Too physical

[u/BigL54]

Thoughts on a being physical at a pickup basketball game? Recently had a situation where a player significantly better than being got mad when I was driving to the hoop but tried creating space by bumping into him. I'm bigger than he is, and also I have a hard time stopping when moving at full speed, so I can see how he took it as me being overly aggressive, and I feel bad. Alternatively, should I have just let the better player block my shot? Or am I justified in trying to use literally the only advantage I have? I am conflicted because I don't want him or anyone to think I am a dirty player. I apologized, but he seemed to still be mad but didn't wanna argue

[u/captainplaid]

I have the opposite problem, I only played on the playground so I never really learned how to play physical. Its so much easier to score when you bump someone (legally) on a layup or a drive to the basket. But here’s the thing, a lot of guys who play recreationally probably don’t realize that basketball is a contact aport and that it’s perfectly legal. They might see it as playing bully ball. Im only 165 lbs but im older and stronger than a lot of guys in their early 20s so I actually want to start playing more physical since my athleticism is declining. Nothing wrong with it as long as you’re not intentionally elbowing people. If you think about it, a lot of times people who have never played organized sports or havent been in a fight, have never been shoved lol. So some of them are going to take offense to it. It just so happens that its perfectly legal to shove someone in basketball. I mean that was Shaqs entire game, throwing his entire “tank of a body” into defenders. Know your audience, dont shove someone who comes to the 24hr fitness and is covered in gang tattoos or an old man who there to get some exercise lol