Here are some basic tips to become better at basketball:

1. Dribbling- One of the skills you need to master first is dribbling. First learn the correct posture for dribbling which is knees bent a little bit and bounce the ball no higher than your knees. Make sure to dribbling the ball fast and practice power dribbling.
2. Shooting- Getting the ball through the hoop is the main point of playing basketball. To improve on shooting first do shooting drills like around the world etc, practice shooting free throws, master the concept of fadeaway etc.
3. Defense- Playing good defense will not only help you get the ball back but it will also make the other player nervous while playing against you and will most likely result in a miss.
4. Teamwork- Basketball is a team sport improving on teamwork like passing the ball to the open guy or communicating with teammates letting them know whats going on around you like what player is making a cut to the basketball or what player needs to be guarded etc.

Just like the east and west coast there are 2 conferences in the NBA too. The eastern conference has all the east coast teams like New York Knicks, etc and the western conference has all the west coast teams.

Due to the two different conferences only one team from each conference goes to the finals. Each year western conference is the better conference as they have better all around teams. Due to all the good teams in the western conference its very hard for the one team to make it into the finals but on the other hand eastern conference only have like 2 good teams and they breeze through the playoffs to play for the conference finals and whoever wins gets to go to the finals.

The conference system was started because it was hard for the teams to play inter-conference games due to not easily available transportation but in the new era transportation is not an issue due to flights. If the conference system was removed it would create a more equal chance for each team to make into the playoffs rather than just the same old teams from the weaker conference make the finals each year. Lebron James made into the NBA finals for 8 years in a row due to him being into the weaker conference which is the eastern conference.

“Defense wins you games” if you played basketball in a team it doesn’t matter if it’s a high school team or the NBA each and every player has heard this line before at least once by their coaches.

Defense is one of the most important aspects of the game. A team who has bad defense are most likely not to succeed in their season. A team who has not that good at offense but has great defense plays against a team with great offense but bad defense they’re most likely going to win because they can keep scoring but with bad defense they won’t be able to stop the other team from scoring and they can score as many points as they want.

Basketball players don’t like to play defense because it’s not considered as “fun” as the offensive part of the game but it’s also the hardest and most important part of the game. Here are some general tips on how to improve on defensive skills:

1. Focus on forcing tough shots- The point of playing defense is to force the opponent team’s players into taking bad shots, whether they make it or not is irrelevant.
2. Maintain your balance- Balance is very important when trying to improve your defensive skills. A defender who has great balance makes it difficult for the offensive player to score because the defenders are quick of their feet and with great balance it’s hard to hit a cross-over move and blow by them.
3. Constantly talk to your teammates- Talking to teammates really helps playing better defense because if you communicate with your teammates about what’s going on and what you need them to do helps with better coverage.

Defense helps you understand the other players movements which is beneficial as it helps you make them miss shots and help you win games.

Old school basketball fans remember basketball as being as rough sport where athletes were allowed to hand check and play really hard defense which would often result in hard fouls and which would most likely lead to a brawl between the two teams playing.

Old school fans say that the new era is way softer and the type of fouls which were just any regular other foul, the officials call them a flagrant foul in this generation. Yes, even though the old school was more physical and rough but the new era helped develop all around complete basketball players.

Back in the old days the big men like shaq, wilt chamberlain etc. only were used to do the “dirty work” on the court like grabbing rebounds, setting screens, catching ally-oops, getting physical down in the paint. In the new era superstars are able to do everything regardless of their position. Big men are not only limited to paint moves but they are also able to shoot 3’s, mid ranges etc.

There’s a lot of debate going on about whether if the old school players would win in a 1v1 against the new era players if they both were in their primes. Me personally think that new era players would win against most the old school ones but some players like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Shaq etc could take on most the new era players.

Guess it’s just depends on what style of play you like to tell if you like the old school or the new era of basketball better.

If you’re a basketball fan you’re most likely to know the last athlete in the NBA to make it straight to the big boy’s league from high-school, the mandatory one year of college rule which NBA started in 2007. No one other than one of the all time greats Lebron James.

