How To Be A Key Basketball Player

Basketball players, coaches and fans may disagree on what makes an athlete a key player on his team -- whether by scoring a game-winning basket, setting up an offensive play for the team's top shooter or defending an opponent's top scorer. Yet whether your specialty is knocking down shots on the offensive end or locking down opponents on the defensive end, you must be able to make those plays at the game's most crucial moments if you want to become one of your teams most dependable, indispensable players.

Step 1

Commit to shutting down the opponent you are assigned to guard on the defensive end of the court to make yourself a key part of your team every game. Every basketball player experiences offensive slumps and high-scoring streaks, but by consistently preventing your opponent from scoring -- particularly an opponent's top scorer -- you can always earn playing time. Stay low in your defensive stance and take short, strong strides to react quickly to an opponent's moves. Close off your opponent's passing lanes when another player has possession of the ball, then take away her space to shoot or dribble when she does have the ball in her hands.

Step 2

Learn the spots on the court from which your teammates are most comfortable shooting and most likely to score and set them up for open shots in those positions. Use your dribble to penetrate into the lane, where defenses will be forced to stop your drive to the basket and leave players open on the perimeter. When the defense adjusts, find an open teammate and deliver an accurate pass in an area where the defense cannot deflect or intercept the pass -- whether by throwing a chest or overhead pass in the air, or a bounce pass under or around a defender. Deliver an accurate pass to your teammate, using the numbers on his uniform as a target, so he can shoot quickly.

Step 3

Prepare to make shots during your team's most important possessions by executing fundamental tasks with unwavering confidence. By aligning your feet, hips and shoulders to the basket and bending your knees into a shooting stance before you even receive a pass, you can quickly shoot a consistent shot even when fatigue strikes or a defender puts her hand in your face. However, this steely confidence must first be developed by perfecting your shooting form and repeating your shot over and over in practices and when shooting hoops on your own. As you develop a successful shot, repeat your shooting motion in games and do not deviate from it.

Step 4

Make free throws late in games to preserve leads for your team and put games out of an opponent's reach. When your team holds a lead late in a game, an opposing team will often resort to fouling you or your teammates, forcing you to shoot free throws and give your opponent the ball back. If you cannot consistently make an average percentage of your free-throw attempts -- average teams typically make around 65 to 70 percent -- or better, your coach may be forced to substitute a better shooter into the game in your place. However, converting a high percentage of free throws can do more than just boost your scoring average; it can help your team win more games.

Tips and Warnings

Practice visualization techniques to improve your shooting form. Imagine the arc you want the ball to travel en route to the basket, then guide the ball along that path by squaring your body to the basket, jumping high in the air on a jump shot to create arc and following through on your shooting motion all the way to the basket.
Do not foul an opponent and send her to the free-throw line when playing aggressive defense. Move your feet quickly from a low defensive stance and remain between her and the basket at all times, without slapping at the ball or funneling the offensive player to another defender. Resorting to either of those defensive strategies could result in you or another defender drawing a foul, giving an opponent an easy scoring opportunity.