The two-hand overhead pass is a basketball move designed to start an offensive possession and trigger a fast offensive attack. A defensive player gets the rebound, moves the ball to an overhead position and then fires a two-handed pass to a teammate. This gives a team a good chance to score easy baskets off the fast break.
Outlet Pass
The term "outlet pass" is frequently used in basketball to describe the two-hand overhead pass. The defensive players grabs a rebound, pivots away from the backboard and fires a fast pass to a teammate who is in position to start his team's offensive attack. The hardest and most effective outlet passes are thrown with two hands from the overhead position because they are the most difficult for the opponent to stop.
Technique
Throw the ball quickly after securing the rebound when throwing a two-hand overhead pass. Grab the rebound and look for a teammate who is approaching half-court. Throw the ball so that it hits your teammate in stride and leads to a scoring opportunity. Your thumbs should be pointing directly at the target once the ball has left your hands.
Ideal Scenario
The two-hand overhead pass most often thrown by a power forward or center who goes to the backboard hard. That player throws the ball to a teammate who is moving toward the offensive basket. The receiver must drive toward the basket and take the ball to the hoop if he is out in front of the defense. If the defense reacts quickly, he takes the ball in as far as he can before passing the ball out to a teammate for an open shot.
Top Outlet Passers
Hall of Famer Wes Unseld is recognized as one of the best two-hand overhead passers in NBA history. Unseld, a Hall of Famer who played with the Baltimore Bullets and Washington Bullets from 1969 through 1981, triggered his team's fast break with a powerful two-hand overhand pass by getting the ball to quick point guard Earl Monroe. Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Bill Walton, Patrick Ewing and Dave Cowens also excelled at this skill.
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