37 Must-Try Basketball Drills For 2023!

Are you tired of running the same old drills in your basketball practice? Do you feel like your team’s skills are plateauing?

It’s time to spice things up and add some new drills to your arsenal!

In this article, we’ve rounded up a variety of basketball drills to help you improve your game, from defensive drills to offensive basketball drills, and everything in between!

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What Are the Best Basketball Drills?

Ball Handling Drills

Let’s be honest, if you can’t handle the ball, you might as well just sit on the bench.

Ball handling drills are crucial for any player looking to improve their skills on the court. They help with hand-eye coordination, agility, and overall ball control.

These are some of the best drills out there

#1 Two ball dribbling drills

This basketball drill is like patting your head and rubbing your tummy but on steroids.

It’s all about controlling the two balls at once, improving your ambidexterity, hand-eye coordination, and overall ball control.

Stand with your knees bent and feet shoulder-width apart.
Dribble two basketballs simultaneously, one with each hand, keeping them at the same height.
Mix it up by dribbling the balls at the same time or in a staggered pattern where one ball is higher than the other.
As you get better, increase the speed and complexity of your dribbling.

#2 Cone dribbling drills

This basketball drill is like driving through rush-hour traffic, but with a basketball. It improves your ball control in tight spaces, quick reflexes, and a change of direction.

Set up cones in a straight line or zigzag pattern.
Dribble the ball around the cones, weaving in and out while maintaining control.
Challenge yourself by changing your speed and direction, and aim to complete the drill as quickly as possible.
Mix it up by changing the cone pattern each time you do the drill.

#3 Figure 8 dribbling drills

Get your groove on and show off your fancy footwork and ball-handling skills with this figure 8 dribbling drill.

Get in the zone with an athletic stance, knees slightly bent, and feet shoulder-width apart.
Dribble the basketball around your right leg, cross it over to your left hand, and repeat the pattern around your left leg.
Switch it up and keep the rhythm going by alternating between dribbling the ball around your left and right leg.
Challenge yourself by spicing up the routine with different speeds and moves while maintaining control of the ball.

#4 Stationary dribbling drills

Hold your horses! This basketball drill is perfect for perfecting your ball control and hand-eye coordination while standing still.

Assume an athletic stance, knees slightly bent, and feet shoulder-width apart.
Dribble the basketball in front of you, switching between your left and right hand.
Vary the height and speed of your dribbling and keep the ball under control at all times.

Once you’ve got the basics down, add in some pizzazz with crossovers or between-the-legs dribbles.

#5 Zig Zag dribbling drills

Ready, set, zigzag! This drill takes your ball handling to the next level by challenging you to make dribble moves in a zigzag pattern between cones or markers.

Set up a series of cones or markers in a zigzag pattern.
Dribble the basketball between the cones, weaving in and out of them while maintaining control of the ball.
Vary your speed and direction as you move through the cones, and aim to complete the drill as quickly as possible.
Keep things fresh and exciting by changing up the cone pattern each time you do the drill.

#6 Circle dribbling drills

Looking to upgrade your ball control and footwork? Give the circle dribbling drill a spin!

Place cones in a circular pattern around a designated area.
Dribble the basketball around the circle, moving clockwise and counterclockwise.
Keep the ball under control while maintaining proper footwork.
Amp up the difficulty by increasing your speed and adding in other moves like crossovers or between-the-legs dribbles.

#7 Crossover dribbling drills

Want to shake off defenders and score some points? The crossover dribbling drill is your go-to!

Start by dribbling the ball with your dominant hand.
Quickly switch the ball to your non-dominant hand by crossing it over in front of your body.
Alternate the motion between your dominant and non-dominant hand.
Make it more game-like by varying your speed and direction.
Add in some style by including moves like behind-the-back dribbles.

#8 Between the legs dribbling drills

Create space and slip past defenders like a pro with the between-the-legs dribbling drill.

Begin by dribbling the ball with both hands.
Take the ball between your legs, switching it from one hand to the other.
Keep the motion going, alternating between dribbling the ball in front of and between your legs.
Make it more challenging by varying your speed and direction.
Give it some flair by incorporating moves like crossovers or behind-the-back dribbles.

Passing Drills

If you’re not a good passer, your teammates might start calling you “selfish.”

These basketball drills will help you avoid that fate by improving your accuracy, speed, and decision-making.

#9 Chest pass drills

The chest pass is as basic as a white t-shirt but just as essential. This drill will help you perfect your chest pass accuracy and speed so you can confidently hit your teammates in the chest.

