Hanlen's name, you've probably seen at least one video of his summer workouts, like the one where Joel Embiid dunks. Embiid is just one of Hanlen's many clients, whose list includes Andrew Wiggins, Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine. Hanlen also worked with Jason Tatum, Duke's freshman and eventual top 5 pick in the talent-packed 2017 NBA draft. Tatum's play is very fluid, making him the perfect material for Hanlen to mold into another killing machine from mid-range. One of the moves Hanlen taught Tatum over the summer was the half-spin.
VIDEO
Hanlen has a three-step system for teaching a new movement: Hanlen first shows him how to move; then the player sequentially repeats the movement; and finally, the student "must feel it." The third step is the most difficult for the players. Hanlen describes it like this: "you need to feel the rhythm when you need to move or stop."
Tatum has only used half-spin a couple of times this season, but the skill cannot be acquired overnight. It's not as easy as downloading an app on your smartphone or ordering a pizza. “We spent a week and a half just on the half-spin,” says Hanlen. Because there was no way Tatum could feel it fully. Once he understood the rhythm, things went smoothly. If Coach K uses him in the mid post, Tatum will be unstoppable.
The next step for Tatum and many league players, according to Hanlen, will be to include "uncomfortable" moves that the defense won't be ready for. This is the stage that DeRozan has reached. This is what allowed Kobe to score a ton of points even at the end of his career. Thanks to this, Jamal Crawford, who is already 36 years old, is still a serious problem for the opponent's defense. Crawford is no longer as athletic as he was at 26, but he is still surprisingly flexible. “The defense doesn't know what to expect. Unpredictable footwork is what really separates players in the NBA. People who are proficient in this art can create free space for themselves and partners,” says Hanlen.
Giannis and the Eurostep
One of the most rough, destructive basketball moves is the Eurostep, which consists of a player passing an opponent by taking a step in one direction and then taking a long step in the other direction and making a layup. Lithuanian defender Šarūnas Marciulionis was a pioneer of Eurostep in the NBA, and Manu Žinobili made it popular. Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, and James Harden helped bring the Eurostep into the basketball player's lexicon, and many young players now use it. And not only defenders, but also "big men".
Giannis Antetokounmpo made Eurostep his fatality "a la Mortal Kombat", replacing the layup with a crushing dunk.
“Most of the time it's very difficult to complete the Eurostep like this because you're taking big steps – it's not easy to keep the balance,” Antetokounmpo told me in a phone call earlier in the month. “I worked on it for a very long time, so I’m doing well.” Antetokounbo started using the Eurostep at the age of 15 or 16, when his legs were strong enough to successfully change direction and then soar upwards. Upon joining the NBA, he began working with Sean Sweeney, an assistant coach for the Bucks, who developed an entire training system of trampoline drills, sideways drills, and taught Giannis fasting moves that helped Giannis improve his footwork and balance.
Although Giannis is only 22 years old, Eurostep has become something quite natural and ordinary for him. “Whenever I do this move, I don’t even think about it. To people it looks like a eurostep, but to me it's just a layup,” Antetokounmpo explains. - It's simple. If the guy is in front of you, just go the other way. If it's not there, go straight ahead."
If Antetokounmpo develops the skill of long-range throwing, he can become one of the most accomplished offensive players; he already scores 64.9% shooting from eight feet and he has 9.8 free throws per 100 possessions. I asked Giannis who he thinks has the best Eurostep in the NBA, and he named Westbrook, Harden and Ginobili. Harden earns a ton of fouls using the Eurostep, 13.5 free throws per 100 possessions, practically leading the league in this indicator.
Take a chance on reading the YouTube comments on Harden's video and you'll see something like this: “It's a parody of basketball. It's a dance, a run." Harden's ballet on the floor may draw the ire of some fans of the game, but one of the NBA video coordinators I spoke to had a very good point: Harden and other stars with great footwork are no different from a legend like pitcher Greg Maddox. Throughout Maddox's splendid career, it seemed like he was born with superhuman accuracy - remember winning a game in 76 innings - so often the referees made decisions in his favor in controversial situations.
The same can be said for Harden, whose unpredictable footwork only helps him avoid fixing a run and getting whistles from the referee on any contact. Maybe in some cases the run actually takes place - but the reputation gives him more margin for error.
Football Skills
Growing up in France, Boris Diao attended the National Institute of Sports and Physical Education (INSEP) at a time when the program lacked the manpower to organize 5-on-5 games. So, instead of playing 3-on-3 or some other game, some French players did individual drills and worked on their skills. This is unusual for a typical American basketball player, so I asked Diao if this was the norm for young French basketball players. “No, it was also unique in France!” Diao replied with a laugh. “But I think it helped me a lot.”
