Which basketball skill is hardest to acquire?

[HartfordWhalers]

I voted shot selection.

Players without it never seem to get it.

Shot selection is part of play making IMO

I see playmaking as creating, either for teammates or oneself. Plenty of players can't create for a lic, but don't take dumb shots. Jodie Meeks made himself into a starter for the Sixers with 60% ts but just shy of 90% of all shots assisted. The guy couldn't create, but could shoot and didn't jack anything dumb, which is why I think they need to be separate categories.

I voted shot selection.

Players without it never seem to get it.

Nah ... trust me all NBA players have shot selection, a lot of them are just ignorant but most purposefully choose to shoot at a high volume or out of the rhythm of the offense because they're given the free reign to do it. Helter skelter offense. Just like gimmick players in football.

Really?? So you believe the subset of NBA plaers that seem to have a penchant for jacking bad off balance (deep) outside shots are encouraged to by their coaches? I find that very hard to believe, especially when the same players tend to be like that for multiple coaches.

[inquisitive]

you forgot to list footwork. that is the most difficult imo.

[ShabazzMuhammad]

Really?? So you believe the subset of NBA plaers that seem to have a penchant for jacking bad off balance (deep) outside shots are encouraged to by their coaches? I find that very hard to believe, especially when the same players tend to be like that for multiple coaches.

I think they're job on any roster is to spark or microwave offense. I could be wrong but I highly doubt that erratic shot selection is a lack of play making skills or awareness. Just look at guys like Iverson, he makes (made) plays at the highest level even with questionable shot selection.

[aurareturn1]

ball-handling... I still struggle with it.

The best players on the playground are usually the best ball handlers.

+ 1. I think that to be good at it, you almost need to be ambidextrous otherwise you better not hold onto it too long. If you've got good handles, you can become a decent passer if you're willing to work on it. Actually, haven't coached basketball, it's much easier to teach guys how to pass the ball surprisingly.

They just have to have a willingness to do it. Handling is another matter and is especially difficult for guys who are taller. And if you're taller, passing becomes a lot easier. Court vision is slightly different imo and a lot of it is just being aware of what's going on around you and then making intelligent decisions accordingly. I'm not sure if that's considered a skill or more of a discipline.

Passing comes with ball-handling. You will have the confidence to try different passes if you are good at handling the ball. You can dribble around, create different passing angles, break down your defender and make a play for your teammates.

Ball-handling gives you confidence in all of your basketball skills.

All superstars are great ball-handlers for their positions.

[Elden Payton]

Ball-handle or court vision but I chose Ball handling.

[Lakers05]

Playmaking. But it has nothing to do with whether you have it or you don't, but rather, because you can't simulate the environment(5-on-5) to work on it.

There are no skills that can't be learned. Playmaking is about teaching guys on why they should make this pass or that pass. But without the condition for repetitions, they can't really learn it.

[turk3d]

I'm going to take as stab at something here. I believe that most of the people of this forum have played (or are still playing) the game. I bet that if we took a poll (of those who played) what the most difficult things for them to do/learn, that the majority of them would say ball handling. I'm just guessing but that's what I'd say.

Now court awareness may be more important as far as the team game goes. I'm pretty sure that passing is something more easily learned (basically 3 techniques: chest pass, bounce pass, overhead pass, not counting the fancy stuff). Court awareness is just more of a mindset and something you need to start paying attention to and requires focus imo.

[Elden Payton]

Playmaking. But it has nothing to do with whether you have it or you don't, but rather, because you can't simulate the environment(5-on-5) to work on it.

There are no skills that can't be learned. Playmaking is about teaching guys on why they should make this pass or that pass. But without the condition for repetitions, they can't really learn it.

good post.

[GameOver25]

Playing under pressure.

[yaaar]

Not on the list, but I'd say elite footwork.

[KGboss]

BBIQ, on the spot play-making is probably the hardest. Ball handling probably the second hardest, because it is something everyone needs to have on the court, while usually only a couple people need to have to be able to have the job of setting up the play.

[HartfordWhalers]

Really?? So you believe the subset of NBA plaers that seem to have a penchant for jacking bad off balance (deep) outside shots are encouraged to by their coaches? I find that very hard to believe, especially when the same players tend to be like that for multiple coaches.

I think they're job on any roster is to spark or microwave offense. I could be wrong but I highly doubt that erratic shot selection is a lack of play making skills or awareness. Just look at guys like Iverson, he makes (made) plays at the highest level even with questionable shot selection.

