Dribbling : The basketball lexicon

In basketball, different types of dribbles allow you to get rid of your opponent. The more you know how to do them, the more you improve your ball handling, and the easier the sport becomes. Pretty cool, right? Just kidding. Even if you know how to dribble and are comfortable with the ball in your hands, if you can’t shoot and score, it’s useless, except to impress everyone. Nevertheless, knowing how to execute them can still give you an advantage over your match-up. So here are the five types of dribbles most commonly seen in basketball.

1. The crossover

Right, let’s start with the easiest one. The crossover is the art of quickly changing hands to get past your opponent. If the move is executed perfectly, your opponent will be easily left in the dust and you’ll have plenty of time to finish near the basket, attempt a mid-range shot, a 3-pointer, or pass to a teammate in a better position. It’s also an opportunity to humiliate your opponent. When you perform a crossover at high speed, you can go so fast that your opponent trips over their own feet trying to follow you and falls to the ground. Let’s be honest, this is one of the most humiliating things that can happen to a basketball player. In any case, we encourage you to practise this move in the hope that you too can experience this joy. On the other hand, be careful if you find yourself on your backside after a crossover, because you’re likely to be teased for a very long time.

The king of the crossover in the NBA👑 : James Harden

Several players have made their mark on the NBA thanks to their ability to crossover every player imaginable. But even though Allen Iverson and Kyrie Irving are the kings of ball handling (check out our article on them), it is James Harden who is most closely associated with the technical term ‘cross’. Knocking his opponents to the ground or making them slide across the court was his speciality, and good old Wesley Johnson would be the first to agree.

The king of the crossover at Paris Basketball👑: T.J Shorts II

At Paris Basketball, we have our own phenomenon. Also American, T.J Shorts has made the crossover his favourite move. Not a single game goes by without one of his opponents ending up on their backside. We’ll leave you to imagine the mental stress his opponents feel when they find themselves one-on-one with T.J. Not cool at all. In fact, we may have just witnessed one of the best crossovers of the season. T.J… It’s a shame to put Tornike Shengelia through that.

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2. The behind-the-back dribble

This is one of the three ‘essential’ dribbles that players learn when they start moving up through the youth ranks. Although rarely used in official matches, the behind-the-back dribble is a lethal weapon for getting rid of an opponent who is trying to intercept the ball. A quick change of hands behind your back will take your opponent by surprise and allow you to create a gap in the defence or get out of a tough press. And if you do this move as quickly as possible, we can assure you that your defender could well get tangled up and end up in the stands after a long slide. However, this is rare. You can also combine this dribble with a crossover to be even more unpredictable to opposing defences, sowing doubt about which direction you will take to try to score a basket.

The king of the behind-the-back dribble in the NBA 👑 : Stephen Curry

As explained above, the behind-the-back dribble is not a move that is often used, even though it can be devastating. However, when used wisely, it wreaks havoc, and Mr Stephen Curry would be the first to agree. Known for using it to break free from his individual marker and follow up with a three-point shot in rhythm, Steph Curry has left his mark on the league with this technical move, notably pulling off one of the most iconic plays in modern NBA history against a certain Chris Paul when he was still playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.

The king of behind-the-back dribbling at Paris Basketball👑: T.J Shorts II

On the Paris Basketball side, it is T.J Shorts, once again, who is no stranger to this move in the capital. Many centres have fallen victim to his devastating behind-the-back dribble, sending them dancing the samba alone.

3. The between-the-legs dribble

The between-the-legs dribble is the third essential basketball move, but it remains by far one of the most important to master in order to become a better player. The very definition of skill, mastering this dribble opens the door to multiple solutions. Starting with a quick dribble, crossover, instant shot, feints, the between-the-legs dribble allows you to be as unpredictable as possible and disrupt a strong defence. The proof is that, with speed, your defender cannot anticipate your action. Which hand will the ball be in? When will he move? Where will he go? Should I anticipate or stay on my feet? So many questions run through the minds of defenders, making the ball carrier, at that moment, the number one enemy to take down.