With a height of 203 centimeters and a weight of 113 kilograms, Diao is one of the "chubbiest" players on the floor, but he is also one of the most nimble. As part of the Phoenix Suns 7 Seconds or Faster team and winning the title with San Antonio, Diao is in his 14th career season but is still very agile. Between him and his former partners - Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Leandro Barbosa and Grant Hill - there is a common connection, this is the game of football. According to Diao, he spoke with Nash about how football skills help move differently. “You can’t say that Steve was faster or more powerful than the others. But his footwork was so precise that he could change direction, get a defender to go one way and then very quickly go the other way."
Footwork, creativity, ambidexterity and ingenuity are what made Nash a star. “Football taught me coordination and footwork and vision,” Nash told The San Diego Union-Tribune in 2007. “Many of the skills are equally useful on the football field and on the basketball court, so when I could use my hands, at first there was a sense of injustice." Mastering different sports is like learning multiple musical instruments: learning the piano will help develop finger dexterity, even if your primary instrument is the guitar, saxophone, or violin. “You use different micro-muscles when you play different sports, so the more variety, the better you understand your body,” says Hanlen. “The better you understand your body, the better you can manage it.”
According to Hanlen, players who played football as children have better footwork, along with better stop-and-go and change of direction skills. This summer, Hanlen worked with Embiid and Cheick Diallo, both Cameroonian and Malian descents who grew up playing football. Embiid's idol is Hakim Olajuwon, who played football growing up in Nigeria and cites football as one of the key influences on his game. The Dream Shake was actually my football move that I carried over to basketball,” Olajuwon told NBA.com in 2006.
The hallmark of skilled low-post players is not only the ability to perform movements with mechanical precision, but also the ability to change the pace and rhythm of the movement. Players do not have a metronome; they themselves set the rhythm. "Change of pace is also very important in footwork, so you don't always move at the same speed," says Diao. In a musical phrase, one note can carry more meaning than a fast-paced riff, so in basketball, a perfectly balanced counter-step can lead you to a free throw.
Three-pointer starts with a pitch
Ray Allen has hit countless clutch shots throughout his career, but there is one moment that towers over the rest: the miracle three-pointer from Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals.
After you move away from “YOUR SHIT! FUCKING ... "- the innocence of the moment, you will appreciate the technical prowess even more. With less than 10 seconds in a potentially decisive possession, Allen mentally and physically consciously moved into the corner, stepped over the line and threw. Forget that he hit - even the fact that he was in that position is already a feat. “It was like a movie where everything just slows down and blurs,” Allen said after the game. “My body at that moment said, “Hey, we’ve done this before. Let's just do what we can."
Repetition builds a habit that makes game situations feel familiar, as if you've been in them before. According to Hanlen, snipers use three types of movement before throwing. The first is called a "hop", which actually sounds like a "hop" - when a player receives a pass that allows them to shoot faster.
Notice how the ball goes to JR Smith - he is already preparing to throw, "hop" - becoming in his original position. This allows snipers to shoot faster, which is especially valuable in situations where the defender is close and can get in the way.
Next comes the one-two stepping technique, which is more of an old-school style throwing technique, as one foot is already in position when receiving the ball, and then the other is brought forward before the throw.
This is common among all snipers, but especially popular among big men. Here we see Karl-Anthony Towns getting into shooting position, putting his other foot forward after receiving a pass. This technique is slower than the hop, but it has a place in the league.
The third option is the one-step hop, which Hanlen says Allen used all the time. Here is an example:
As soon as Allen catches the ball, one of his feet is on the floor, and then he jumps - the same "hop" - moves to the most balanced position possible and shoots. Allen looks like he's Wes Montgomery playing the guitar. The slow motion replay shows the subtle details that make up such a complex throw.
One of the best shooters in the NBA today is JJ Redick - not because he can just throw 3s, but because of his ability, like Allen, to pass screens, collect, and then shoot. Redick is 13th all-time in 3-point percentage among players with 1,000 or more attempts, according to Basketball-Reference. But he doesn't just stop in the corner and wave his arms like Dion Waiters is asking for the ball. Redick works to create a throw for himself.
Focus on all the little things Redick does to get a free throw. First, he nearly knocks Andrew Harrison out of his shoes with a left wing before going right into a corner. Then, he has enough eye-hand-foot coordination to catch the ball, look down to check position, and short hop to get ready to throw. Watch him run from behind Deandre Jordan's screen to the top of the three-point line.
Since Redik is right-handed, his right foot should be in front of his left, but due to the peculiarity of the moment, everything turned out to be the other way around. But that's not a death sentence for an elite NBA shooter. Hanlen called the act of balancing in the air an "air square". In the past, before teams tormented us with 3-pointers at such a fast pace, most players would only shoot with their feet on the floor and "square". Times change. Now players can shoot three-pointers from anywhere, at any angle, because when they shoot in the air, their legs and shoulders are aligned with the basket, allowing them to shoot normally.
