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.
Few actually decide to do what it takes. Every Gym Has This Two types of players. You’ve seen it. You might even know which one you are. Side 1 — The Complainers They talk about: The refs Their playing time Missed shots Bad courts Coaches There’s always something. And to be fair… some of it is real. But none of it helps them get better. Side 2 — The Workers They’re different. They: Stay after Get extra shots Ask questions Listen to coaching Fix mistakes They don’t ignore problems. They attack them. Same Gym. Same Situation. Different results. That’s the part most players miss. You don’t need a better team. You don’t need a better coach. You don’t need perfect conditions. You need a better response. What This Looks Like Bad call? Complain… or sprint back. Missed shots? Blame it… or fix your feet and get reps tomorrow. Not playing much? Get frustrated… or earn trust in practice. Slippery court? Make excuses… or adjust and play stronger. Here’s The Truth Your future as a player is decided early. Not by talent. By how you respond. The Players Who Improve They walk into the gym already decided: “I’m going to figure this out.” So when things go wrong… They don’t look around. They go to work. The Players Who Stay The Same They walk in thinking: “This isn’t fair.” And every bad call… Every missed shot… Every tough moment… Just proves them right. That’s The Difference Same gym. Same opportunities. Different mindset. Different outcome. What We See At EYG The players who improve the most aren’t always the most talented. They’re the ones who: Take coaching Stay consistent Work when it’s hard Show up ready They pick the right side. Over and over again. The Question Next practice. Next game. Next workout. Which side are you on? Because that decision shows up in your results.
Every player compares. They compare stats. They compare teams. They compare offers. They compare playing time. They compare skill level. And most of the time… They compare at the worst possible moment. A player sees someone score 25. Another makes varsity early. Someone gets attention online. Someone gets recruited first. Suddenly it feels like you are behind. But here is the truth most players don’t want to hear. They are not ahead. They are just further along their path. Basketball development is not a race. It is a long process that compounds over time. Some players grow early. Some players grow later. Some players get opportunities early. Some players earn them through years of work. The scoreboard you see right now is only a snapshot. It does not predict who you will become. What actually determines your future is much simpler. Work. Skill is not given. Confidence is not given. Game performance is not given. They are built. Through training. Through repetition. Through failure. Through consistency. Through time. Too many players spend their energy watching others. The best players spend their energy building themselves. You cannot control another player’s timeline. You cannot control another player’s opportunity. But you can control: How often you train. How focused you are when you train. How you respond to mistakes. How consistent you stay. How long you are willing to commit to improvement. Most players want results. Few players are willing to live in the process long enough to earn them. Comparison steals joy. But more importantly, comparison steals focus. And when focus disappears, development stops. The players who improve the most are not always the most talented. They are the most consistent. They show up when others don’t. They work when others watch. They stay patient when others quit. So instead of asking: “Why are they ahead?” Ask: “What am I willing to do to improve?” Then go to work. If you are a player who is ready to train with purpose, EYG Basketball provides structured, focused training designed to help you improve the skills that matter most in real games. Learn more at: 👉 www.eygbball.com
Youth basketball players develop at different speeds. Learn why comparison slows growth and how focusing on your own development leads to long-term success.