Unlike most other sports, basketball is an easy one to practice by yourself. Needing only a basket and a ball, you can practice alone in your driveway, at the gym, or wherever you can find a hoop. Doing shooting drills by yourself is an excellent way to improve your game.
Mikan Drill
The Mikan Drill, named after NBA Hall of Famer George Mikan, is a layup drill designed to improve your skills close to the basket. Starting on one side of the basket, shoot a layup. Catch your own rebound, hopefully as it falls through the hoop, alternate hands and shoot from the other side of the hoop.
The drill is typically timed for 30 seconds in order to keep track of how many you've made and to gauge your improvement. Keep the ball as high as you can to get off a quick shot. Maintain a rhythm during the drill to be as efficient as possible.
X-Out Drill
The X-Out Drill is a variation of the Mikan Drill. Starting from the right elbow, drive quickly to the basket for a right-handed layup. Catch the rebound, dribble out to the opposite elbow. When you reach the free-throw line, pivot and drive quickly to the basket for a left-handed layup. Dribble back to the original side and return for a right-handed layup. Continue alternating for 30 seconds, keeping track of how many you can make.
Around The World
Select several spots around the court. Take a shot from the first spot. Make it, and you can move on to the second. Miss it and you try again from the first spot. When playing by yourself, the goal is to keep progressing through the spots until you make all of the spots in a row. Place the spots in areas from which you have trouble shooting the ball to improve your skills.
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