Basketball, for all of its finesse, is a contact sport. While guards tend to rely on speed and fancy moves, big men need to be tough in order to rebound, fight for position, and bang around down low. That’s where aggression comes in. Though all athletes need to manage their temper, being able to channel…
Basketball teams have five players on the court at any given time, and each of those players has a specific role to fill. Guards stay outside on the three line where they shoot and set up plays, while big men go down low to defend, post up, or rebound. There are two types of big…
Basketball is a team sport. There are five distinct positions, and any good offense or defense needs all of them in order to work. However, as necessary as each one might be, the point guard (PG) position is widely considered the most important. That’s because, while all the positions have a role, a team cannot…
In sports, there are many statistical ways to tell if a team is good or bad. Advanced analytics have come a long way, and they only continue to get more accurate each year. That’s especially apparent in basketball with what is known as the Basketball Power Index (BPI). BPI is a measurement developed by ESPN…
Basketball is a fun sport that, like any athletic competition, comes with certain risks. Injuries are fairly common in both games and practices, and they range from small strains and tweaks to much more extreme tears or breaks. Lower body ailments like ankle sprains, achilles tears, and knee injuries are the most frequent, but jammed/sprained…
There are many important skills basketball players need to learn, but one of the most critical is proper movement. Being able to run around the court in the right way at the right time is a valuable ability in all situations. That’s why footwork matters so much. Good footwork is not just about being able…
Jumping is a critical aspect of most major sports. The ability to get off the ground and up into the air is useful in baseball and soccer, but it’s an essential part of both basketball and football. That’s why there’s such a focus on the vertical jump in the NBA and the NFL. Both organizations…
There are many fundamental parts of basketball, but few are more important than proper dribbling. Being able to put the ball on the floor without turning it over is critical for all positions, and is needed both down on the block and outside the three line. However, dribbling is not easy. That goes double for…
In modern basketball, scoring rules over all. The NBA has become a three-dominated league, with teams focusing more and more on offense each season. Despite that, good defense is still an incredibly valuable skill. Good teams play strong defense that allows them to adapt to strong offenses. That then enables them to control the pace…
The NBA is one of the longest running leagues in professional sports. As such, it’s gone through many rule-changes and distinct periods since its inception. The organization has a rich history that spans several decades of great players, legendary games, and innovative rules. That’s why its influence runs so deep. Basketball has become a global…