To reach this level requires endless hours of work in the gym, as well as psychological preparation. On the Vertical Podcast , Redick and Korver discussed their preparation for the games, and noted the importance of imagination. “When I do these exercises, I think about the mechanics of them: footwork, how I catch the ball, how I build power to jump, where I release the ball, how the ball leaves my hands,” Redick said. Korver added that he likes to look at photos of himself and other players at the moment of the shot and analyze their mechanics, or watch opponents in the pre-match warm-up, noticing what they are doing and what they are not.
Footwork is a technical skill acquired through many hours of productive work in the gym, which allows the body to easily perform complex movements in a short period of time. But at the same time, it is also art, like a musical phrase in a solo. Perpetual motion and the pursuit of improvement is ultimately the key to mastering any skill, not just basketball footwork or musicianship.
Thank you for your attention!
Photo: Gettyimages.ru/Ringer illustration;
School of basketball for children and adults "5x5"
Footwork
We develop coordination, learn to stop by jumping on two legs.
Exercise performed on the spot: 1. Make yourself an autopass, catch the ball with both hands and at the same time jump on two legs into a basketball stance. 2. Determine the axial (supporting) leg and perform turns on this leg forward and backward. 10 times, 5 times turns on the right foot and 5 times on the left
DETAILS : - The jump must be short - The weight of the body is evenly distributed between the two legs - The knees are bent, the back is straight - The pivot (support) leg is on the toe
We develop coordination, learn to stop by jumping on two legs.
Stabilization dynamic and static - injury prevention on the court
DETAILS : - The jump must be short - Body weight is evenly distributed between both legs - Knees bent, back straight - Feet parallel and pointing towards the ring - Cross walk/fade through the back is performed on the leg closest to the stance, to which you need to move further
Developing coordination, learning to stop with two steps.
Exercise performed on the spot: 1. Make yourself an autopass, catch the ball with both hands and at the same time stop with two steps into the basketball stance. 2. The axial (supporting) leg will be the one with which you took the first step, on this leg, perform turns forward and backward. 10 reps, 5 reps on the right leg and 5 reps on the left
DETAILS : - Body weight evenly distributed between both legs - Knees bent, back straight - Axial (supporting) leg on the toe
Developing coordination, learning to stop with two steps.
Racks are placed on the site in a zigzag pattern (in two corridors). 1. Zigzag from stanchion to stanchion at a normal run, stopping in two steps at each stanchion. Pause for two seconds in the basketball stance and do a cross step (cross walk) behind the stance before moving on. 2. The same, but instead of cross-grooming, do back-grooming. 2 circles (4 sites).
DETAILS : – Body weight evenly distributed between both legs – Knees bent, back straight – Feet parallel and pointing towards the ring – When stopping, take the first step with the foot that will be followed by the cross/back escape
We develop coordination, learn to stop by jumping on two legs.
In this lesson, students consolidate the skills of throwing from under the ring, cross step, defensive stance, passing the ball through the air and from the floor, develop coordination abilities and ball feeling, special attention is paid to learning the transfer with two hands from the head.
DETAILS : - Jump must be short - Body weight distributed evenly between both legs - Knees bent, back straight - Axial (supporting) leg on the toe - Cover the ball from the rack - Must always see the teacher
We develop coordination, learn to stop by jumping on two legs.
Racks are placed on the site in a zigzag pattern (in two corridors). 1. Zigzag from stanchion to stanchion using the autopass, making a two-foot jump stop at each stanchion. Pause for two seconds in the basketball stance and do a cross step (cross walk) behind the stance before moving on. 2. The same, but instead of cross-grooming, do back-grooming. 2 laps (4 courts)
DETAILS : – After the stop is executed, the feet must be parallel and pointing towards the hoop – Cover the ball from the post – Cross escape/back escape is done on the foot closest to the post to be moved on to
We develop coordination, learn to stop by jumping on two legs.
Requires that the arms stretch even longer and reach the ball faster than anyone else
DETAILS : - Body weight evenly distributed between both legs - Knees bent, back straight - Axial (support) leg on the toe - Cover the ball from the rack – You should always see the teacher
Developing coordination, learning to stop with two steps.
It may prove helpful to research the "Mikan Drills" even if you think you know how to do all of them. From the tripod position, first pull the basketball into "the chin and protect position" with the elbows out. Next, with the opposite/inside leg, take a lunge step towards the top corner of the white square of the backboard and jump up off this leg towards the top corner of the white square on the backboard. The knee of the outside leg should now be lifted with as much upward thrust as possible to help increase the vertical leap off the floor. Finally the eyes, hands and fingers must remain projected and pointed at the target. 
Learning to pivot in the direction that gives the offensive player positional advantage is an acquired skill. A foot becomes a pivot foot, because it is the last foot to touch the floor, or the other foot leaves the floor first. Because the pivot foot can turn as long as it remains anchored to the floor, the player is now able to move the other foot without a causing a traveling violation. 
