Two years ago, I coached a player who was both talented and flawed. He had the ability to get to the basket, especially driving right.

He was physical at the rim and could create space. He was our second leading scorer.

But he also had major flaws in his game. He really struggled handling the ball against pressure.

He was below average driving left. He shot 26% on 3's.

When the season ended, we created a plan for him to improve. As part of the plan, we would check in regularly to see how it was going.

The plan was tailored to build on his strengths and address his weaknesses. It involved a mix of skill development and playing.

As we got further into the offseason, I began to suspect he was not following the plan. Don't get me wrong - this player loved basketball. He spent a lot of time playing.

However, he stopped doing the skill development portion of the plan.

When we talked, he assured me he was working on his deficiencies in his games. I expressed my concerns with that approach. Unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears.

When this player returned the next year, he was an incrementally better version of the player he was the year before.

His decision making had improved a little bit. His team defense was better.

However, his weak hand and ball handling were still issues. He was still a below average 3 point shooter.

He was frustrated and surprised by this. I was frustrated and not surprised!

The Two Views Of Player Development

It seems there is a dichotomy in how people view basketball. There are those who think development is best done through drills. This group tends to think that isolating skills is the best way to improve.

Then, there are those who believe development is best done through playing. This group tends to think that the best way to improve at playing basketball is to play basketball.

Both groups are right. Both groups are wrong. As with most things, it's not a black or white issue. There are shades of gray.

But one thing is for sure: If you only seek to develop through playing 5v5, you will not reach your potential as a player.

Let me explain why.

Why Players And Coaches Like 5v5

There are a number of reasons why players and coaches like developing through 5v5.

First, it's fun. This should not be dismissed. Players will continue to work if they enjoy themselves. 5v5 is fun and competitive. Most players would rather play than do drills.

Second, it is the best way to mimic the game because it is the game. How do you get better at guitar? By playing the guitar. Likewise, the thought is that you get better at basketball by playing basketball.

Third, it's easier. It's not easy to play 5v5 well. But it's easier than the discipline of getting in the gym by yourself or with 1-2 other players and really focusing on your weaknesses. Addressing weaknesses is not that much fun. Consequently, most players don't want to do it.

The Issues With 5v5 Exclusive Player Development

First, let's clarify. Players should play 5v5. It is an important part of their growth. However, if that is the primary or only method of development, they will not maximize their potential.

Here are 5 issues with playing too many 5v5 games:

• You don't isolate needed skills - you should know what you need to work on to improve as a player. If you don't, that's an issue. Talk to your coach. Come up with a plan.

When you only play 5v5, you are unable to isolate the skills you need to improve. For example, let's say you struggle with weak hand finishing. That is going to be hard to address if you are only playing 5v5.

Yes, you can try to use your weak hand more in games. But if you're trying to win, you'll likely do what you're best at - use your dominant hand. If that's what you do, how will you develop your weak hand?

To improve at a skill, you need to isolate it and rep it. Earlier we mentioned guitar players. Yes, they get better by playing. But they also practice their scales and chords.

What are the scales and chords you need to work on before you start playing songs? If your weak hand needs work, you must drill your weak hand. You could get a couple hundred reps of weak hand finishing during a 30 minute skill session. That will help you build the confidence to use your weak hand in games.

• You reinforce bad habits - this is a common issue with shooting. Many players need to fix technique flaws in their shot. The offseason is a great time to make the needed changes. You have the time to do so without the pressure of games.

Unfortunately, many players can't stay away from games. This undermines their ability to improve their form.

Think about it - you've probably shot tens of thousands of shots in your life with your current form. If that's flawed, how many reps will it take to change it? Probably tens of thousands.

While that can seem daunting, don't let it discourage you. Steph Curry, who most consider the best shooter ever, did exactly that during his sophomore year of high school.

If you put in the work, the results will follow.

To make those changes takes intense focus. You have to lock in on the new form.

You won't be able to do that when playing 5v5. Instead, you'll revert to your old form. This sends a mixed message to your brain and counteracts the progress you are trying to make.

To change your habits, you need to isolate them first. Once you've put in the reps to make the new habit second nature, then you can go back to playing. But if you try to change habits through playing 5v5, you are setting yourself up for failure.

