John Albert Torres - Top 25 Basketball Skills, Tips, and Tricks

WHAT A SHOT! THE CROWD GOES WILD!

LeBron James dribbles around defenders before flying in the air for a thunderous dunk. Kobe Bryant watches the game clock tick down to one second before firing a game-winning jump shot. Would you like to play like a pro? Author John Albert Torres provides the skills you need to get you on your way to becoming a superstar. From shooting to passing and dribbling to defense, there are fun skills and drills to try with your friends, including tips and tricks from the pros.

About the Author

John Albert Torres, an award-winning journalist living in Florida, has covered international news and has reported from other countries. He is the author of many books for young people.

Kobe Bryant bobs his head and stutter steps past a defender to get open for an eighteen-foot jump shot. LeBron James puts on the brakes as hes driving to the basket, stops short, and drains a pull-up jumper. Dwight Howard powers his way closer to the basket, turns and throws down a rim-shaking slam dunk.

To win a basketball game, you simply have to score more points than your opponent. You can play great defense, be an awesome rebounder, or have terrific strategy. But if you cant put the ball through the hoop, then you cant win.

The majority of shots attempted in a basketball game are called jump shots. There are many types of jump shots. Some of them include using a fake or a fancy move to get open.

But getting open is only the first part. Shooting a jump shot, like pitching a baseball, requires proper mechanics. This means you have to learn the right way to shoot the ball. And you need to repeat the same motion every time.

Most basketball players cannot dunk like Dwight Howard. However, there are many other ways to score the basketball.

If you are right-handed, you want to place your right foot slightly forward. Keep your right elbow tight to your body. Dont let it flail all over the place. Keep your fingertips light and centered on the ball. As you jump, bring the ball up to shoot then snap your wrist, allowing the ball to roll off your fingertips. This is called the follow-through. This will create a slight backspin on the ball, which can help it go in the basket, even if your shot is slightly off target. You want to shoot the ball just before you reach the top of your jump.

Lastly, it is very important to land in the same spot you jumped from. Here is a good way to practice. Roll up a towel and place it in front of you. Then start taking shots at the basket. Make sure to never let your feet touch the towel.

Boston Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen displays the perfect form for a jump shot. He is one of the greatest shooters in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. He became a great shooter by practicing all the time. Allen goes to the gym at least a few hours before a game so he can practice his jump shot.

Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player ever, said he became a better shooter and scorer by learning not to force the action. Jordan would pull up and take a jump shot if the defender was not playing him tightly. If they did play him tightly, he made a run for the basket for a layup or dunk.

If the defense is going to give me an offensive shot, or a jump shot, I should take that shot and force the defense to come out and play me a little closer which creates other options, Jordan said.

In order to make that jump shot, you need to get open. This means creating space to shoot when you have the ball or working to get open when you dont have the ball. When you watch a basketball game, you will notice that teams have a difficult time scoring if they are not active on the court without the ball. One way to get open is by using screens, or picks. A screen is a little like a block in football. To properly set a screen, a teammate must stand perfectly still on the court in a spot near where you want to catch the pass. Run directly at your teammate and cut around him or her at the last moment. Because your defender has to either follow you or go around your teammate, you should be open to catch a pass the instant you run around the screen.

A very popular and successful play in basketball is called the pick-and-roll. This is where you set a pick for a teammate who has the ball. After the player dribbles around your pick, roll toward the basket. With the foot closest to the basket, pivot inside and run toward the hoop. Your teammate can either shoot the ball because of your pick, or pass you the ball for a layup.

Of course, when you have the ball, there are a number of things you can do to get open. Try a simple head fake by lifting your head in an exaggerated manner to make the defender think you are shooting or moving toward the basket. Then use that separation to hoist your shot. Another way is to use a pump fake by faking a shot without leaving your feet. If the defender leaps in the air, dribble around him or her to find an open space to shoot.

These fakes work best when the player with the ball is in the triple threat position. When you first catch a pass, hold the ball at your chest. The defender has to worry about whether youll shoot, pass, or dribblethe triple threat!

A good pump fake will get the player defending you to jump in the air. Then you can either dribble around your opponent to open space, or draw contact so you can go to the free-throw line.

The highest percentage shots, taken close to the basket, are also some of the hardest to master. For centers, power forwards, and others playing close to the basket, these are called inside moves. There are many basketball camps offered around the country that specialize in only this part of the game.

The toughest part for younger players is learning to establish a pivot foot. You cannot shuffle your feet when you receive a pass on the low post. You also cannot switch your pivot foot or you will be called for traveling. Playing down there also means that your back is to the basket with a defender behind you, between you and the basket. Players are only allowed to stay in the lane under the basket for three seconds at a time or it is a violation.

First, catch your pass. Then plant the foot that is closer to the middle of the court. Then take a quick slide step with the foot that is to the outside of the court while moving your body toward the basket.