Galen Harkness • May 15, 2024
What Basketball Players Can Learn from Nikola Jokic's Scoring Skills
Nikola Jokic’s recent performance showcased key skills that every basketball player can learn from.
Nikola Jokic’s recent performance showcased key skills that every basketball player can learn from. Here are four essential aspects of Jokic's game and practical drills to improve your skills:
Touch
Focus: Develop a soft touch around the rim.
Drills:
- Finger Roll Practice: Stand under the basket and practice finger rolls with both hands. Emphasize gently placing the ball off the backboard.
- Floater Drills: From various spots in the paint, practice shooting floaters over a stationary defender. Aim for a soft release and high arc.
Footwork
Focus: Improve footwork to create space and maintain balance.
Drills:
- Mikan Drill: Perform the Mikan Drill (both forward and reverse) to improve footwork and finishing with both hands.
- Drop Step and Pivot Moves: Work on drop steps and pivot moves from the low post. Stay low and use your body to shield the defender.
Change of Speed
Focus: Utilize changes in speed to keep defenders off-balance.
Drills:
- Hesitation Moves: Practice hesitation dribbles and crossovers at various speeds. Change pace quickly to beat your defender.
- Speed Variation Drill: Dribble from baseline to baseline, varying your speed at different points. Emphasize quick bursts followed by controlled dribbles.
Craftiness and Cleverness
Focus: Incorporate creative and unpredictable moves into your game.
Drills:
- Fake and Finish: Use pump fakes and shot fakes to get defenders in the air, then finish with various moves (e.g., up-and-under, reverse layups).
- Unconventional Shots: Practice hook shots, off-hand layups, and step-back jumpers. Make these moves smooth and natural.
Additional Tips:
- Basketball IQ: Watch game footage of players like Jokic to understand how they read the defense and make decisions.
- Patience: Be patient with the ball. Jokic often waits for the best scoring opportunity or makes a smart pass. Practice drills that involve waiting for the right moment.
- Strength and Conditioning: Incorporate strength and conditioning exercises to build the physicality needed to play effectively in the post.
By focusing on these areas and incorporating the drills into regular practice, young players can develop a more well-rounded and effective game, much like Nikola Jokic.
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Why Simple Dominates Basketball I like watching NBA clips of individual players. Yes — they are athletic. But that is not what catches my attention. It is how simple they keep the game. One or two dribble moves. Change of speed. Change of direction. Control of pace. They are intelligent with the ball. Fans enjoy highlights and Top-10 plays. But at the highest level, it is simple basketball that dominates games. The Truth Most Players Miss Great players are not doing ten moves. They are doing one move well. Then they read the defense and react. Watch clips of Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard: Change of speed Strong footwork One decisive dribble move Finishing with both hands Nothing complicated. Just efficient basketball. What Players Should Do Instead of Just Watching Watching highlights should not be entertainment only. It should be learning. Pick one thing you notice. Then go work on it. Not ten skills. Not a new move every day. One skill. Repeated with purpose. That is how improvement actually happens. Why This Matters Simple skills win possessions. Simple decisions win games. Players who master the basics move: From bench → starter From starter → best shooter From shooter → leading scorer From high school player → college opportunity The game rewards players who execute simple things at a high level. How EYG Helps At EYG Basketball, we work with players who are ready to work. Players who want real development — not hype. We help athletes build: Ball control Footwork Shooting consistency Game decision-making Confidence through repetition If you are ready to improve, we are ready to help. 👉 View current EYG opportunities: https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events