The 2018-19 NBA season tips off tonight

After a long summer of draft hype, free agency, Summer League action, and trade drama, NBA games are finally back.

This summer, the NBA felt more like a drama than a thriller. Between the Kawhi Leonard trade, LeBron James signing, and now Jimmy Butler debacle, there has been plenty of entertainment. As interesting as all of that has been, it is refreshing that we are finally getting back to basketball.

Hoops at the highest level returns tonight with a double-header on TNT. Things kick off with two Eastern Conference powerhouses at 7:00PM (CST). The young, talented Philadelphia 76ers are headed to Boston to take on the Celtics. The C’s are largely considered to be the team to beat out east. Thoughts can’t help but turn to opening night last season, which also featured the Celtics. The newly acquired Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome leg injury in that one, but he is set to finally break onto the scene with Kyrie Irving and company.

Following that game is a big Western Conference clash, featuring the defending champion Golden State Warriors and OKC Thunder at 9:30PM (CST). This has been a classic matchup ever since Kevin Durant fled to Golden State to easily win championships in an attempt to pad his “legacy” (sorry… I’m a Thunder fan).

Following the departure of Carmelo Anthony, OKC is hoping to have better offensive and defensive flow. Unfortunately, they will be without defensive stopper, Andre Roberson for a couple months and they may be missing Russell Westbrook for a few games as well following a minor offseason surgery.

The majority of the league will start their seasons up tomorrow evening. LeBron’s Lakers debut will come Thursday night against the Portland Trailblazers on the backside of another TNT double-header.

Get your fantasy lineups set, popcorn ready to pop, and favorite jersey on. The NBA is back, baby.

There is a lot to look forward to this upcoming season. The Basketball Movement will be tracking NBA action as well as NCAA on down to prep hoops. Keep checking back, because there is always movement in the world of basketball!

Altercations on the court

In a competitive environment, altercations are going to occur. Learn how to deal with them with TBM.

Thanks to our friend, the internet, we are constantly seeing fights at all levels of the game of basketball. Much of them involve trash talking gone wrong, embarrassed players acting out, or players determined to show others up or act tough. Even at the highest level - the NBA has already had some on-court altercations between players despite only being in the preseason.

Basketball is a game, and therefore built around competition. Two teams try their best to outplay each other, so naturally emotion and competitive nature sometimes overflow.

Of course, our best advice is to avoid confrontation completely. If you or your team are rolling, get pumped up and let your swagger infect your squad. However, remember to not taunt opposing players. Also be gracious in defeat, and take out your frustrations by playing hard, not dishing out verbal jabs or frustration fouls.

Basketball is a team sport, so acting out on the court is when something gets under your skin is a selfish action. Even if you keep yourself in check, your teammates or opponents may not be so even-keeled at all times. Know what to do if an altercation boils over on the floor.

When things have gone too far

At all levels of the game (perhaps even more so in the pros), we see players getting in each other’s faces. Shouting matches accomplish nothing positive for your squad. If you see players starting into each other, place yourself between your teammate and the opponent. Do your best to talk them down by reminding him or her that the team needs them to remain cool. A technical free throw can decide a close game and an ejected player can really hurt your team.

If talking your teammate down is not accomplishing anything, attempt to act as a wall and keep your teammate from getting involved with the opposing player physically. Gradually do what you can to get the players moving apart from each other. Once your teammate’s attention gets diverted, the coach can step in and remind them where their priorities lie.

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.”
— Michael Jordan

In the event that things do turn physical, keeping the players apart becomes even more important. You can take a bit of a more “hands-on” approach to holding your teammate back, just make sure to not be too aggressive in any of your actions, or they may be misinterpreted.

Wrestling around acting tough is one thing, but if someone starts throwing punches, you have a problem. Not only can players get hurt, even those not involved, but ejections also may turn into lengthy suspensions. Letting your emotions get the best of you in situations like these is one of the most selfish things you can do as a player.

Remember, these things do not apply to bench players. If you are on the bench while an altercation is taking place, stay on the bench. Stand and deliver advice to the players on the court if you must, but if you step onto the court, you are just going to hurt your team.

For more basketball tips, news, and info, keep checking back here at The Basketball Movement.

The Jimmy Butler saga

Jimmy Butler has made it clear that he wants a new team. That didn’t stop him from practicing - hard.

Minnesota Timberwolves swingman, Jimmy Butler has been looking for way out of Minny for much of the Summer. With the 2018-19 NBA season nearly upon us, he still has not been dealt. Coach and Basketball Operations President, Tom Thibodeau has been with Butler for a long time and originally was trying everything to keep him. Now that they are finally open to trading him, they are struggling to find a solid return.

The result is an unhappy Jimmy Butler still with the team. Debatably the top source for happenings in the National Basketball Association, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski or “Woj” is the man to listen for with any news on situations like these. Once Woj broke his Twitter silence to announce that Butler practiced for the first time with the team, we new things were going to get real.

Then the juicy stuff started coming in.

Butler’s return to the team was going to have an unavoidable awkwardness no-matter what. Things apparently went beyond awkward though, with emotions spilling over and confrontations between teammates, coach, and general manager.

From ESPN’s numerous reports on the situation, it sounds like between Butler’s verbal jabs was some of the hardest played basketball a Timberwolves practice has seen since Kevin Garnett.

Butler reportedly played alongside the team’s third-string players and soundly beat the regular starters. He was guarding the much larger Karl-Anthony Towns in the paint and succeeding. He was shining light on KAT and Andrew Wiggins’ lack of killer instinct.

The below interview between Jimmy and ESPN’s Rachel Nichols confirms the reports concerning how things went down. Butler is clearly displeased, believing that he is underappreciated as the hardest working player on his team. He says that Towns has the most talent and Wiggins has the most “God-given” ability with his long arms, large hands, and bounce. He has also made it clear who has the most fire.

Even if Butler is right about his running-mate’s lack of drive or the organization’s lack of appreciation for him, his response was perhaps a bit bold. Outplaying everyone in the gym and challenging teammates is one thing, but some of his comments towards ownership need some censoring. Regardless, Jimmy is clearly playing at his old All-Star level and looking to take a team with him to the top - whichever team that may be.