Once in the ready position following a two-foot jump stop, either foot may be used as the pivot foot. Virtually every basketball movement requires or can be enhanced with proper pivoting. 
Once comfortable, begin pivoting by moving the right foot and shoulder forward together until they reach the same horizontal line from where the pivot foot (left foot) is anchored. 
First establish a pivot foot. Keeping the heel up on the pivot foot allows a player to have balance, the ability to change the direction before dribbling, and the ability to push off with enough power to maximize quickness of the individual player. 
Combining the ready position, crossover, jump step and two-foot jump-stop is a highly effective and disruptive use of proper defensive footwork. 
Also, this is an indicator that the shooter's mindset only is ready to take the shot, but not ready to make the shot. This concept is a topic for another article, but is pertinent here because preparing in advance of receiving the basketball to execute the inside foot 1-2 step can be an indicator of the shooter's focus to make the shot. 
Practicing pivoting is not easy; it's hard and sometimes monotonous work. Everyone wants to practice shooting, or just go out and play games. Learning, practicing and utilizing proper footwork, however, can change a player's game for the better and separate them from the rest of the pack. 
That means on offense, it can control and dictate a helpless defender and on defense creating indecision in the offensive player being guarded. 
Below are the moves
Once players are competent with this basic footwork, we advanced to other concepts below.
When you think of Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, you think of "flying in the sky" but you don't think about the steps you need to take to get there. 
year. Since then they have been together. “Chris has upgraded my skills. He never held me back. He never said that I couldn't do something. He has always kept me the player I wanted to be,” DeRozan told me Friday at TD Garden. “He instilled in me a mindset that elevates daily, tedious work to the rank of a habit.” 
But as soon as the defender enters DeRozan, he abruptly moves forward and makes a floater or layup. “Such movements cannot be done without knowing how to throw in a jump. He's just great from the middle distance," says Farr. 
" 
Embiid is just one of Hanlen's many clients, whose list includes Andrew Wiggins, Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine. Hanlen also worked with Jason Tatum, Duke's freshman and eventual top 5 pick in the talent-packed 2017 NBA draft. Tatum's play is very fluid, making him the perfect material for Hanlen to mold into another killing machine from mid-range. One of the moves Hanlen taught Tatum over the summer was the half-spin. 
Because there was no way Tatum could feel it fully. Once he understood the rhythm, things went smoothly. If Coach K uses him in the mid post, Tatum will be unstoppable. 
Lithuanian defender Šarūnas Marciulionis was a pioneer of Eurostep in the NBA, and Manu Žinobili made it popular. Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, and James Harden helped bring the Eurostep into the basketball player's lexicon, and many young players now use it. And not only defenders, but also "big men". 
It's a dance, a run." Harden's ballet on the floor may draw the ire of some fans of the game, but one of the NBA video coordinators I spoke to had a very good point: Harden and other stars with great footwork are no different from a legend like pitcher Greg Maddox. Throughout Maddox's splendid career, it seemed like he was born with superhuman accuracy - remember winning a game in 76 innings - so often the referees made decisions in his favor in controversial situations. 
This is unusual for a typical American basketball player, so I asked Diao if this was the norm for young French basketball players. “No, it was also unique in France!” Diao replied with a laugh. “But I think it helped me a lot.” 
“Football taught me coordination and footwork and vision,” Nash told The San Diego Union-Tribune in 2007. “Many of the skills are equally useful on the football field and on the basketball court, so when I could use my hands, at first there was a sense of injustice." Mastering different sports is like learning multiple musical instruments: learning the piano will help develop finger dexterity, even if your primary instrument is the guitar, saxophone, or violin. “You use different micro-muscles when you play different sports, so the more variety, the better you understand your body,” says Hanlen. “The better you understand your body, the better you can manage it.” 
The Dream Shake was actually my football move that I carried over to basketball,” Olajuwon told NBA.com in 2006. 
This allows snipers to shoot faster, which is especially valuable in situations where the defender is close and can get in the way. 
But that's not a death sentence for an elite NBA shooter. Hanlen called the act of balancing in the air an "air square". In the past, before teams tormented us with 3-pointers at such a fast pace, most players would only shoot with their feet on the floor and "square". Times change. Now players can shoot three-pointers from anywhere, at any angle, because when they shoot in the air, their legs and shoulders are aligned with the basket, allowing them to shoot normally. 
10 times, 5 times turns on the right foot and 5 times on the left 
Make yourself an autopass, catch the ball with both hands and at the same time stop with two steps into the basketball stance. 2. The axial (supporting) leg will be the one with which you took the first step, on this leg, perform turns forward and backward. 10 reps, 5 reps on the right leg and 5 reps on the left 
