At only 6 feet 1 inch, Nate “Tiny” Archibald attained every possible accomplishment in basketball. He was an all-star at the NCAA Division I level of basketball for the University of Texas – El Paso. He went on to a stellar NBA career and won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics. Individually, he also, in the same season (1972-73), led the NBA in both assists (11.4 per game) and scoring (34 points per game). This amounted to a phenomenal achievement, considering Archibald’s size. Also, no other player in the history of professional basketball, before or after Tiny, has ever accomplished that feat. Nate Archibald, a great scorer, to his credit also understood the powerful potential of a great pass.
One of the most enjoyable things to watch in a basketball game is passing. Nothing picks up a team or acrowd faster than a basket made possibly by an exceptional pass. It gives that team an emotional lift and breeds a spirit of unity, enthusiasm, and teamwork. A good pass is really worth three points: two for the basket made and one “invisible point” for the momentum and unity it brings to teammates and the fans.
A great pass is not necessarily a fancy trick pass or a “hot dog” pass. A great pass is simply one made to the right location, to the right player, at the right time. John Stockton, the all-time NBA assist leader throws basic, fundamental passes – nothing fancy. And yet he is the greatest passer in basketball history. And it is doubtful that his record will ever be broken. What is truly amazing about Stockton’s record is that in his first three NBA seasons, he played only rarely, as a substitute.
Any player can develop the ability and skill to be a great passer by developing three abilities:
1. You must be able to see the whole court and all that is happening at all times.
2. You must develop, through practice and repitition, a repertoire of passes suited to many different game situations and opportunities.
3. You must be able to deliver the ball to the right person, in the right place and at the right time, at all times. This takes perfect vision and perfect timing (which comes from accepting nothing less than perfect performance in practice).
There are different kinds of passes. A pass that leads directly to a basket or a pass that leads to a score that could not have occurred without the pass is called an assist.
One example is a lead pass to teammate who is alone over half court but must dribble to score a layup. Some passes are more difficult than others. A behind-the-back or no-look pass will obviously be more difficult than a simple chest pass. But advanced passes may be appropriate in certain game situation. Basic arithmetic is less difficult than geometry, but both can be effective and useful if mastered. The same goes for passing the basketball. Both fundamental and advanced passes can be effective and useful in game situations when mastered correctly. You’re not a “hot dog” or show-off if you have mastered a skill and do it correctly in the right situation. Showing off is trying to do something fancy that you have not mastered.
Passing is a vitally important skill because basketball is a team game. By developing your skills as a passer, you will show individual creativity and talent as well as improve and support your team.
By Coach John Scott – The BASKETBALL DOCTOR®