Many players may have left inspired by Jimmy Butler’s tenacity. By the end of the day though, the wound between Butler and the organization has not been mended. You know what that means? Unless a trade happens instantly, he’ll be back practicing with the team again today.

Update: It has been reported that the Timberwolves are not practicing today (10/11). There will be no media access either.

For more NBA action and everything else basketball, follow The Basketball Movement on Twitter and keep checking back with us here.

NBA Preseason is in full swing

We are in the middle of the 2018 NBA Preseason, which runs from Friday, September 28 through Friday, October 12.

There is no denying it now; the 2018-19 NBA regular season is close. So close that there is already plenty of action! The stars may be limited in the preseason, but there are many reasons to tune in as many of the best basketball players in the world collide.

New faces in new places, breakout candidates, and up-and-coming full-time NBA hopefuls abound this NBA preseason.

As for new faces in new places, it would be tough to argue that anyone stands out more than LeBron James in his Lakers gold and purple. At 33 years old, James has played a surprising amount this preseason. It was exciting to catch a glimpse of him already as he begins to gel with his new, young Lakers teammates. Despite his comparatively advanced age and limited minutes, he still looks like the same ol’ LeBron James and had good chemistry with new teammate, Rajon Rondo.

We have talked plenty about the offseason’s blockbuster DeMar DeRozan / Kawhi Leonard trade. DeRozan looked fairly pedestrian in his first outing as a San Antonio Spur, albeit also in limited minutes. Leonard is the more interesting player to watch, as we have not seen him play in some time due largely to injury.

So far in limited minutes, he has not had much time to put up big numbers. However, he appears to be moving well and has had some flashy moments handling the ball in a halfcourt set for the Raptors. The addition of Leonard will instantly vault the Raptors into the conversations about top defensive teams in the NBA.

There are naturally more players in new places, but we will continue to cover them all as the season progresses.

On the rookie side of things, first overall pick, DeAndre Ayton has looked as good as advertised. Luka Doncic is also looking well-rounded. There are many promising young players joining the fray this year. The Cavaliers, Collin Sexton and New York Knicks, Kevin Knox have shown great promise. Trae Young is distributing nicely but has yet to get his shot going.

Other NBA news:

Jimmy Butler is still a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Coach Tom Thibodeau has essentially said that the team is still trying to move him.

After missing the majority of the 2017-18 season, Andre Roberson of the OKC Thunder has re-aggravated his injury. He will likely miss two additional months.

For more NBA, NCAA, prep, and local basketball goodness, keep coming back right here to The Basketball Movement.

The Basketball Movement Invitational recap

The Basketball Movement’s 2018 Boys Invitational Camp was a success for all involved.

The Movement wants to thank all of the players that came out, parents or guardians of those players, staff and volunteers, and sponsors for helping to make this another successful camp.

A camp like this one sets out with several clear goals: Improve players, showcase their talent, build relationships, and have fun playing the amazing game of basketball. We enjoyed meeting first-time participants and parents as well as reconnecting with those we already knew well. The Basketball Movement is thrilled to be able to provide a platform for these up-and-comers as they look to improve and gain recognition.

The camp is invitational because iron sharpens iron. Players were able to compete at a very high level that they may not always have the opportunity to do. Aside from playing 3v3, 4v4, and 5v5, players also got to focus on skill development while soaking up the wealth of knowledge Rob Yanders and his coaches provide. A focus on physical well-being, interactions/connections, and continuous development are always at the forefront at The Movement.

With interviews, professional photos, some Twitter shoutouts, and more, players got to experience a professional atmosphere that is rare at this level. Part of it builds confidence and promotes an elite-level experience, but also… it’s fun! Basketball is a game and The Movement always pulls out all the stops for players at all levels.

There was no shortage of highlights from the weekend. Let’s get into which players stood out from the pack!

All-NBA Division Second Team

The games were broken up into three tiers: NBA, G-League, and Division I. The games were played using corresponding rules from their league. Below are The Basketball Movement’s selections for the All-NBA Division Second Team.

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Evan Guillory

6’2” - Joplin class of 2020

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Donyae McCaskill

6’2” - Vashon class of 2019

Committed to University of Portland

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Isaac Haney

6’0” - Dora class of 2021

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Anton Brookshire

6’1” - Kickapoo class of 2021

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Quenton Shelton

6’2” - Lebanon class of 2020

Congratulations to The Basketball Movement’s All-NBA Division Second Team players!

All-NBA Division First Team

Now for the players that stood out all weekend long and earned top honors. Below are The Movement’s selections for All-NBA Division First Team.

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Malek Davis

5’10” - Cardinal Ritter Prep class of 2019

Committed to Drury

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Tre Edwards

6’7” - Link Year Prep class of 2019

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Chase Adams

5’8” - Link Year Prep class of 2019

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Tyem Freeman

6’6” - Parkview class of 2019

Committed to Missouri State

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Austin Johnson

6’9” Link Year Prep class of 2019

Congratulations to the above All-NBA Division First Team players from The Basketball Movement’s Boys Invitational Camp!

Of course we still have other divisions. Keep an eye on The Basketball Movement’s blog and follow us on Twitter @BBall_Movement to stay on top of this and all other things basketball. Thanks again to all involved with making this year’s tournament a success. Keep grinding!

Day two grinding - TBM Invitational Camp

Bigger day - bigger turnout as some holdouts from Friday night football are here to round out the rosters.

The Basketball Movement’s 2018 Boys Invitational Camp had a great turnout night one. Players were able to get their pro photos taken, some great workouts in, and even a few trims in the chop shop upstairs. Day two is gearing up to be even better with a full crop of young men and great action on deck.

Yesterday was filled with drills, half court work, and a get-to-know-you feel. Today the players will be going harder at their stations and get in some NBA style combine work. Everything will culminate tonight in games divided by the respective tiers.

The Division 1 game will be played first this evening, then G-League, finishing with the NBA division. As we had mentioned, the games will be played using the corresponding rules of the league. That means we will be firing up the shot clocks, running 12 minute quarters, upping foul counts, and everything in-between.

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A lot of the players are pumped for the combine drills, but of course the games are the highlight. Game-time situations are always a player’s favorite. It will give them the opportunity to show out and apply everything they have learned so far from Rob Yanders and The Basketball Movement.

