People who think basketball is a sport only for giant statues are incorrect. But many vertically challenged players have dominated the NBA at the highest level. For instance, Isiah Thomas, Spud Webb, and Steve Nash, who has short in height, have dominated their counterparts and excelled. No matter what your height is, hard work, persistence, and patience will always pay off.
Power basketball shows that only 8 percent of all players make a game. If you can execute your skills and have the potential to handle the ball, height is just a number. This article will guide you to use your height as an advantage.
Tips And Tricks For a Short Player in Basketball
- Master the art of dribbling.
For a short player, it is necessary to be a master of dribbling. Once you master this art, no matter who stands on either side, you can easily break their defense and go for the score. See how Stephen Curry dribbles and makes his way to the basket. Try dribbling two basketballs with two hands; this helps to get control over the ball, which makes dribbling with one shot easy.
- Work as a marksman
Practice hard to be a pro shooter; scoring three-pointers for your team must be your priority right from the beginning. Try to score three-pointers in the practice sessions, which will help you in the game. To be a shooter, you need to be very acute and precise. The defense will spread out on the floor when you score threes, preventing you from scoring. It is the time when you pass the ball to your jumper and lead the scorecard.
- Be an astute player.
Height certainly helps a team, but being quick-witted outplays all. You must be smart, intelligent, and unselfish to be ahead of your counterparts. Try finding the loopholes in your opponent’s strategies as you work as a point guard, outplay them, and pass the ball to the dunker. Sometimes scoring threes opens up the lane, creating space for slam dunks.
- Practice shooting the floater.
It is a great and effective strategy that brings a vast difference to a game. Shooting a floater needs a lot of practice. As a short player, you need quick feet to dodge the defense, which makes the protection leave the man mark. Join a basketball training program that helps to increase your vertical jump. When the argument comes off from their man, shoot the ball to the floater, allowing him to score for the team.
- Always be in shape
Basketball is tiresome, where you must run up and down the court countless times. Thus you should still be in an excellent way to excel in the game. Try running, lifting weights, and doing lots of cardio to outrun your opponents on the court. Being in shape requires a lot of dedication and time, so have a diet consisting of fibrous food that helps your muscle. Being on a strict diet involves a lot of sacrifices.
If you master these points, you will undoubtedly leave everyone behind, earning yourself MVPs.