Sure, if your a hof player it might not be so bad, or at the very least you compensate for it. But then you have players like Blatche who shoot a huge percentage of their shots as very deep 2's and makes them around 1 in 3. That is just awful shot selection. Most teams have at least one player that just likes to jack shots regardless of team offense, whether it is a big man who is in love with his jump shot and doesn't understand why the 16 footer is so often open, or a guard that is in love with his 3 even though he can't hit a respectable rate.

Listen to Hawks fans rag on Josh Smith for shot selection. No coach is encouraging to him randomly shot those shots to microwave the teams offense. I also wouldn't view it as an element of playmaking, but trigger happily shooting definitely can be lumped into BBIQ and is a trait that seems to stick to some players.

[#1 pick]

As a PG, playmaking. It takes a mix of god given ability, speed, vision, and the game slowing down mentality before you master this skill. Easily the hardest to master and the most effective. I can dominate games and win all the time with this.

Post moves is hard too. Especially if you plan on being effective. All are tough to learn at a high level.

[#1 pick]

The thing that's tricky about this question is that you cannot be a very good playmaker without an above average handle. If you're constantly having to look for your dribble, you are not going to be able to see things develop on the court. Nash and Paul are able to dissect defenses because dribbling is so natural to them. The can dribble through traffic with their eyes up because the ball is like a yoyo to them. This also allows them to get anywhere they want on the court with a great amount of control, opening up those lanes for their team mates.

Now, I think because of that and the fact that it can only really be practiced well in competitive 3 v3 to 5v5 action, playmaking is definitely the hardest to master. You can't work on your playmaking the same way you can work on your dribbling, but if you play enough scrimmaging, with team mates who know how to move around you, seeing a jump in your playmaking ability doesn't seem as difficult as making significant jumps in the ball-handling category. So I think ball-handling is the hardest to make significant gains in since it really is something learned at such a young age and mastered only by continuing to practice as your body grows. But playmaking for the most part requires you to be an above-average ball-handler for your position. Don't know if that makes total sense, but just a correlation I noticed between the two most popular answers in this thread.

In a real game true, but in pick up ball. Nope, especially if your as fast as Rose or Wall. When people pick up on my handles. I just run right pass them. Magic didn't have the greatest handles and he made it look easy.

[sefant77]

Easily courtvision. You cant really teach or train it.

There was a nice quote about Kidd (i think Dirk said it a few months after the trade), something like: "Other PGs see the open teammate and pass the ball. Kidds sees where the ball should be in a few seconds because a teammate will be free..."

[LakerLegend]

Easily courtvision. You cant really teach or train it.

There was a nice quote about Kidd (i think Dirk said it a few months after the trade), something like: "Other PGs see the open teammate and pass the ball. Kidds sees where the ball should be in a few seconds because a teammate will be free..."

Very true of Magic as well.

But the real answer to this question is: It depends on the player.

[patleezy]

def ball handling and play-making.

[Stopshere2]

The mystique in this thread about the art of playmaking and, inherently, ball handling is a load of old tosh. The room for variance and error in making plays is substantial. People here are talking as if there is some point of measurable mastery and really there isn't outside of the very vague Assist stat and turnovers, and what looks good to the eye. Some players bring flash and can see the open man better than others but it ain't a science.

OTOH, I've yet to see any NBA player shoot 100% for any length of time from midrange or further. Even the best can't do it consistently when standing wide open. Why is it that the best in the world can't do it? Oh, that's right, it's the hardest bloody thing to master and no-one has ever done it!

[picc]

Ballhandling is the difference between good/great players and legendary players.

Somewhat because ballhandling is intrinsically tied to playmaking, which is the other aspect of ball that separates good from great. But you have to differentiate the bigs, because a big can be a great playmaker without being a great ballhandler.

But even then, think about the great big men who were great passers. Dream, Duncan, Shaq, etc....all of these guys have impressive handles for bigs.

But especially for perimeter players, ballhandling is the foundation for what makes or breaks you as an elite. You can be a legend without being a great shooter. Or rebounder. Or defender. But ballhandling, and as an extension of it, playmaking, is something no one on the all-time lists is without. Ability to dribble the ball upcourt, around the perimeter, and through traffic consistently are skills that directly impact how you are able to affect the game as a wing.


You learn control of the basketball, and you have control of the game.

[Mik317]

Ending Lockouts