In 2007 NBA, instituted this new rule which requires athletes to be atleast 19 years old or went to college for atleast 1 year. In, my opinion it’s a good decision by the league administration because not all the players who think they are “elite” just because of their stats in high-school, are actually good enough to go to the next level.

Going to college gives them a backup plan. Not everybody has a giant 6’10” frame like Anthony Davis and neither do they got skills like most the professional players. Some players who are actually that talented would have no problem to go straight into the pros.

Even though it’s not as rough as football but basketball is still a contact sport. For ex: a new young player gets drafted into the league straight from high school but unfortunately he gets injured seriously during his first season and is never able to recover from it fully. If that was to happen his life was basically ruined not because he wasn’t going to be able to play basketball but he doesn’t have a degree or a proper high level education because they never went to college.

College is also a pathway for recognition. Athletes who are from smaller high-schools don’t get as recognition by the scouts, the public etc. Going to college before straight to the pros already gives the players who are doing good a higher recognition because it’s a way bigger platform and it gives them a chance to adjust to higher competition level and get a chance to prove themselves and have a higher chance of getting drafted and at a better spot.

It also helps colleges bring in funding for the school through their ticket sales and other sales they do more or less using these players names as to gain attention, and it also helps bring more attention to their college and more younger athletes want to go to that school.

1. Lebron James

2. Kevin Durant

3. Kwahi Leonard

4. Paul George

5. James Harden

It was the summer of 2017, I just had recently moved to Washington from Virginia. If someone who is a teenager moves even 30 minutes from where they used to live, they know how hard it can be, and here I was a 17-year-old who moved to the completely different coast of the country. I didn’t know anyone when I first moved, and it was the summer, so I couldn’t even go to school to make new friends.

One day I was doing the same old thing just lying in my bed playing Ps4 and suddenly my mom barges in my room and starts yelling at me, “Why are you always on that Ps4, even though it’s your summer you’re not going to just sit there and play all day….”. So, I decided to go to the gym to play basketball and possibly make friends.

As soon as I step in the gym, I see a bunch of people who were dressed in basketball attire with their phones out recording and being loud. When I got to the basketball courts I couldn’t believe my eyes as I saw one of my favorites and one of the most inspiring players Nate Robinson and with him another current NBA superstar Jamal Crawford playing. Their footwork and their speed were magical. It felt like I was watching the game with courtside seats for free but in fast forward. Nate with both his arm tatted up and Jamal with his tall lanky self-looked exactly how they look on TV, but their game looked way better in real life.

Everybody was waiting for their chance to either play with or play against them both. Luckily, I had already been chosen by a team to play against them next. So, the big moment finally had arrived, as my hands and my forehead got sweaty, the feeling of nervousness started taking over my mind.  A lot of shit started going through my mind like what if I get dunked on by a 5’7” man even though he’s in the NBA it would get me roasted the whole school year, or what if Jamal hits me with his famous behind the back crossover and gives me a taste of the wood on the floor.

Before the game begun I made sure I introduced myself to the center of attention Nate and try to be on his good side, so he goes easy on me. With a smirk on his face “guard me” was the first words that came out of his mouth. “Bet” I said accepting his challenge but, on the inside, I was shitting bricks.

The game had begun and as Jamal brought the ball down the court freakily fast and before I could pay attention on playing defense, I heard a loud thud and my teammate was on the ground as he had got his ankles broken by the famous superstar. As Nate got the ball I called to play defense. All I saw was the ball thumping on the wood as he ran down the court like an Olympic sprinter.

I knew I wasn’t as good as the pro players, but I remained focused to not make it an easy win for them. As Nate came in for the layup I jumped up high to block his shot but him being a pro player he had some special moves under his sleeves. He faked me into jumping up high just to do a spin move and finish with an uber athletic windmill dunk. The competitiveness in his face was scary and amazing at the same time. “Come on now” he smirked.

