No one is born to be a star player. You will become better when you do the research. Use these tips to improve you game to an expert level.

A lot of novice players mostly focus on their offensive skills, but developing good defensive skills will help you become a better player. Basketball games are won more often by defense than offense. Even though everyone loves to watch offense, defense is what wins you most games.

TIP! A lot of novice players mostly focus on their offensive skills, but developing good defensive skills will help you become a better player. You can win a game, thanks to good defense.

Dribble the ball the right way. Don’t use your palm, use your fingers. Using your fingers allows you to better control the basketball. Always dribble to your side, not your front. Instead of focusing on the ground, gaze upward.

If you hold the ball a lot, you have to learn crossovers. Moving the ball from hand to hand is a crossover. You must do it fast for best success. When done correctly, a good crossover dribble assists you in being efficient and helping you change direction when you need to.

If you’re on the offense, you footwork needs to be excellent to stay open for passes and shots. You need to have physical presence beneath the net, but you also have to choose the right spot to be in. Once you find a spot, you need to know how to defend it. Strong footwork skills help to build both types of skills.

TIP! If posting up is what you’re doing, you have to have good footwork to get open for a shot. Although physical presence under the basket is important, getting to a good spot before your opponent does is even more important.

Ask teammates what they admire about your playing skills? You may have a certain skill that you have perfected. You might be quick, or you might always be around to support them. Learn what other’s see as your natural skills and make sure to keep and develop those skills more fully.

When you learn how to fix your car yourself, you will have a sense of pride unrivaled by any other. That is, unrivaled by any other except for reading all you can and learning how to better your basketball game. This can help you and your team score more.