BASKETBALL-HANDLING: FOUNDATIONS

Mastering the art of ball-handling is essential to becoming a great shooter. Luckily, all you need to fine-tune your ball-handling is a solid surface and a basketball. Practice one-ball pounds with each hand, and the three basic moves: crossover, between the legs, and behind the back. Once you build a solid foundation with them, start creating combination dribbles that you can utilize during games. Most of Stephen’s ball-handling is simply a collection of combinations of those few simple moves.

The key to ball-handling is a balance. Start in a centered athletic position: keep your nose behind your toes and your hips loaded, being careful not to lean forward. To maintain balance, keep your body static and in an athletic position, and move the ball around your body—don’t move your body around the ball. When handling the ball, dribble aggressively and to the side of your foot, maintaining a bounce height that reaches between your knee and hip. Dribbling at that sweet spot keeps the ball near your shot pocket, helping you become a more efficient shooter. Keep in mind that the more power you put behind each dribble, the more control you’ll have over the ball. The idea behind aggressive dribbling is to minimize the ball’s airtime so you can prevent defenders from deflecting or stealing it.If you’re struggling with ball-handling, you can make positive adjustments to your foundation by asking yourself, “Can I take a shot from my current position?” If you can’t, then you need to concentrate on correcting your stance, dribbling, or foundation. Remember, don’t be loose when ball-handling, and always take a position that lets you maneuver the ball into your shot pocket at a moment’s notice.