The players are going through stretches now and Rob is - you guessed it - fired up. Like a kid in a candy store, Rob is jumping around like a ball of energy and encouragement. Coach Rob genuinely loves improving players as people and players. Each one of these athletes will have the opportunity to grow in the game of basketball here as well as soak up Rob’s positive influence.

The intensity is already palpable as the coaches are moving from stretching into conditioning. No one is going halfway today.

Side note: The shoe game today is on point with these players! Of course the TBM crew is looking fresh as well in head-to-toe Nike/Jordan gear.

On that note we want to give another shoutout to our tournament sponsors: Nike, Gatorade, Eastbay, Houlihan’s, Hilton Garden Inn, Guaranty Bank, Great Southern Bank, Old Missouri Bank, and TLC Properties

TBM's 2018 Boy's Invitational Camp is underway!

Coach Rob Yanders is firing up the troops as The Basketball Movement kicks off it’s annual invitational camp.

The Basketball Movement’s camp is different. Players from Springfield to Spain and everywhere in-between have gathered to learn under the tutelage of Coach Rob Yanders and his crew. Players started off by getting up some practice shots and coming over for professional photographs ahead of the real work.

There is a sense of excitement from the moment you walk through The Movement’s doors. The scent of hardwood, sound of balls bouncing, and nervous energy give off the perfect vibe. The camp already has a professional feel.

Rob was firing up the players already, as is his specialty. The inspirational Yanders is mixing his patented brand of toughness with a little humor and of course - fire.

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After getting a few shots up, some jogging/stretching, and a couple more words of encouragement - we are already going full-speed.

The players have been divided up by initial tiers and are cycling through their stations. The nervous energy is quickly evaporating and turning into sweat and instinct. As the players continue to warm up and fully get their blood pumping, they will soon be ready for Robert’s hardcore basketball style.

It is an impressive crop of players from very diverse backgrounds. It will be exciting to see how far The Basketball Movement can elevate their game. If they are willing to put in the work, they will leave day one exhausted, better, and hungry for more.

Stay tuned.

The Basketball Movement 2018 Boys High School Invitational Camp

The Basketball Movement is hosting an elite camp under head instructor Rob Yanders with combine drills, scouting, development, and competitive play.

This weekend, September 28-30 is the 7th annual Basketball Movement Invitational Camp. However, this year is completely different. The Basketball Movement is taking the traditional basketball camp experience and ratcheting it up multiple levels. This invite-only camp is designed to showcase and improve top-tier men’s high school basketball talent.

The camp will feature NBA style combine testing, intense skill development work, and competitive gameplay. After a successful career at all levels of the game, coach Rob Yanders and his staff will spend the weekend grooming players for success and instilling lessons for life on and off the court.

For More on Rob Yanders and his vision for The Basketball Movement, click here.

WHEN

Things will start Friday at 7:00 PM and run through Sunday at 5:00 PM. Friday will largely consist of NBA-style combine work so that players can show their abilities and skill level. Saturday will involve intense development as players cycle through stations, learn schemes, and participate in competitive halfcourt situations (2v2, 4v4, etc.). Games will be played nightly.

WHERE

Everything will take place at The Basketball Movement Facility:

2135 N Sports Complex Ln, Nixa, MO

WHAT TO EXPECT

There will be former NBA players, college players, coaches, scouts, and of course top high school boys talent in attendance. There will be media and scouting coverage by Slam Magazine, BallisLife, MidwestBallers, The Basketball Movement, 8EYE Media, SWMO Basketball, and other scouting outlets.

The games will be broken up into tiers this year. There will be NBA Level, G-League level, and D1 level. Each night will start with the D1 game and end with NBA, using rules from the corresponding levels. This means that the top level games will be played with NBA rules - 24 second shot clock, six fouls, four 12 minute quarters, etc.

Stats will be a point of emphasis this year, with statisticians in the building for each game. They will be implementing a European approach to complete player evaluations after each game. This will be a true measure of productivity that extends well beyond scoring. Rebounds, deflections, everything that happens on the court will be taken into account.

CHARITY ASPECT - CONVOY OF HOPE

The Basketball Movement will be using this opportunity to teach players the importance of paying it forward. Athletes have the privilege of playing the sport they love - but not everyone can experience such privileges.

Investing in community is very important to TBM’s founder, Rob Yanders. As he says, “You don’t have to be great to serve, but you do have to serve to be great.” More on how The Movement will be giving back with clothes, food, etc. to come.

HOTEL / COST

Players will be coming in from all over. Players should have received hotel and cost information from The Basketball Movement. If you still need details or were unable to access this information, Contact The Basketball Movement using the below information:

ROB YANDERS 417.655.1001
CRAIG SMITH: 417.861.2166
OFFICE: 417.988.6723
basketballmovement@yahoo.com

SPONSORS

This year’s camp sponsored by: Nike, Gatorade, Eastbay, Houlihan’s, Hilton Garden Inn, Guaranty Bank, Great Southern Bank, Old Missouri Bank, TLC Properties

ESPN top 100 NBArank 2018-19

Each year, ESPN attempts the impossible by ranking the top 100 NBA players ahead of the new season.

NBA players are the best of the basketball world. To break them out and rank them against each other on-by-one would be a daunting task. Each player brings different things to their respective teams. Still, the talking heads of the sports world love rankings. So, ESPN, The Undefeated, and FiveThirtyEight got together to do their best to determine the most valuable players going into the 2018-19 season.

The rankings were voted on by TV analysts, producers, reporters, editors, and researchers. They voted to estimate which players would be best this season in terms of quality and quantity of play. For the latter reason, players coming off of injuries such as Gordon Hayward (40), Kristaps Porzingis (58), or DeMarcus Cousins (69) appear a little lower than it seems they should.

Another factor that is brought up frequently on the list is RPM, which means Real Plus Minus. Per ESPN, this metric measures how well a team does offensively and defensively with any given player on the court, and compares it with how well the team does at each with that same player off the court.

The list is not perfect and of course will be proved wrong many times this season. Still, it makes for great barber shop conversation. Giannis Antetokounmpo tied with Kevin Durant? Let’s talk.