Stand facing a partner or a wall with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Hold the ball with both hands and bring it to your chest.
Push the ball forward with your arms and chest, aiming for your partner’s chest or a target on the wall.
Catch the ball when it is returned to you and repeat the drill.

#10 Bounce pass drills

The bounce pass is a sneaky little devil that can help you get past defenders. This passing drill focuses on the basic fundamentals and improving your bounce pass accuracy and timing.

Stand facing a partner or a wall with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Hold the ball with both hands and bounce it on the ground towards your partner or a target on the wall.
Make sure the ball bounces about two-thirds of the distance to the target.
Catch the ball when it is returned to you and repeat the drill.

#11 Overhead pass drills

The overhead pass is like a high five but with a basketball. This passing drill will help you develop your accuracy full speed and power when passing over defenders or long distances.

Stand facing a partner or a wall with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Hold the ball with both hands and bring it above your head.
Throw the ball towards your partner or a target on the wall using an overhead motion.
Catch the ball when it’s returned to you and repeat the drill.

#12 Baseball pass drills

The baseball pass is like a home run, but with a basketball. This passing drill focuses on improving your accuracy and distance when throwing long passes or shooting from the free throw line.

Stand facing a partner or a wall with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Hold the ball with one hand and bring it behind your head.
Throw the ball towards your partner or a target on the wall using a baseball pitching motion.
Catch the ball when it’s returned to you and repeat the drill with your other hand.

#13 One-handed passing drills

Want to show off your mad basketball skills by passing with one hand like a boss? This basketball passing drill helps you improve your accuracy and control when you have only one hand free, which is perfect for impressing your opponents in game situations.

Stand facing a partner or a wall with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Hold the ball with one hand and show off your smooth one-handed passing skills with your partner or against the wall.
Change things up by varying the speed and distance of your passes and switching hands to practice with your non-dominant hand.

#14 Partner passing drills

Basketball is a team sport, and this fun drill helps you work on your communication and coordination skills with a partner. It’s like a two-person dance routine, but with a ball!

Stand facing a partner with a distance of about 10 feet between you.
Practice different types of passes, such as chest passes, bounce passes, and overhead passes, while moving around and changing positions.
Focus on your partner and avoid stepping on their toes…literally!

#15 Outlet passing drills

Are you tired of getting stuck on defense and want to join the fast-break action? Then this basketball drill is perfect for you!

It helps you practice quick and accurate outlet passes that get your team up the back half-court line, in a hurry.

Divide into two teams, with one team starting on defense and the other on offense.
After a defensive rebound, the defender must quickly pass the ball to the offensive player who is furthest up the court.
The offensive player then passes the ball to their teammate and keeps the fast break going.
Keep practicing until your outlet passes are as smooth as butter!

Shooting Drills

Basketball is all about making those baskets, and these basketball drills will help you hone your shooting skills and accuracy.

From layups to three-pointers, these basketball drills will help you shoot like a pro!

#16 Layup drills

Layups are like the bread and butter of basketball shots, and this basketball drill will help you score from up close and personal.

Start at the baseline and dribble toward the hoop.
Take one or two steps and lay it up, hitting the backboard square and landing on the opposite side of the hoop.
Mix it up from different angles and positions around the court.

#17 Mid-range shooting drills

Sometimes you gotta shoot your shot from somewhere in the middle, and this basketball shooting drill will help you nail those mid-range shots.

Start from a spot on the court, like the elbow or wing.
Receive a pass from a teammate or coach and shoot the basketball, focusing on your form and technique.
Mix it up from different spots on the court and levels of difficulty.

#18 Three-point shooting drills

Nothing feels better than nailing a three-pointer, and this shooting drill will help you become a long-range sharpshooter.

Start from a spot on the court beyond the three-point line.
Receive a pass from a teammate or coach and shoot the ball, focusing on your form and technique.
Mix it up from different spots on the court (like the half court) and levels of difficulty.

#19 Shooting off the dribble drills

Moving and grooving while shooting? This quick shooting skills drill will help you hit the hoop while on the move!

Start at the top of the key and dribble toward the hoop.
Take a few dribbles and shoot, focusing on your form and technique.
Mix it up from different spots on the court and levels of difficulty.

#20 Shooting off the catch drills

Catch-and-shoot basketball drills help you develop lightning-fast reflexes so you can shoot the ball before the defense has a chance to steal your lunch money.

Stand at a designated spot on the court, such as the wing or baseline.
Get a pass from a teammate or coach and shoot the ball without dribbling, emphasizing proper form and technique.
Repeat from different spots on the court and with varying degrees of difficulty.