The king of the between-the-legs dribble in the NBA 👑 : Kyrie Irving

In the NBA, there are many players who have mastered the between-the-legs dribble. Considered the basis of ‘handle’, Allen Iverson was the master of this move in the late 1990s. But that was before the king of dribbling joined the big league in the early 2010s… Kyrie Irving. A hugely talented point guard, Kyrie has traumatised every NBA defence with his almost innate ability to dribble so quickly and pull off moves, each more unusual than the last, in every game, almost always including a between-the-legs dribble to slip through the micro-spaces left by opposing defences (insert video vs Bucks).

The king of between-the-legs dribbling at Paris Basketball 👑 : Nadir Hifi

At Paris Basketball, Nadir Hifif is the standard-bearer. The Frenchman constantly uses this move to get rid of his opponent and create space before following up with a three-point shot or a quick drive to the basket, which is successful 90% of the time.

4. The ‘Hesi’

The ‘Hesi’, short for ‘hesitation’, is a move that has become commonplace in basketball. However, it is still rarely used in official matches. The principle is simple: create a feint with your upper body to pretend to go one way or change hands, which will surprise your direct opponent. With a bit of luck, the unpredictability of this move will completely confuse your defender, leaving them standing still. And if, unfortunately, your opponent tries to anticipate the move, they will literally be signing the end of their career. This move can lead to a lot of humiliation. It’s difficult to break a few ankles, but if done quickly, your defender’s legs will be petrified, leaving them to admire your basket. Unfortunately, if your opponent remains firmly planted on the ground and doesn’t anticipate, this move won’t be of much use. The luck factor on which it relies does not guarantee 100% success.

The king of the ‘Hesi’ in the NBA 👑 : Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

In the NBA, no other player than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – OKC point guard – should come to mind when talking about the ‘Hesi’. The Canadian has made it one of his main weapons for breaking down opposing defences and drawing smart fouls. His quickness, combined with his league-leading ball-handling skills, ranks him among the world’s greatest dribblers. And usually, when he makes this move, defenders check to see if the floor is still in place with their teeth.

The king of the ‘hesi’ at Paris Basketball 👑 : T.J Shorts II

In the capital, it is obviously T.J Shorts who stands out for his ability to master most dribbles imaginable. The American-Macedonian has used this move a few times to confuse his opponents and slip into the small spaces created by micro-seconds of inattention from the opposing defence.

5. The In & Out

Let’s be honest, of the five major dribbles, this is probably the one we see the least on the court. The In & Out – no, we’re not talking about the famous American fast food chain, which is excellent by the way – is a dribble that consists of performing a crossover, but with only one hand. The ‘In’ represents the first part of the move. The aim is to place your hand on the side of the ball and dribble with a bounce to bring it inwards. The ‘Out’ represents the second part of the move. Once the ball has been brought inwards, you have to quickly push it outwards, as with the crossover, but moving your hand to the other side of the ball (yes, it’s a bit vague, I admit). Performed quickly, this dribble gives you ‘easier’ access to the basket, especially during a counter-attack, and takes your opponents by surprise. It’s a lethal move.

The king of the In & Out in the NBA 👑 : Kobe Bryant

In the big league, many have tried to make the In & Out their major asset to make the difference against their opponents. However, only a few have managed to master it to perfection, and that is the case with Kobe Bryant. During his heyday, the former Lakers player used this move to shake off his marker and pick up speed before unleashing a mid-range shot, driving into the paint to finish the play near the hoop, or passing to one of his teammates positioned on the outside. This move has greatly inspired the new generation, with Ja Morant seemingly taking up the In&Out torch for years to come.

The king of In & Out at Paris Basketball 👑 : Maodo Lô

At Paris Basketball, although T.J. has mastered all of these technical moves, it is Maodo Lô who uses the In&Out most regularly. And generally, opposing defences remember this… because Maodo scores 9 times out of 10. But why not 10 times out of 10? Because nobody is perfect, but mainly because there are fouls on many of his drives to the basket.