We don’t need to say a word.  He said it all.

Basketball Players Want to Know…What Made Michael Jordan So Great?

I was 14 years old when Michael Jordan made his famous “last shot” against the Utah Jazz in Game 6 the 1998 NBA Finals.  That shot helped the Chicago Bulls secure their 6^th NBA Championship, and Michael retired (for the 2^nd time) in the offseason thereafter.  I was a senior in high school when Michael made a brief two year comeback with the Washington Wizards.  By the time he retired for good, Michael Jordan was considered by many as the greatest basketball player of all time.  He finished his career with the highest career NBA scoring average (30.1 PPG) and the most Finals MVP, finishing with six.

Today, Lebron James is the king of the court.  Many people believe that he is or has a chance to be the greatest basketball player ever, even better than MJ, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and some of the other NBA legends.  I work with kids today who weren’t alive to see Michael Jordan play basketball, but who are very familiar with Lebron James.  It shouldn’t come as a shock that many kids today know the name Michael Jordan (in part because of his still-popular shoes), but don’t know what made him great as a basketball player.  For that reason I thought I would take some time to talk about some of the things that made Michael Jordan so great.

Physical Tools

Similar to Lebron James, Michael in his prime was considered the best athlete in the NBA.  He was a player who was extremely quick and extremely explosive.  His height and weight were similar to Kobe Bryant’s (6’6” and around 200 pounds), and it was reported that Michael had a 40+ vertical and ran a sub 4.4 40 yard dash time.  His basketball trainer, Tim Grover, helped him reach is potential physically.  Also notable were his large, strong hands.  Michael was able to palm and hold the ball while in motion, which aided him in finishing at the rim and making effective one-handed shot and pass fakes.

Basketball IQ

Michael Jordan credits Dean Smith as one of his biggest basketball influences.  Dean Smith was Michael’s legendary college coach at North Carolina, and it’s been said that he was the only man who could hold Michael Jordan under 20 points per game.  Whereas a lot of today’s stars enter the league with a year or less spent playing college basketball, Michael spent 3 years at North Carolina playing and learning the game under Dean Smith.  Although he was a 1^st Team All-American as a sophomore, Michael stayed another year in school, racking up the college player of the year award before entering the league ready to star.  Jordan averaged 28 points per game as a rookie in the NBA, something that has not been done since.  He had a solid foundation of basketball IQ that allowed him to be an NBA All Star all the way until he was 40 years old.

Complete Game Production over Flash

Michael was a very efficient offensive basketball player, and that was in large part because he was largely a no-nonsense offensive player in his prime.  The fancy ball handling moves that many guards today love to utilize were not in Michael’s arsenal.  He was a great north-south player that didn’t waste time playing with his defender.  When facing the basket from the wing he utilized a hesitation dribble or crossover to get to a pull-up jumpshot or athletic finish at the rim.  In the post, he utilized a fadeaway jumpshot to elevate over defenders or a pump fake to get defenders in the air or off balance.  By almost all accounts of players who played against him Michael had no “holes” in his game.  He could drive right as well as drive left.  He could shoot the pull-up jumper going either direction and could shoot the turnaround fadeaway in the post turning over either shoulder.  There was not any one thing he was uncomfortable doing on the offensive end, which made him a very dangerous offensive player.  The highlights you see of Michael Jordan finishing at the rim are entertaining and sometimes awe-inspiring, but Michael’s game was always built on sound offensive principles.

Competitive at Both Ends of the Floor

Michael is considered one of the best perimeter defenders in NBA history.  He was a feared defensive player along with being a feared scoring threat.  It is very uncommon for a player to be “elite” on both ends.  How good was Michael on the defensive end?  Well, Michael Jordan was the first player to ever record 100 blocks and 200 steals in a single season, and he did it twice.  Let’s put that in perspective.  The best perimeter defender in today’s game many say is Lebron James, and he has never recorded 200 steals OR 100 blocks in a single season, let alone doing them both together.  Michael recorded 200 steals in six seasons, leading the league in that category three times, and recorded 100 blocks twice.  In 1988, Michael Jordan became just one of 5 guards to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.  He also led the NBA in scoring (35.0 PPG) and steals (3.2 SPG) that season.  Talk about doing it at both ends.

Consistency

There have been many great players in NBA history, but only a handful operated at an All Star level from day one until they hung their shoes up.  As mentioned previously, Michael Jordan was named an All Star as a 21 year old rookie.  That was in 1985.  Michael retired for good in 2003 at the age of 40, and was also an All Star in his final season.  He was chosen as an All Star every year of his career he was eligible.  Michael led the league in scoring a record 10 times, and is only one of two players (along with Wilt Chamberlain) to lead the league in scoring 7 consecutive seasons.  There was never a season where he averaged less than 20 points per game.  On the other end, Michael shares the record with four other players for most selections to the All Defensive First Team with nine.  He was consistently active and effective on both ends of the floor throughout his career.  Some players operate at an elite level for 5 years, or maybe 10, but Michael Jordan was an All Star level player in three different decades.  That’s pretty special.