#21 Shooting off screens drills

Screen drills teach you how to move around the half-court just like a ninja and find openings for shots, even when the other team is trying to block your path.

Have a teammate or coach set a screen for you.
Use the screen to get open for a shot and shoot the ball, focusing on proper form and technique.
Repeat from different spots on the court and with varying degrees of difficulty.

#22 Free throw shooting drills

Free throw line drills or free throw shooting drills are like meditation for your shooting skills – with practice, you can find your inner zen and nail those shots every time.

Stand at the free throw line and visualize yourself as a basketball guru.
Take a deep breath, channel your inner Shaolin monk, and shoot the basketball with perfect form.
Repeat until you’ve achieved enlightenment (or at least a high percentage of successful free throw shots).

Tip

If you want to improve your free throw, you should consider investing in a smart basketball.

Smart basketballs have special sensors, so every time you shoot the basketball from the free-throw line, it gives you data on how to improve your shooting skills.

It’s not only great for your shooting drill, but also for improving your ball-handling skills and dribbling skills.

Some smart basketballs, like the DribbleUp, even allow you to do special footwork drills to improve your defensive stance.

Rebounding Drills

Rebounding can make or break a game of basketball, and these basketball drills will help you secure that ball, control the possession, and give your team an edge.

#23 Box-out drills

Box-out basketball drills help players establish their position and block out opponents like an overprotective parent blocking their kid from being trampled in a toy store.

Face off with a fellow player in the key area.
When the coach or another player shoots the ball, wrestle to get the best position and stop the other player from snagging the rebound.
The player who gains possession and establishes the best position gets a point.
Repeat with different players and difficulty levels, and don’t forget your wrestling gear.

#24 Tap rebounding drills

Tap rebounding drills teach players how to tap the ball to themselves or their teammates, much like getting your cat’s attention for a snuggle.

Have two players, one under the hoop and the other outside the key area.
The coach or another player throws the ball off the backboard or rim.
The player under the hoop jumps and taps the ball to the other player, who catches it and shoots it back at the hoop.
Repeat with different players and varying levels of difficulty, and make sure to praise your cat for the inspiration.

#25 Tip drill rebounding drills

Tip drill rebounding drills teach players how to tip the ball to themselves or their teammates, like a waiter deftly balancing a tray of drinks.

Have two players, one under the hoop and the other outside the key area.
The coach or another player throws the basketball off the backboard or rim.
The player under the hoop jumps and tips the ball to themselves or the other player, who catches it and shoots it back at the hoop.
Repeat with different players and varying levels of difficulty, and don’t forget to practice your waiter skills.

#26 Outlet pass rebounding drills

Outlet pass rebounding drills teach players how to grab rebounds and quickly pass the ball to their teammates, like a hot potato.

Divide into two teams of three players each.
The coach or another player shoots the ball, and the teams fight for the rebound.
The player who grabs the rebound quickly passes the ball to their teammates, who try to score a fast-break basket.
Repeat with different teams and varying levels of difficulty, and don’t forget to scream “hot potato!” for maximum effect.

#27 Defensive rebounding drills

Defensive rebounding drills teach players how to grab rebounds in a defensive situation and prevent their opponents from scoring, like a goalkeeper blocking shots.

Divide into two teams of three players each.
One team starts on offense, and the other team starts on defense.
The coach or another player shoots the ball, and the teams fight for the rebound.
The defensive player tries to prevent the offensive player from grabbing the rebound, while the offensive player tries to score a basket.
Switch roles after a certain number of possessions or time, and don’t forget to wear your goalkeeper gloves.

Defensive Drill

Want to leave your opponents feeling like they’re trapped like a mouse in a mouse trap?

These drills will sharpen your entire team’s defensive skills, both on and off the ball, and in tricky situations like closeouts and shell defense.

#28 on-ball defense drills

Looking to stick to your opponent like a cheap suit?

On-ball defense drills help players become ball-hawking pros, stopping their opponents from scoring by staying on their tail like a bloodhound on a scent.

Get two players facing each other, one holding the ball, and the other playing defense.
The ball handler tries to score, while the defender goes all out to shut them down. Expect lots of body contact, blocked shots, and trash-talking.
Switch up players and difficulty levels to keep things interesting.

#29 Off-ball defense drills

Want to be the Robin to your opponent’s Batman?

Off-ball defense drills will teach your team how to stick to their opponents like glue, cutting off their passes and preventing them from getting into scoring positions.

