I never thought I was a gifted player. I saw myself as an analytical player. I treated the basketball court—and the game—as if it was a puzzle. That’s the reason I had a 51 percent career shooting percentage.
My goal was to perform at the same level every night. But if you rely on creativity alone, you will never be consistent. Preparation was always the key to my success.
I cannot overemphasize basketball’s mental aspects. Reading psychology books taught me to be analytical at a very young age, and that thought process enhanced my life and my game.
Most people see a basketball court in terms of its painted markers: baseline, sideline, free-throw line, three-point line, block markers, and shooting lane. When I look at the floor, I see something totally different—a grid so precise it can be computer-modeled. As a four-time All-Star, I had set places to shoot on the low post, the wing, and even in the open floor, where I was all but unstoppable. Understanding this concept can make any player more confident, and any coach a better coach.
I diagram the basketball court using standard NBA/collegiate dimensions: 94 feet long, 50 feet wide, with a distance of 15 feet from backboard to foul line.
My half-court scoring grid includes 9 spots on the left-hand side of the floor, 9 spots on the right-hand side of the floor, and 4 spots from the front of the rim to the top of the key. The 3-point line offers 3 added spots on the left, 3 spots on the right, and 1 in the middle above the top of the key. This totals 29 spots to work from, depending on your skill sets.
Now let’s break it down further. I’m going to divide the 9 left-hand spots (oh, how I loved the left side of the court!) into groups of three. Note that they are replicated on the right-hand side of the floor.
SPOT 1: First block on the left lane.
SPOT 2: Horizontal to Spot 1
SPOT 3: Horizontal to Spot 2
SPOT 4: Up the lane, midway between the foul line and block
SPOT 5: Horizontal to Spot 4
SPOT 6: Horizontal to Spot 5
SPOT 7: Side of the foul line (called foul line extended)
SPOT 8: Horizontal to Spot 7
SPOT 9: Horizontal to Spot 8
Next, I’ll break down the 4 spots on the left-hand side of the 3-point line. Visualize yourself standing at the line, and again note these spots are replicated on the right-hand side of the floor.
3-POINT SPOT A: Horizontal to Spot 3 (above)
3-POINT SPOT B: Horizontal to 3-point Spot A
3-POINT SPOT C: Horizontal to 3-point Spot B
3-POINT SPOT D:: Above the top of the key in the middle of the line
Beating The Defense
Scoring requires understanding defense, not simply being a proficient shooter. Once you understand your opponent’s defensive strategy, tactics, and skills, then your success comes down to how well you execute your shots on any given night.
In the NBA, the defensive strategy is based on scouting reports. For school or playground players, I recommend keeping your own mental notes as the game is played. Additionally, I suggest keeping a database of your opponents’ tendencies. In other words, be your own scout.
The key to understanding defense is to know there are only five ways a single player can defend against a shot from the wing.
Left side or right side, a defender can:
1. Force the offensive player to the left after the catch because he has a weak dribble going left.
2. Force the offensive player to the right after the catch because he has a weak dribble going right.
3. Allow an offensive player the outside jump shot, because the jumper’s proficiency at it is questionable.
Note: When you watch NBA, collegiate, high school, or youth league games, and you see a player shy from an open jump shot, it is because he’s been taken out of his comfort zone.
4. Play an offensive player “tight” or close, because he shows an inability to break down a pressure defense. This often leads to a turnover because the offensive player will pass under pressure as the shot clock runs down.
5. Deny an offensive player the entry pass. We see this defense when the offensive player shows an inability to catch the ball where he would like to receive it—a fundamental skill that is often neglected, even at the professional level.
Note: Never allow a defender to force you away from the ball beyond your spots. If a defender has his left foot above your right leg, or right foot above your left leg in a deny position, go back door on the wing.
Again, there are only five possible defenses, or ways to guard someone from the forward position in the half court. This means every offensive player needs five moves to offset the defense and free himself to shoot from one of his sweet spots.
I would practice shooting from one of the 22 primary sweet spots, and 7 additional 3-point shots, each and every day. That is how you become efficient and unstoppable.
Using this method, I shot over 50 percent and averaged 22.5 shots a game over the course of my 16-year NBA career, once with a league-leading 32.9 points per game.