There is more to the greatness of Michael Jordan… like his finishing ability, his late game heroics, and his legendary trash-talking, but I won’t bore you with more words.  When you get a chance pull up some old Chicago Bulls games and see for yourself.  Mr. Jordan might inspire you to chase greatness like he did a generation of young players before you.

Watch Playoff Games Like A Basketball Trainer

Spring time always brings us great basketball.  Between February and June, basketball fans are treated to the high school basketball playoffs, the NCAA Tournament, and the NBA Playoffs.  The NBA features the highest level of basketball play, and the playoffs are where elite teams and players bring elite intensity and focus.  As a basketball fan, it is usually fun to watch all of the games and players, but youth basketball players can learn a few things about the game by intently watching certain players.  Imagine if you watched games like a basketball trainer does.  Here’s a quick list of some players to watch this postseason.

Player: JJ Redick

Position: Shooting Guard

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

What to Watch: Off-Ball Movement

JJ Redick is one of the best shooters in the NBA, and he has mastered the art of moving without the ball.  JJ is better at catching and shooting than creating his own shot off the dribble, so it is important for him get open and be ready to shoot on the catch.  When you watch JJ on offense, watch for two things.  One is how he uses off-ball screens.  JJ is really good at setting his defender up for the screen and watching how they play him to determine what cut he makes off that screen.  Depending on how he’s being defended, JJ will either curl or fade, making sure to cut explosively either way.  Once he gets himself open, watch how JJ catches the ball.  He is almost always ready to shoot as soon as the ball hits is fingers.  He utilizes a jump-stop catch on fade cuts and a 1-2 catch on curl cuts.  If he doesn’t catch the ball with enough space to shoot, he has also mastered the skill of taking one dribble and going right into a pull-up jumpshot.  What he does sounds easier than it really is, so you shooters out there make sure you watch him carefully to pick up the nuances of getting open without the ball.

Player: Tony Parker

Position: Point Guard

Team: San Antonio Spurs

What to Watch: Pick and Roll

Tony Parker is clearly one of the best point guards in the NBA, and he is also one the most efficient ones.  He consistently shoots right at around 50% on field goal attempts, which is an amazing number for a point guard.  He achieves this efficiency in part by being excellent off the pick and roll.  Because he can use it well, he doesn’t have to work as hard as some other guards in order to get a decent shot off.  Tony is quick, but he is not as explosively athletic as some others.  He is effective in the pick and roll because of how he sets defenders up.  The thing to watch with Mr. Parker is that he generally makes no secret that he is about to get into the pick and roll.  He uses his screening teammate as someone his defender has to also worry about.  Whereas a lot of guards see the screen and immediately attack it, Tony reads how his defender is going to respond to the impending screen.  He is equally as effective rolling tight off his screening teammate’s shoulder or turning down the screen and exploding in the opposite direction.  When he comes off the shoulder using the screen, he is great at knocking down the pull-up jumper if the roller isn’t open.  When turning the screen down he is still explosive and still cognizant of his screening teammate, who he is able to hit many times with an overhead pass for an open jumper.  A lot of times this is Tim Duncan knocking the jumper down.  Definitely watch Tony Parker this offseason if you want to learn better how to use the pick and roll.

Player: Zach Randolph

Position: Power Forward

Team: Memphis Grizzlies

What to Watch: Offensive Post Game

NBA veteran Zach Randolph has one of the best post games in the league.  While he has never been considered one of the best athletes at his position (he rarely dunks), he has been able to average over 17 points per game in his career.  When you watch Zach, also affectionately known as Z-Bo, watch for two things.  When he receives the ball with his back to the basket, he is generally able to make quick decisions.  Watch how often he goes to score using two dribbles or less, and when he does go to shoot, watch how quickly he gets off the floor.  Although Zach could be considered relatively undersized and not a “great” athlete, he is able to be very effective in the post because of quick decisions, using his body to protect the ball and being explosive off the ground.  When Zach receives the ball and faces up, watch how he utilizes the face-up jump shot to open up his game.  Since defenders know Zach is willing to take (and capable of making) that jumpshot, he’s able to use a pump fake to get defenders in the air and then drive to the basket.  You young big men can learn a lot from watching Zach Randolph this postseason.

While you’re enjoying the NBA playoffs, take the time to mix a little business with pleasure.  Try to pick up on one or two things from these players that you can use to enhance your game, whether it is moving without the ball, using the pick and roll or scoring in the post.  Enjoy the playoffs and remember to never stop learning as you take in all of this great basketball.  Why not take your wish list of skill development to your basketball trainer and ask for his / her help.