The top 10

Damien Lillard sits at the number ten spot, which does not come as much of a surprise. Lillard is coming off of a selection as First Team All-NBA a season ago. His scoring and leadership for the Trailblazers will continue this season. Joel Embiid is number nine, but could certainly continue his ascension as one of the best bigs in the game.

Kawhi Leonard is eight, assuming he goes all-out playing for the Raptors this year. Number seven is the new Mr. Triple-Double, Russell Westbrook. The former MVP at the seven spot shows the strength of the NBA in 2018.

Third in MVP voting last season, Anthony Davis is number six. Statistically, “The Brow” is one of the best players in the NBA. He has been a bit fragile for much of his career, but his offense and defense are both impossible to deny for the Pelicans. We skip five because ESPN notes a tie for the fourth best player.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has drastically improved each season and is just 23 years old. His offense has blossomed and he may now be the premier player in the Eastern Conference with LeBron James out of town. Kevin Durant is a back-to-back FInals MVP and the best scorer we’ve seen in a long time. It may have hurt him in these rankings that the Warriors can keep on churning without him.

Last season’s MVP, James Harden is listed at number three. His isolation play, passing, and well-rounded offensive game make him one of the greatest in the world. His defense, while improved, may have held him down on this rankings. Steph Curry is listed at two. Though his points have dipped since the arrival of Durant, his efficiency as a high-volume shooter is simply unheard of. He is one of the greatest winners in basketball, and the greatest shooter to date.

ESPN lists LeBron James as number one, and has for the last eight years. That’s some staying power. LeBron’s dominance as a player, especially in the Playoffs is undeniable. He will be 34 this season, but his stats have only improved over the last few seasons. We haven’t seen any decline yet, so there is no reason to expect it.

The other guys

Curry and Durant have some running mates in the top 20. Klay Thompson (19) and Draymond Green (16) are great players that also benefit from a great team. A couple of other notable top 20 guys that are teamed with top 10 players are Paul George (13) and Chris Paul (11).

Kyrie Irving at number 20 certainly seems like a player that could rise with a healthy Celtics squad. Irving’s teammate Jayson Tatum is already up to number 24 while Jaylen brown at 37 is two spots higher than DeMar DeRozan, which seems… wrong. Ben Simmons (18) is another player poised to move up - all he needs is a jumpshot.

A new wrinkle in the rankings is that Bradley Beal (29) has passed teammate, John Wall (32). ESPN already lists rookie Luka Doncic at 63 while first overall pick DeAndre Ayton does not crack the list.

For the full list from 100 on down to number 1, check out ESPN’s page here. The Basketball Movement is ready for the NBA to fire back up, so keep coming back here for continued coverage of this and all things basketball.

"The person is the player"

A Rob Yanders quote cuts deep as we reflect on the impact your life can have on your game.

Often, we are told to shut out emotions as players. The ideal basketball player is always calm, cool, and collected. It is one thing to play with passion, but carrying feelings of sadness, anger, or even a carefree attitude onto the court can negatively impact your play. All of this may be true, but it is unrealistic to expect this from players at all times.

Whether or not you realize it, your life is affecting you on the basketball court. This can be a positive or negative thing. When things are going well in your life, you have less worries. Less worry means less distraction to take away from what you are doing in game-time situations. Basketball can be a distraction from life on its own, but life always finds its way into your thoughts and demeanor.

“The person is the player” is a favorite quote of The Basketball Movement’s Founder, Rob Yanders. This quote was first brought to my attention in an interview with Trae Bell-Haynes, a pro player in Germany. Rob understands that players are more than just guards and forwards - they are people; sons, daughters, friends, students, employees, what have you.

This understanding is what makes Rob such a great coach. He cares for his players and knows that one way to improve on the court is to have a happy life.

Eliminating negativity from your life can be important for not just basketball, but everything you do. The issue with eliminating negativity is that it isn’t always possible. You can cut out toxic friends and influences, but some potentially negative aspects of your life may be more permanent.

It may be easier said than done, but it is important to try and shape the negativity into controlled aggression, motivation, and a competitive advantage. No one knows exactly what you’re going through besides yourself. If you must dwell on those issues, put a positive spin on them. Use things like basketball to enhance your life by making you rise above your problems. Not much beats the feeling of netting a shot, outrunning an opponent for a loose ball, or skying over everyone for a rebound. The harder you play, the more the issues of the world melt away.

“There are hurdles to overcome in sport and in life. Sport is a very valuable learning ground for how to live your life in the best possible way.”
— Lynn Davies

If things are generally positive in your life, you will naturally have fewer worries on the court. On the flip side though, you may have less reason to have an edge or play with a chip on your shoulder.

As a player, I personally had a pretty carefree attitude. Win-lose-or-draw, I was about the same after each game. I was happy to have been able to play and not too concerned when I didn’t get in as much as I would like. As a person, this contentment certainly seemed like a strength. As a player however, it resulted in a lack of drive that could hold me back in a competitive situation.

“Positive thinking is more than just a tagline. It changes the way we behave. And I firmly believe that when I am positive, it not only makes me better, but it also makes those around me better.”
— Harvey Mackay

Everyone is different. Each individual player has a unique situation and a unique way to cope. At The Basketball Movement, Rob Yanders and his coaches are able to bring out a competitive fire in complacent players like I used to be. They can also teach players with more difficult backgrounds to take what they feel may be holding them back and turn it into a monstrous drive to succeed.

Do your best to mold your life into what you want it to be. For help translating everything to the basketball court, contact The Basketball Movement here!

One last dance - Dwyane Wade's final season

NBA superstar, Dwyane Wade has announced that his 16th NBA season will be his last.

This past Saturday, Dwyane Wade announced via his Instagram page that the 2018-19 season will be his last in the NBA. The Instagram post led to a link with a YouTube video of Wade starting his own going-away party. In the intimate, raw video, Wade stands alone reflecting on his beginning as a player and where he is today.

This means that Dwyane Wade will play his final season for the Miami Heat, which he has desired all along. The Chicago native was drafted by the Heat in 2003.

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One Last Dance. Link in Bio.

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Wade was the fifth pick in the ‘03 draft. LeBron James went first, and is still showing incredible bounce. Darko Milicic and Chris Bosh are no longer in the league, but third pick, Carmelo Anthony has not shown signs of nearing retirement. A couple of other 2003 draft selections and NBA Champions, David West and Boris Diaw announced their retirement this Summer.