 Nate creeped up on me as I dribbled the ball down the court. I ignored what happened last play and focused on my game. He was short and me being 6’4” I just wanted to take revenge by dunking the ball or even just by scoring the ball. I noticed he wasn’t guarding me tight and he had his legs spread wide, I just decided to throw the ball between his legs and I got him, and I ran to the hoop and dunked the ball. I couldn’t believe that I just had nutmegged Nate Robinson, the same dude who is so respected in the pros and the dude who won NBA slam dunk contest 3 times. Nate grinned, “Okay you better than I expected”, that coming from Nate made me happy and boosted up my confidence playing basketball forever.

My team full of high schoolers knew they weren’t a match against the other team full of people who were friends with pro basketball players. We were losing as bad as the Hulk lost to Thanos in Infinity Warfare. The game was basically over because they just had to hit a three and they won. After the game, Nate came up to me and he shook my hand and said, “Good game”.

I wasn’t going to give up the chance to ask a former NBA superstar for some tips to improve my game. None of my teammates expected Nate to be so humble and down to earth person because of how famous he is. As I was leaving after the loss and my teammates began to hype me up for that one play and that play stuck with me and my teammates I played with till now. Whenever I go to the same gym and play with them we always talk about that play and I try to do that same move on someone every time I play basketball.

I already used to think that I was good at basketball but that play from the game made me realize that if I just put more hard work in and with more dedication I can be a really good basketball player.

Thesis: Student athletes should get compensated some percent of the money they bring in for the school.

1. How being a student athlete is a full-time job but with no salary?

There’s has been a lot of discussion going on lately about whether student athletes get paid or not. Every year schools make thousands of money because of these athletes by selling tickets for different games like basketball, football etc. All the money made just doesn’t go for the funding for the school but also goes to the coaches, administration etc. Everyday a student athlete has to wake up and has to get to workouts then they have to go to class till 3-4 pm and then after go to practice and still have to come back and do their homework. Most of their time is devoted to the sport for which they get accepted into big and popular schools for and they don’t even get paid for it.

Harnett(2014) “For a little extra money my freshman roommate worked his but off all day with 2-3 basketball training sessions for $7 an hour job at the university, plus classes and homework and would go to the job for some hours late at night”.

2. NCAA is a billion-dollar company

NCAA and CBS signed a 10.8 billion dollars television contract for march madness for years 2011 to 2024. $11 billion for three weekends of television per year. All the money NCAA raises is because of the student athletes and they don’t get a single penny of that money to go in their pocket to spend for themselves for the time they’re at the university. Even majority of the coaches earn at least $100,000 a year salary for the major sports like basketball, football and baseball. They also receive bonuses if the team does good like making the playoffs, winning championships etc. Universities bring in thousands, some even millions every year because of selling tickets, donations etc.

Wilbon(2011)“$11 billion deal — OK, it’s $10.8 billion to be exact — between the NCAA and CBS/Turner Sports for March Madness between 2011 and 2024. We’re talking $11 billion for three weekends of television per year. On top of that, there’s a new four-year deal with ESPN that pays the BCS $500 million”

3. Some athletes need to send money home back to their families

Student athletes doesn’t get no money to go in their pockets for themselves and they need money to support themselves over the course of time their at the university. Unfortunately some of the athletes come from a low incomed family where their parents cant afford to give them money and some athlete’s parents can’t support themselves and need help from them, due to NCAA rules students athletes can’t have a job or their scholarship gets suspended. Making it unfair for them and leaving them unable to help support their families. Student athletes can’t even charge money for their autographs.

Harnett(2014)“NCAA prevents student athletes from allowing their likeness to be used for promotional purposes.”

Counter: Most division 1 athletes get full ride scholarships

Refutation: The average full ride scholarship for a division 1 school is about $25,000 a year. It seems like a lot of money, but it only covers the basic like tuition, meal plan, housing and textbooks which costs a couple hundred dollars too. Some of them receive Pell grants depending on their family’s income but that only helps them buy basic food. Most athletes don’t even complete full 4 years at the universities because of there’s politics, injuries and if they perform bad they’re kicked of the team and there goes the scholarship as well.

Conclusion: Student athletes should get paid to help them be less stressful and help them stay focused on their goal to making it to the pros.