Why Basketball Trainers Love NBA All-Star Lamarcus Aldridge

After a long night of basketball training, three basketball trainers got together for a discussion of NBA playoffs.  One player rose to the top of the discussion.  University of Texas alumnus Lamarcus Aldridge is one of the premier power forwards in the NBA today.  He is the best player on a playoff team in the tough Western Conference, and he is living up to his potential as the Number 2 pick of the 2006 NBA draft.  Lamarcus is a player who was recognized for his ability as a high school All American, but didn’t come into the NBA with as much fanfare as some of the other current stars in the league.  Over time, Lamarcus has developed and refined his game to become exactly the type of player that basketball trainers and coaches love.  Here is why we love Lamarcus Aldridge.

Basketball Trainers Love Consistency

Basketball trainers love Lamarcus’ consistency.  In the 2013-2014 NBA season, Lamarcus averaged 23.2 points and 11.1 rebounds.  He had the celebrated “20-10” season (points and rebounds).  20-10 is a benchmark for elite big men.  It means that they are handling their business in both the scoring and rebounding departments on a consistent basis.  As a former power forward, I can tell you that it takes great effort to consistently score and rebound as those elite levels.  Do you know how many players averaged 20-10 during the 2013-2014 NBA season?  Only 4.  The other players were Kevin Love, Demarcus Cousins and Al Jefferson.  That’s pretty good company.  Lamarcus’ teammates could count on his production every night, as he only scored in single digits once during the season, and that was in a blowout win for his team.  Lamarcus shows great leadership by producing at high levels for his team night in and night out.

Basketball Trainers Love Guys Who Take Their Skills To Work

Basketball trainers love that Lamarcus goes to work.  If you’ve played basketball in various leagues and gyms around your city, you’ve undoubtedly heard the expression “go to work” when a certain player gets the ball.  The phrase “go to work” refers to asserting yourself to score!  Your teammate tells you to go to work when he knows you have the talent to score and he wants you to go do it.  Believe it or not, a lot of good players don’t possess the ability to score 1-on-1 when the defense KNOWS they are trying to score.  Some players pick their spots and shoot when they’re open and some players require on-ball or off-ball screens to get them in a position to score.  It’s a great luxury for a team to have a guy who can consistently get his own shot when his team needs a bucket.  Lamarcus didn’t always show this ability.  He used to be a player that seemed not to want the responsibility to score on-call.  But now, as a more mature player, Lamarcus can score when needed.  It takes a lot of skill, mental toughness and leadership to consistently be the guy your team looks for to score, and to deliver.  We appreciate players who are confident and skilled enough to go to work on a consistent basis.

Versatility In Skill Development

We love the fact that Lamarcus Aldridge is versatile and mature.  Versatility means the ability to do multiple things.  As it relates to basketball, we are usually talking about offensive skills.  Maturity refers to making smart decisions.  We also are normally talking about offense but in this case it applies to defense as well.  Lamarcus is a player who can score in the post, who can score on jump shots, and can even shoot the 3 point shot.  When he came into the league, however, he was known more as a jump shooter.  Some considered him a little soft, but none could deny his skills.  Versatile forwards like Kevin Garnett, who Lamarcus admired growing up, influenced up-and-coming big men to do more than just use their size in the post.  Today, you see some big players who take this too far, and do everything EXCEPT for post-up.  As Lamarcus has matured, he has learned to harness his versatile skillset and now he truly does take what the defense gives him. When he has shorter or weaker opponents, he takes them into the post, using his strong frame to get high percentage looks at the basket.  When he has slower or larger opponents, he still utilizes his deft jumpshot.  On defense, Lamarcus has learned to use his physicality and length to bother opponents, and he will even take charges from time to time.  When you watch Lamarcus Aldridge, you are watching a player who is getting the most out of his all-around talent on both ends of the floor.

Individual Skills With Team Mindset

One of the biggest reasons trainers love Lamarcus Aldridge is because he’s a star who is also a team player.  You know as well as I do it is not a given that a star will be a team player.  A lot of times stars can believe in themselves so much or believe in their teammates so little that they are always demanding the ball and belittling teammates for making mistakes.  You see none of that with Lamarcus.  Lamarcus is a willing screen-setter for his talented wing teammates, and he keeps an even-keel attitude on the basketball court whether he or his teammates aren’t playing well.  By all accounts he seems like a guy players love to play with.  Lamarcus plays with All Star point guard Damian Lillard, who is a 21 point per game scorer himself, and the two have good on-court chemistry.  There is no Shaq and Kobe feud in the Blazers lock room.  Lamarcus has done a good job of balancing high individual production with a team-first attitude and a positive relationship with teammates.  You gotta love it, and we do.

Lamarcus Aldridge is a player that trainers and coaches love because of how he plays the game from night to night, and because of how he interacts with his teammates.  He is a player young stars can learn a lot from, in both his tangible skills and his intangible attitude towards the game and teammates.  We salute Lamarcus Aldridge and will be cheering him on the rest of his All Star career.  Go Big L!