• Lack of touches - I read an article that said the average player has the ball in their hands for under 2 minutes in a full length game. Think about that - 2 minutes!

For most players, their development plan will focus on skills that require the ball - dribbling, finishing, shooting, and 1v1 moves.

How will you accomplish that if you have the ball for less than 120 seconds? Hard to do.

Yes, the games are important because they allow you to apply what you've been working on. But they are only important because you've been working on those skills in a drill setting.

You might play a whole game and never make a 1v1 move. If that's the case, how will you improve as a 1v1 player?

In a skill session, you could get a hundred reps of 1v1 moves and then play 1v1 against a teammate. How much more valuable would that be if your goal is to improve as a 1v1 player?

You can get more touches doing a 10 minute ball handling workout than you'll get in an hour of 5v5.

There are skills that don't involve the ball that improve through 5v5. Things like defense, rebounding, and understanding spacing. These should not be overlooked.

But if you want to get better with the ball, you need to have the ball in your hands. For most players, 5v5 does not provide enough opportunities.

• Lack of shots - this is a similar but distinct issue. Shooting is a must for every player!

Shooting is the most important skill and the quickest way to get on the court.

As a Cavs fan, I've enjoyed seeing the development of Sam Merrill. For those unfamiliar, Merrill has bounced between the G League and the NBA for a few years.

When in the NBA, he's been at the end of the bench. This year, he's earned a role with the Cavs. Why? Because he's one of the best shooters in the world.

The point is, shooting is the quickest way to get you on the floor. And to become a great shooter, you must shoot.

In a two hour open gym, you might shoot 20 shots. How will you become a better shooter shooting that few shots?

Shooting workouts must be part of your player development. Here are some excellent ones - Shooting Workouts.

You should be shooting hundreds of shots a week (probably even into the thousands). Your shooting workouts should involve a mix of form shooting, volume shooting and game shots. That mix allows you to improve most quickly.

If you neglect shooting, you are doing a huge disservice to yourself. Don't make this mistake by only playing 5v5.

• You become less competitive - this might surprise you. Let's explain. Being competitive is a skill. There are certain players you see who just have that dog in them. You want to be one of these players.

Coaches love these players. They often play more than more skilled players because they help their team win in intangible ways.

You want to be the best of both worlds - really skilled and really competitive.

Playing too much 5v5 can work against that. Here's why. Let's take the average AAU tournament. Your team might play 5-6 games. Whether you win or lose at noon, you play at 2. Whether you win or lose at 2, you play at 5.

Over time, the games begin to mean less. There's always another game. When you play 6 games in 2 days, it's human nature to feel that each game is less significant.

AAU is also designed with less emphasis on winning. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially at the younger levels. Development is crucial. However, it can go too far. When winning is completely de-emphasized, your competitive instincts wither.

This is a huge problem. Too many players have lost that competitive edge after playing countless games. They then carry that over to their school seasons where every game really does matter.

You don't want that to happen to you. Don't play so much that winning and losing become irrelevant. Every game has to matter.

You Should Be Playing!

This is not to say that playing 5v5 is bad. It's not. In fact, it should be part of your development plan. The key word being "part."

Playing 5v5 allows you to apply the skills you've been working on. However, if you don't make time to work on those skills, you'll just do what you've always done.

One great way to do that is by attending a quality camp. Camps allow you to intensively work on your skills. They provide the benefit of feedback. They teach you new things in a new environment. All of that is positive.

After attending a camp, you then have the chance to see if you can translate what you've learned to games. If so, great - you're becoming a better player. If not, that's okay. It's a signal you need to continue to train the skill.

Breakthrough Basketball offers some of the best camps around. You can view the camp schedule here.

As Albert Einstein said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting a different result."

You want to be crazy good, not just plain crazy! To do so, make a well-rounded player development plan. By balancing skill work and playing, you'll come back a better player. Get to work!

What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...

Comments Most Likes First   Oldest First   Newest First N says: 4/13/2024 at 10:11:06 AM Great article! I agree with everything stated in it! Add some 3v3 to the improvement plan talked about above and you will see results even faster! Like     login   register

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