It is great for D-Wade fans to get a full season’s worth of opportunity to see him in action. A heads-up to his final season means that many will get a chance to see one of the greats do his thing in person before it’s too late.

The LeBron James era in Miami produced plenty of wins and plenty of highlights. The most impressive performance of Wade’s career though occurred in the 2005-06 NBA Finals. Even though it was his third year in the league, Wade averaged 35/8/4, overshadowing even his teammate Shaquille O’Neil. He was a force in that series, defeating Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks.

Wade is a NBA Scoring Champ (‘08-’09), 3x NBA Champion, 12x All-Star (All-Star MVP in 2010), 3x All-Defense selection, 8x All-NBA, and Finals MVP (‘05-’06). Wade is considered by many to be the third best shooting guard of all-time behind Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

One last dance

The video that Dwyane Wade posted to announce his final season was a great way to go about things. He is candid about his feelings towards the game and his journey. He speaks of loss, family, and priorities.

Athletes, especially at the professional level, are often just seen as that - athletes. In the clip, Wade talks about the grind of improving, the toll of the game, and the upbringing that no one else sees. Check out the video below to see a top athlete get vulnerable and allow us to see his side of the story.

As many of the current great player’s careers wind down (Wade, Nowitzki, Vince Carter), remember to take the time to enjoy getting to see them in action and also reflect back on what they have given to the game of basketball. Good luck to D-Wade as he gears up for his final season in South Beach.

2018 WNBA Finals - It's a wrap

The 2018 WNBA season is officially done thanks to a Finals sweep by the Seattle Storm.

WNBA playoff series are all best-of-five from the first round through the Finals. Somewhat surprisingly, the Seattle Storm only needed three games to put away the Washington Mystics and claim the title of champion for the 2018 season.

The final game was largely decided by perimeter shooting, with the Storm going 13 of 26 from deep. The stretch-bigs proved to be the difference. A four-time NCAA champion at UCONN, the Storm were led by regular season MVP, Breanna Stewart. This is the sixth time that a player has won the regular season MVP award and also gone on the win Finals MVP.

Stewart’s greatness at just 24 years old is impressive. On the other end of the spectrum, her teammate, Sue Bird’s continued excellence at age 37 stands out as well. She is one of the most tenured and respected players in the league.

The Washington Mystics, led by star Elena Della Donne are certainly disappointed by the results, but had a great season.

First and Second Team All-WNBA

Following the championship, the WNBA also released the picks for All-WNBA First and Second team. For anyone following along, the list is not too surprising. The league tweeted out the selections below.

Congratulations to Finals standouts and First-Team selections, Breanna Stewart and Elena Della Donne as well as everyone else selected. It was another great season.

Now the wait is on for NCAA and NBA basketball. NBA preseason action starts September 28th, so it will be here before you know it! OKC Thunder All-Star Russell Westbrook has already been declared out for the preseason with arthroscopic knee surgery, so basketball news continues.

The Basketball Movement will continue to cover all things basketball, so keep checking in!

You're not the only one that can ball

You may be good - even very good, but so are other players. Set yourself apart with help from The Basketball Movement.

A lot of players are familiar with being one of the top players on their team - maybe even the conference, division, state, league, what have you. It is a good feeling to be one of the best. You must keep in mind though, there is likely someone better than you.

You are not the only one that can ball. There is someone out there with a prettier jumper, someone who has a better nose for rebounding, someone stronger, or someone faster. No matter how good you may be at basketball, you are likely not the best.

So... what are you going to do about it?

Talent is one thing, but hard work is what really starts to differentiate players and allows them to take their game to the next level.

“Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.”
— Kevin Durant

If you are willing to put in the time and effort to elevate every aspect of your game, you will be on your way to building separation between yourself and the competition. Basketball requires some natural athleticism at the higher levels of the game. Hard work and dedication to your craft is the top tool that can be used to make up for any comparative deficiencies that you my have.

The grind can't stop either. To work to be the best will require passion that allows you to constantly improve and keep learning more about basketball. 

Here comes the tough news. Not only are you not the only one that can ball; you also aren't the only one that can put in hard work. So, what then?

Set yourself apart with The Basketball Movement

You know the old expression "work smarter not harder"? That is partly true; just make sure that while you're working smarter, you are still working insanely hard. That is the specialty of Rob Yanders and The Basketball Movement. Get in, work your butt off to get better, and get out/take care of your body.

The Movement offers plenty for basketball players seeking an edge. The facility has two full-sized courts, basketball-specific workout equipment, and one of the best staffs for coaching and a player-centered development mentality. It even has a chop shop upstairs to get you a fresh cut, a deal with Gatorade so fridges are always packed, and Area 11 where you can finally relax with some NBA 2K, FIFA, and more.

Any player can find a place to get shots up. At TBM, we offer things like film analysis, skill development, team placement, and more all the way up to Euro-prep and NBA prep. You don't need to have professional aspirations though, as boys and girls of almost any age are welcome to take advantage of our curriculum, open-clinics, and coaching staff.

Basketball experience, top-tier facilities, and a hard-nosed continuous improvement mentality is what TBM can offer players looking to separate from the pack. An urban feel, but professional process at The Movement propels its players to the top.

You may not be the only one that can ball, but you can maximize your potential right here at The Basketball Movement to stay ahead of the competition.

The 2018 WNBA Finals are set

The Washington Mystics and Seattle Storm are set to face off in the 2018 WNBA Finals

The WNBA is the undisputed pinnacle of women's basketball talent. Some of the league's best will be going head-to-head in this year's WNBA Finals matchup. Yesterday's deciding playoff games set a dramatic tone with both series' arriving at their conclusion.

Though the Western Conference Champion Seattle Storm were higher seeded, there was still doubt that they would be able to oust Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury. With Taurasi, the Mercury were 13-0 in series deciding games. Thirteen and zero. Diana Taurasi's greatness needs to be acknowledged, but it is the Storm that will be moving on.

Seattle was able to capitalize on their own star power, led by current MVP, Breanna Stewart and a monster fourth-quarter performance by the great Sue Bird.