Get two basketball players facing each other, one with the ball, and the other playing defense.
The ball-less player tries to get open and receive a pass, while the defender throws their whole body in the way to stop them from getting the basketball.
Switch things up by rotating players and making the drill more challenging.

#30 Closeout drills

Looking to shut down your opponents’ scoring like a bank on a holiday?

Closeout drills help players quickly close the distance between themselves and their opponent, contesting shots, and blocking drives to the hoop.

Get two players facing each other, one with the ball, and the other playing defense.
The player with the ball starts at the top of the key, while the defender starts near the baseline.
The ball handler takes one or two dribbles towards the defender, who then sprints towards them, blocking their shot or preventing them from driving to the hoop.
Keep things interesting by varying players and making the drill more challenging

#31 Shell defense drills

Looking to defend like a ninja squad? Shell defense drills teach players how to work together as a team, cover multiple offensive players, and keep their defense tight and communication on point.

Split players into two teams, one on offense and the other on defense.
The offensive player starts with the ball, while the defensive player rotates and covers different positions based on ball movement and position.
Communication and proper defensive positioning are key to preventing the other team from scoring.
Switch up roles and difficulty levels to keep things interesting.

#32 Help-side defense drills

Want to cause chaos on the court and make your opponents sweat? Full-court press drills are just the ticket to hone your ability to apply intense pressure and force turnovers!

Round up your squad and divide them into two teams: one to play offense and the other to play defense.
The defensive team must apply full-court pressure on the offense, aiming to disrupt their play and cause turnovers.
The offensive players must work together to break the press and move the ball up the court.
For an added challenge, try setting a time limit or limiting the number of passes allowed.

#33 Full-court press drills

Full-court press drills are designed to improve players’ ability to apply defensive pressure on the opposing team’s ball handlers and force turnovers.

This defensive drill also helps teams with quick shooting skills create a fast-paced, aggressive style of play that can lead to easy scoring opportunities.

Divide players into two teams, with one team on offense and the other team on defense.
The defensive team applies full-court pressure, trying to force turnovers and prevent the offensive team from scoring.
The offensive team must work together to break the press and advance the ball up the court.
The drill can be made more challenging by adding rules such as a time limit or limiting the number of passes allowed.

Offensive Drills

Offensive drills are like baking a cake, they help players mix their skills and techniques to create a perfect recipe for scoring.

From one-on-one to full team play, the following drills will whip your offensive game into shape.

#34 One-on-one drills

One-on-one drills are like a fun game of “I Spy”, they challenge players to spot the right opportunity and score.

Have two players face each other, with one player on offense and the other on defense.
The offensive player tries to score by dribbling, shooting, or making a move to get past their opponent, while the defender tries to prevent them from scoring by staying in front of them and contesting their shots.
The player with the most creative moves wins!

#35 Two-on-two drills

Two-on-two drills are like a game of “pass the parcel”, they help players work together to unwrap scoring opportunities.

Have two pairs of players face each other, with one pair on offense and the other pair on defense.
The offensive team tries to score by passing and moving the ball to create open shots, while the defensive team tries to prevent them from scoring by communicating effectively and playing solid defense.
But be careful, if the defense steals the ball, they get to be the offense!

#36 Three-on-three drills

Three-on-three drills are like a game of “musical chairs”, they require players to move quickly and make quick decisions on offense and defense.

Have two teams of three players face each other, with one team on offense and the other on defense.
The offensive team tries to score by passing and moving the ball to create open shots, while the defensive team tries to prevent them from scoring by playing solid team defense and communicating effectively.
But if the offense takes too long, they lose a player!

#37 Four-on-four drills

Four-on-four drills are like a game of “Marco Polo”, They require players to communicate and maintain a proper spacing on offense and defense.

Have two teams of four players face each other, with one team on offense and the other on defense.
The offensive team tries to score by passing and moving the ball to create open shots, while the defensive team tries to prevent them from scoring by playing solid team defense and communicating effectively.
But if a player goes out of bounds, they have to wear a blindfold!

Wrapping up

To wrap things up, basketball drills are the slam dunk when it comes to enhancing players’ skills and rocking the court.

Whether you’re looking to polish your solo moves or step up your team game, the basketball drills we’ve laid out in this article give you plenty of choices.

Remember, practice makes perfect, and integrating these basketball drills into your routine can give your game a real boost.

So, get out there and give these basketball drills below a go, and keep striving to bring your A-game and be the hoop-shootin’, slam-dunkin’ MVP of the court!

37 Must-Try Basketball Drills for 2023!