The Top 10 Basketball Tips from Professional Players and Coaches

You’re a good basketball player now, but you want to be great, right? The best way to achieve excellence on the court is by listening to the advice of those who have already made it to the top and the professional coaches who helped get them there.

The Top 10 Basketball Tips Straight from the Pros

Become a better player by following the advice offered by professional basketball coaches and players. Whether you are looking to show off in the high school gym, kick butt on the court at your local park, or increase your chances of making it big, these tips can help you get there.

Before tying your laces and grabbing your ball, consider the suggestions below. You’ll be glad you did.

1. Get in Shape

One of the first pieces of advice you will get from any coach, player, or sports expert will tell you that being in good shape is the best way to play like the pros. This doesn’t mean only lifting weights and running each day.

You must be strong and flexible and maintain optimal endurance to get in good shape. This isn’t just achieved through workouts at the gym; you must:

• Eat right: Maintain a well-balanced, nutritious diet plan.
• Hydrate: Hydration is key. Keep yourself well-hydrated with sugar-free drinks.
• Get enough sleep: Eight hours of uninterrupted sleep is ideal.
• Relax: Practice meditation, breath work, muscle relaxation techniques, etc.

2. Be a Team Player

Coaches prefer to see passing, assisting, and positivity on the field. When playing basketball, the best way to maximize your performance as a basketball team is by working together and not trying to get the most attention.

Showing off your basketball skills and shooting your shots isn’t boasting, don’t hold back. However, stay humble and always remember there’s no I in team.

3. Practice Your Defense Skills

Being a great defender is a huge asset to you and your team. It is also one of the best ways to increase play time on the court and to stand out to coaches and prospects. For defensive skill development, practice:

• Staying an arm’s length away from the opponent
• Forcing the opponent to take hard shots
• Containing the opponent, not letting them pass you
• Staying in the defensive-down stance

4. Improve Your Movements and Flexibility

How you move on the court is critical in a basketball game, from ducking and dodging the other team to jumping and shooting the winning shot. Simply put, if you can’t move, you can’t perform.

• Flexibility: Flexibility is critical to moving easier, avoiding sprains, muscle pain, and joint problems. Stretching your muscles is a great way to increase flexibility.
• Agility: You must work on your agility to move quickly, change positions at the drop of a hat, and change speed in seconds safely.
• Balance: Balance is another factor to consider during basketball training. Having great balance will aid in controlled movements in challenging positions.

5.  Know the Game

Watch professional games, listen to your coaches, and pay attention to your form. Knowing the game, rules, positions, and techniques will ensure you perform like a pro.

Michael Jordan once said, “You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down, and the level of everything you do will rise.”

6. Stay Positive

Don’t let the haters get in your head. “Haters are a good problem to have. Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones.” – Kobe Bryant.

Kobe was an amazing player who never let haters get in his head. Instead, he used it as fuel to push himself harder and further throughout his career.

7. Practice Like You’re Playing for the NBA Championship Trophy

You won’t see much progress in your game if you are not practicing as hard as you would play on the court. Dribbling, shooting, and maneuvering down the line is easy when no one is standing in your way.

During practice, imagine your opponents are on the court, play at game speed, and make the hard shots. To play a great game, you must practice for a great game. 

8.  Ball Handling Is the Most Important Skill in Basketball

Always work on improving your ball-handling skills. Whether dribbling the ball down the court or passing to another player, ball handling is the most essential skill in the game. Ball handling practice should include the following:

• Dribbling
• Shooting (at all distances)
• Faking shots
• Dunking
• Speed
• Hand-eye coordination
• Jumping
• Dodging

Any movement you make on the court, practice doing it with a ball in your hand.

9. Listen and Take Advice

It isn’t always easy to hear when you are doing something wrong. Yet, you’re not doing yourself or your team any favors if you aren’t doing it right. Accepting and acknowledging criticism will help you become a better player. Run with it.

“Average players want to be left alone. Good players want to be coached. Great players want to be told the truth.”-  Doc Rivers

10. Identify Your Weak Spots, Then Improve Them

Film yourself during a game or practice, then watch it. Identify where you can make improvements and get to it. Professional coaches use this technique often. It is easier to acknowledge where you are weak when you can visually see it for yourself.

Once you know where your faults lie, ask a coach or another player for help to step it up.

Final Thoughts

Commitment is vital to success. Stay committed to the process, the game, and the hard work. By following the advice above, you will have a much higher chance of excelling on the court and showing off moves guaranteed to impress the crowd.