In the Eastern Conference things were just as tight. Despite banged-up star Elena Delle Donne giving everyone an injury scare in game two, the Washington Mystics held on to take the deciding game five. This marks the first time that Washington will be in the WNBA Finals.

They defeated the number one-seed Atlanta Dream and will now face off with the Storm, playing game one on the road. Game two will be back in Atlanta while the remainder are played at a neutral location - George Mason University in Virginia.

It is another best-of-five series that will beginning this Friday (Sept. 7). Game two will be Sunday (Sept. 9), game three Wednesday (Sept. 12), game four Friday (Sept 12 if necessary), and game five Sunday (Sept. 16 if necessary). The first game will be on ESPNews, the second on ABC, and the rest on ESPN2.

Again, this is women's basketball at the highest level. Ladies, pay attention as these players are some of the best to watch and learn from. Fellas, it may not be a bad idea for you to watch as well, especially those of you (most of you) that play below the rim at this stage. The footwork, passing, driving, and shooting are top-tier.

For more on all things basketball, stay right here at The Basketball Movement.

Player profiles: Centers

We wrap up our player profiles series with the players that put the five in starting five - the center.

Whether your team has a true center or not, someone in the starting five is technically playing the "five spot". The whole team cannot hang out on the perimeter, so it falls to the center by default to set up shop in the paint.

Like the other positions that we have discussed, there is no specific way to approach playing the center position. The traditional thought is that the center of a team is its leading rebounder and best rim-protector. Most centers in today's game can do more than just swat shots and grab boards, but there are still plenty of prominent examples of traditional players that we will go over.

The best centers are often still great rebounders, but scorers as well. We will breakdown "all-around" centers below that can do a bit of everything on the court.

We will be going over former and current NBA centers, but it is worth noting that there are some great centers to watch today in the WNBA as well. Candace Parker and Brittney Griner come to mind with former player Lisa Leslie being another great one to watch.

Traditional centers to watch

For all the talk about traditional centers going away in the age of the three-point shot, there are still plenty of examples of excellent traditional centers in the game. There are three high-caliber examples that quickly come to mind: DeAndre Jordan, Rudy Gobert, and Andre Drummond.

Jordan is a tenacious defender and rebounder. His poor free throw shooting is offset by the way he uses his length on both ends of the floor to make an impact. Drummond is the player to watch if you need a free clinic on rebounding the basketball. Rudy Gobert may be the best interior defender in the world. Watch the Frenchman Gobert to learn how to use defensive length and footwork to protect the strong and weak side of the paint.

A few more current examples of traditional centers in the NBA are Steven Adams, Clint Capela, Dwight Howard, and Hassan Whiteside who all make their impact with defense, rebounding, and hustle.

Known for his defense and teamwork more than his scoring, Bill Russell may be the top traditional center in history. Film on Russell may be scarce, but his 11 championships and winning ways speak loudly for his style of play.

All-around centers

By now you may have noticed a trend with these player profiles. You can have plenty of success as a player that focuses on specific skills, especially at lower levels of the game. More often than not though, it is the players that can do a bit of everything on the floor that are often the best at their position.

Even players like Shaquille O'neal, that has every appearance of a traditional center is more well-rounded than he may get credit for. Despite his massive size, Shaq could run the floor, pass, and make shots from mid-range-in with surprising finesse. Another Lakers great, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar is arguably the best all-around center for his defense, rebounding, and peerless scoring ability.

The list of former all-around centers is pretty long and impressive, including names like Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, David Robinson, and Patrick Ewing.

A few current well-rounded centers that are quickly ascending are Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. Jokic is a great center to watch for passing out of the post while Embiid is great to watch for his post moves and shot-blocking. An underrated, but well-rounded center to watch today is Al Horford.

Perhaps the best all-around centers in the game (though Embiid is knocking on the door), Karl-Anthony Towns and DeMarcus Cousins are certainly great players to study up on for improving centers. Just don't emulate Cousins' technical count.

That does it for our player profiles! Take note of these players to watch as great examples at their positions. Stay locked into The Basketball Movement for more news and basketball content.

Player profiles: Power forwards

An ever-evolving position, being a power forward today can mean a lot more than it did 10 or 20 years ago.

The name "power forward" comes from players at the four position being bruisers in the paint. Where the center position has balanced size and skill for many years, the PF spot traditionally meant a foul-prone post player that cleared out opposing players to hog rebounds and create driving lanes for others.

Today, that is no longer the case.

Players at the four spot can have a variety of skillsets and roles on a team. Today, stretch-fours that can shoot are as common if not more common than traditional post players.

You can be a stretch four or still carve out a role as a traditional, rebounding post player. Below we break out some current and former players at the highest level of the game for you to watch if you want to strive for either role.

Stretch-fours to watch

The concept of the stretch-four is not entirely new. Since at least the 90's there have been plenty of post players venturing out beyond the three point line. Many of them come from overseas as that has long been a staple of the European game. Likely the best power forward to do it is no exception.

Germany's Dirk Nowitzki is a stellar example of stretch-four. His use of his seven-foot frame allows him to shoot over the top of the defense from any distance. Though he is a fan of the three point shot, back-to-the-basket scoring ability has made him one of the most versatile scoring threats in basketball.

One of The Basketball Movement's personal favorites, Anthony Tolliver of the Minnesota Timberwolves is another excellent stretch-four example. The Springfield, MO native coupled his height with a shooting touch that has helped him on his way to a long and successful NBA career.

Kevin Love is a good example of a player that was rebounding and interior focused, but adjusted his game to expand his range. Playing alongside rim-attacker LeBron James meant more perimeter time for PF Love. It will be interesting to see how his game shapes up this season with LBJ now in Los Angeles.

Traditional power forwards

Many of the best examples of traditional power forwards have since retired from the professional game. Debateably the top PF to have played was Tim Duncan. "The Big Fundamental" could extend his range if the moment called for it, but he stayed within himself and did most of his damage with hookshots, offensive put-backs, and short-range barrages. His shot blocking and excellent footwork make him one of the most well-rounded players that you could study today.

Duncan's "replacement" in San Antonio, LaMarcus Aldridge is a solid scoring PF to watch as well. He has gradually expanded his range, but his knack for timely rebounding and interior scoring make him a bit of a throwback big. For a more defensive-minded traditional four, check some footage of Kevin Garnett. A capable scorer, KG made his biggest impact by being a ferocious defender.

