The Guaranteed Way To Get Better

What would a basketball blog be without some advice on how to improve your skills? Hopefully you're always trying to improve your game and take it to the next level. Even if you're just a weekend streetball player like myself you'd probably like to be a better player than you are right now.

Well, in my not so humble opinion this one is simple. I'm not going to suggest that you buy Dr. Whoever's basketball skill improvement training program or invest in any kind of silly device to strap to your arms or some other body part to improve your form. In fact, I would strongly advise against messing with your shot unless it's always getting blocked because it takes too long for you to get it up there or you are releasing the ball somewhere below your head. In that case you might want to work on that. Pick any good college or NBA shooter and watch how they release the ball. (Hint: It's NOT below their head.) (Another Hint: It doesn't take them five minutes to release the ball.)

Next quick thing to mention is ballhandling. There's just no excuse not to be a good ball handler. This just takes practice. Practice dribbling with your left and right hand, you should be equally good with both. Practice dribbling between your legs and around your back. Practice making quick moves off the dribble. Work on your first step. This is where you want to blow by the defender. Dribble firmly and make sure you can do all of this without staring at the ball. Anybody can do this, just practice until you get it.

I don't really have too much to say about fundamentals. This is all stuff you can develop with practice. If you've been playing for any length of time, this should just be second nature.

If you want to develop your GAME, there is one crucial thing you must do. This is a guaranteed way to increase your skills. What is this great "secret"? Very simple. Get on the court with players that are better than you are. And I mean find the best people you can get on the court with. If you're a young kid this is super easy...play with older kids and adults. Play with people bigger, faster, and stronger than you are. Do this as often as you can. Play with college players. If you're on JV, try to get as much time as you can with the varsity players.

If your goal is to drastically and quickly improve your game, you want to get out there in games where you are the worst one on the court. Keep playing with these people and eventually you will find yourself holding your own.

Get in games where they like to play physical. Real basketball is a very physical sport. Find the best defensive player you can, the guy that just smothers you, and match up with him every time. Do this kind of thing and I assure you that you will get better at a faster rate than you thought possible.

When I was in elementary school I played with the junior high kids. When I was in junior high I played with the high school kids. It works.

Even now I match myself up with the best player on the other team every chance I get. I step up to the guy who can dunk on me. That's who I want to guard and that's who I want guarding me. When you do this your game will naturally move up to the next level. Just do it.