Some imposing physical power forwards to watch in today's game are : Derrick Favors, Blake Griffin, and Taj Gibson. Some throwback guys are Charles Oakley and the ultimate rebounding power forward, Dennis Rodman.

Keep in mind as you strive to become or improve upon being a power forward, that shooting is becoming more and more important. The way the game is played today requires almost all players on the floor to shoot unless you have a center that can hold down the paint on his own (Dwight Howard in Orlando, Clint Capela in Houston, Deandre Jordan next year in Dallas).

You can still be a strong, rebounding-focused four, but do not neglect the softer skills of the game such as shooting and passing out of the post. For help, contact The Basketball Movement!

Manu Ginobili retirement signals end to an era

San Antonio Spurs star, Manu Ginobili departs from a basketball career that helped shape one of the most dominant runs in pro sports history.

Manu Ginobili was one of the final pieces remaining in the San Antonio Spurs dynasty that had them appearing in 21 consecutive NBA Playoffs. That streak included an unprecedented 18 consecutive 50-win seasons (1998-1999 season was shortened and 50 would have been impossible).

Coach Gregg Popovich remains for the time being, but the legendary Spurs players have now all moved on. One of the winningest trios in sports, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker will be remembered as basketball legends.

David "The Admiral" Robinson's protege, big man Tim Duncan retired two years ago. Earlier this summer, Tony Parker left the Spurs to go to the Charlotte Hornets, though he has vocalized his desire to retire a Spur one way or another. A few days ago, Manu Ginobili announced his retirement via Twitter.

Ginobili's career is incredibly impressive, especially considering that he spent his NBA tenure coming off of the bench. Scoring in bunches, scrappy defense, and creative playmaking defined the Argentinian's unorthodox style. He very well may have been the player that first introduced the euro-step to the league.

He could easily be written off as a folk hero in San Antonio. Actually, he is a four time NBA Champion, a NBA Sixth Man of the Year, two-time NBA All-Star, a Euroleague Champion, and Olympic gold medalist from 2004 when Argentina beat Team USA. That resume has Basketball Hall of Fame potential.

The departure of Kawhi Leonard this Summer means that Coach Pop and Patty Mills are the only Spurs champions left standing. With DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge still in place, they will still have a chance to make yet another playoff push.

However, there will be something missing when you tune into a Spurs game going forward. The sustained greatness that was supplied by Ginobili & Co. may waiver, but Popovich will certainly make sure that the signature cool-as-ice play and smooth ball movement will carry on. Good luck to Manu in retirement and thanks for what you gave the world of basketball!

2018 Basketball Hall of Fame inductees

One of the highest honors of the basketball world is to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The 2018 Hall of Fame inductees were announced a little while ago, but the Hall of Fame presenters have been announced recently. Below is a full list of this year's inductees as well as those that will be presenting them and the year that they themselves were inducted. This information is directly from hoophall.com

2018 Inductees and Presenters

Ray Allen, presented by Reggie Miller (’12)

Maurice “Mo” Cheeks, presented by Billy Cunningham (’86), and Julius Erving (’93)

Charles “Lefty” Driesell, presented by John Thompson (’99), Mike Krzyzewski (’01), and George Raveling (’15)

Grant Hill, presented by Isiah Thomas (’00), Mike Krzyzewski (’01), Patrick Ewing (’08), and Alonzo Mourning (‘14)                   

Jason Kidd, presented by Gary Payton (’13)

Steve Nash, presented by Don Nelson (’12)

Dino Radja, presented by Larry Bird (’98)

Charlie Scott, presented by Dave Cowens (’91), Julius Erving (’93), Larry Brown (’02), James Worthy (’03), Jerry Colangelo (’04), Roy Williams (’07), and Spencer Haywood (’15)

Katie Smith, presented by Dawn Staley (’13)      

Tina Thompson, presented by Cheryl Miller (’95)

Rod Thorn, presented by Jerry West (’80)

Rick Welts, presented by Bill Russell (’75), Lenny Wilkens (’89 & ’98), Annie Meyers (’93), Russ Granik (’13), and David Stern (’14)

This is clearly an impressive list of inductees, headlined by some big-name players. The bottom half of the list from Dino Radja to Rick Welts is comprised of individuals selected by committees that focus on preserving the game including: The Veterans Committee, International Committee, Early African Pioneers Committee, and the Contributor Committee.

Three point sniper Ray Allen is a two-time NBA Champion that rounded out one of the best Celtics squads since Bird, McHale, and Parish. Then, he helped LeBron James win one in Miami.

Steals artist Maurice "Mo" Cheeks was a four-time NBA All-Star, and is currently an assistant coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Charles "Lefty" Driesell is the only coach in NCAA history to be named Conference Coach of the Year in four different conferences, per hoophall.com

Jason Kidd was a 10-time NBA All-Star and Champion with the Dallas Mavericks. One of the best to never win a championship, Steve Nash was a two-time NBA MVP and eight-time All-Star.

Grant Hill was a seven-time NBA All-Star whose career was hampered by injury. He made his presence felt nonetheless. Katie Smith is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and Tina Thompson was a four-time WNBA champ.

The ceremony will be held at the hall in Springfield, Massachusetts Friday, September 7th. A television showing is likely to be held on NBA TV, if not ESPN. Tune in to hear from some of the greatest to play the game of basketball! 

Player profiles: Small forwards

Not too big, but not actually small, the small forward is the in-between guy or gal on a basketball squad.

The term small-forward is a bit of an oxymoron, at least at the highest levels of the game. To be a forward, you would naturally be a larger or more stout player. Depending on the lineup of your team, the small forward can be expected to play on the perimeter or occassionally down in the post depending on the flow of the game.

Often a "jack-of-all-trades" for a team, the role of a small forward is varied. Some may be scorers, others may be defenders, and many times they are asked to do a bit of everything.

With versatility being the name of the game, it is best for current or prospective small forwards to do their best to balance their entire game. If the two guards are locked down by a full-court press, it falls to the small forward to become the ball handler. If the two post player get locked up double-teaming in the post, it becomes the small forwards job to get in the paint to protect the weak side.

Most examples of small forwards to watch at the highest level of the game can do a bit of everything on the floor. We will still break it up a bit by scorers, defensive-minded, and Swiss Army Knife type players.

Scoring small forwards

In looking at starting small forwards in today's NBA, it is unusual to find many scorers that don't also make a substantial impact on the defensive end. Even Kevin Durant, who is perennially one of the top scorers in the world, stepped up his defense this year, using his length to become a formidable shot-blocker. Still, he is a great one to watch for his ability to score in the post on out to the three point stripe.

Though he is starting to show signs of aging, Carmelo Anthony is a true example of a scoring small forward. His footwork, fadeaways, and nose for driving lanes make him a good example to emulate on the offensive end.

A few more examples are: Demar DeRozan, Rudy Gay, Tobias Harris, and Brandon Ingram. A former pure-scoring SF was Larry Bird. Larry Legend could do a bit of everything on the floor as well from passing to guarding multiple positions. However, post play and early adaptation of perimeter shooting made him a nightmare to guard at the small forward position. A few more are Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and Julius Erving.

Defensive-minded small forwards

Historically, Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs is one of the first defensive-minded small forwards that come to mind. Often pushing the limits with what he got away with, Bowen is still an excellent example of a defender at the small forward position - able to guard perimeter and post players alike. Really there are multiple players to examine from not that long ago; Scottie Pippin, Shawn Marion, and Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) are all standouts.

Also defensive-minded, but a bit more offensively capable than Bowen, current NBA player and former NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala is a tremendous example to watch today. Iguodala did some scoring and distributing for his former teams, but coming off the bench for the Warriors, he is allowed to focus on his specialty; defense. His defense on LeBron James and timely three point shooting is what landed him 2014-15 Finals MVP honors.

A few other examples of current small forwards are Jaylen Brown and Otto Porter Jr. Both of these players have carved out defensive roles on their teams, but are constantly working to enhance their scoring ability as well. P.J. Tucker is an example of a more pure defender.

One takeaway from defensive-minded small forwards is the players that established themselves as defense-first stars and then blossomed their offense later. Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo both broke into the league with defense, but are now well-rounded stars.

Swiss Army knife small forwards

The best small forwards are often the ones that can do it all. The ultimate do it all SF past or present has to be LeBron James.

LeBron entered the league already having great size and speed, allowing him to defend multiple positions. His ball-handling and scoring ability put him on par with any guard on the court. He developed a shooting touch as well, rounding him out as one of if not the best all-around players in the history of the game.

We have already touched on Durant, Antetokounmpo, and Leonard who would now be considered all-around small forwards. Another Swiss Army knife SF that needs to be mentioned is Paul George.

Considered to be one of the best two-way players in the game, PG-13 is one of the top small forwards to watch on both ends of the floor. On defense, he knows when to have active hands vs. when to just use his body and size. On offense, he uses his whole repitoire to score when the defense forces him either out of the paint or off of the three point line.

Gordon Hayward of the Boston Celtics is another example of a good two-way SF, with former Celtic Paul Peirce being a prime example as well. Pierce was known for his scoring, but his underrated defense was fueled by his competitive fire. Some good examples from a little further back would be Chris Mullen and Dominique Wilkins.

If you need some small forwards to watch and mold your game after, the above players should provide you with a great starting point!

Power forwards are up next!

Player profiles: Shooting guards

A shooting guard or "two-guard" can be various things for their team. Shooting is in the title, but defense can be paramount as well.

Point guards bring the ball down and initiate the offense, but they are not alone on the perimeter. Offense often runs through the wing players as well, as they have superior angles for passing into the post or swinging the ball around the outside.

As the title suggests, shooting is a duty that has long been reserved for the two-guard in a lineup. However, with the evolution of the game, there are now shooters at every position. For this reason, shooting guards have been asked to do more and more on the floor. A superior wing defender is now as coveted as a solid shooter because they can guard the opponent's top perimeter scorers.

Let's get into some shooting guards that you can emulate if you are or want to become a shooting guard.

Scoring shooting guards

In today's game, it is tough to find scoring shooting guards that are not also solid defenders. If you are needing some examples of SG's that can score though, below are a handful of players to model your offense after.

Bradley Beal and Devin Booker are some of the sweetest shooting two guards in the game right now. Another, more underrated scorer is Kris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks. A former player, recent enough that there is plenty of film on him, is Ray Allen.

One of the top, if not the top scoring shooting guard in the game is Klay Thompson. He is a good defender, but he is the player to watch if you want a scoring SG to emulate. He has what may be the prettiest shot in the game and the way he works to get it off is a great example for any current or budding shooting guard.

Lockdown defenders

Though many teams/coaches would prefer at least a three-and-D type of player, some shooting guards get by on their defense alone. Defensive focus at the highest level takes a lot of work, though you must still remain an option on offense by at least slashing to the basket and being a willing distributor.

Two examples of this type of player today are Andre Roberson of the OKC Thunder and free agent, Tony Allen. Don't watch film of Roberson shooting, but watch some of his time on the defensive end to understand his place in the NBA. Roberson's use of length and Allen's use of positioning, footwork, and strength are great things to watch for.

An example of a couple of three-and-D type players still in the game are Danny Green and Avery Bradley. Some former players are Sidney Moncrief and Michael Cooper, who could defend multiple positions.

Somewhere in-between

With point guards, it appeared that somewhere between pass-first and shoot-first would put you in a great spot in the modern game. With shooting guards, things appear similarly, as some of the all-time greats were not only fantastic scorers, but elite defenders as well.

The best shooting guard to date is Michael Jordan, who was not only a 10x NBA scoring leader, but also 9x All-NBA Defense, including Defensive Player of the Year in 87-88. For film analysis of a SG that could do it all, MJ is the ultimate example.

One of the most elite scorers in basketball history, but also another accomplished defender is Kobe Bryant. If you need to work on footwork, Kobe is one of the best guards to watch.

A few current players to watch that do a little bit of everything are Dwyane Wade, Victor Oladipo, and Jimmy Butler.

That should give you plenty of homework if you need to study up on becoming or improving upon being a shooting guard. That wraps up the guard positions, so forwards, you're up next with the player profile on small forwards. Stay tuned!