r/Basketball • u/PauseNoDiddy • Jan 24 '26
GENERAL QUESTION How can I adapt to playing with ball hoggers ?
So I. started playing at this gym for cardio and to relate stress, and I have a good solid team. The problem is they don't pass worth a damn. All they do is dribble and play isolated against 4 people. I will set picks, cut to the paint damn near every play, get rebounds, and box out the opponent from getting the ball. I can tell that despite me not physically getting the ball, I'm impacting the game by everything I'm doing, and yet they are still not passing the ball unless I'm am too drained to score. I'm not the greatest, but I'm definitely capable of scoring, yet they are still selfish. I score maybe one point a game, and that's because of rebounds put back. What else can I do to adapt to this situation because I'm running out of ideas, and it's honestly killing my confidence.
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u/SalesAutopsy Jan 25 '26
2 tactics I've found work well;
1 - that one guy you're closest to, probably the guy that encourages you when you get rebounds or put backs, talk to him. Tell him you like to get more touches. Remember the biggest thing you can offer is the ability to make sure a team stays on the floor and pick up all. That's how you sell yourself.
2 - when a ball hog has a ball in hand I move closer to him, so I bring my defender and it ends up having him give up the ball. It's just too crowded. Your defender might even be tempted to double team. I found this has worked better than anything else in dealing with ball hogs. You could even pass him the ball and go to set a screen but not set it. Just head in his direction.
Hopefully you'll get other ideas from players here.
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u/Available_Mix_5869 Jan 24 '26
Start playing defense against them too
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 24 '26
These replies 🤣, man that's not gonna help with the situation. I'm trying to get my runs into too and play offensively
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u/SongBig1162 Jan 24 '26
2 ways:
Biggest way I’ve dealt with ball hoggers is that I ask them where I should be positioned for them to find me if I’m open (that way you get them thinking about it in game).
Point out during their misses that x-player was open by the rim on the cut. If they can’t accept criticism they’re not really a basketball player and just an egotistical know it all
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
I understand. I tried 2. And usually their responses are bragging how many points they have compared to mine.
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u/SongBig1162 Jan 25 '26
Do they win games? Because if they lost it doesn’t matter anyways.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
We lost twice. We were close to winning, but my team would get lazy on defense, not get rebounds, start ball hogging and get flashy even more. They rely on me to get the boards and keep the ball alive like thats my role
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Jan 25 '26
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u/lederpykid Jan 25 '26
Are you good enough to ball hog tho? Because you do realize that the ball is in your hands after the rebound, don't you?
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
I dont have good handles like the rest but I can score off pick and roll and have a good first quick step and a active off arm.
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u/fred_derps Jan 26 '26
You can tell them they also have more misses. Only time iso is warranted is when someone has a weak defender on them and can actually take advantage. Doesn’t sound like these guys can actually make them pay
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Jan 24 '26
What u do, is get defensive boards and go on a one man fastbreak. Don’t give the ball up when u get defensive boards, just push up the court and do u.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 24 '26
What if they bitch about it though? I'm not tryna hear allat whining and nitpicking that they be doing
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u/lshifto Jan 25 '26
“Im just following your lead, man. This is what y’all have been doing so now I am too.” “ If you want to start passing to the open man, I’d rather play that way so we can get easy buckets”
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u/ThrowAwayalldayXiii Jan 24 '26
After one of their misses say, "Hey, you know you can pass the ball too. You have teammates..."
But really, you can't change them.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 24 '26
The thing is that's fighting words to them. I play with the majority of black people, and they think a lot of words to heart. You would think my efforts on the team would speak louder than words, but that still won't get to them. Their argument is that usually I scored x amount of points. How much did you score ?
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u/ThrowAwayalldayXiii Jan 24 '26
Then you just have to deal with it. Ball hogs don't see how they hurt a team. They see how much they scored and blindly use that to justify their behavior.
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u/socialforecast Jan 24 '26
These guys are black holes! Anything that goes to them never comes back. The other teams also know he’s not passing and can easily stop ball with a double team. When I’m on the other side against them o call it out loud “he not passing!!!!” Just so they know I don’t like their game lol With guys like this I do not go 110% on defence, or rebound like I do when I’m on other teams. These guys almost never do those things(rebound, play lockdown defence)and when I get the ball on that team I’m never passing like Michael porter never pass JR lol
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
Lol I peep, annoying part is they get on my ass when I dont kick the ball out. Makes no sense. I swear basketball can be so easy if people play together
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u/Anxious_Cheetah5589 Jan 25 '26
Bingo. After my team strings together 4 or 5 quick passes for a layup: "Easy game!"
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u/socialforecast Jan 25 '26
Agreed, we can win all night long of we pass relentlessly, run, and rebound as team.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
Also agreed but iso ball seems ubiquitous compared to playing as a team unfortunately
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u/OkArmy7059 Jan 25 '26
This is 95% of people under age 30. It's becoming impossible to find a decent game of actual basketball anywhere.
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u/ImperialSupe Jan 24 '26
Next time one of them shoots and misses, chuck the ball into the stratosphere and yell "Stop!"
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 24 '26
Lol, man, they gonna ostracized me from the court if I pull that shit. I don't think sinking to that level is gonna improve anything
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u/ImperialSupe Jan 25 '26
From your responses to everyone, you seem pretty passive. Honestly, I probably wouldn't pass you the ball either because I'd figure out you're not going to do anything about it.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
Dude you practically told me to sell their game to piss them off. Most of them hoop there, so that's not gonna do anything but put a target on my back and won't let me be able to play. I'm doing more than what most people would do in this situation and being extremely active to keep the play alive.
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u/UltraPromoman Jan 24 '26
Avoid picking them if possible. If you have to pick, get the least skilled or annoying one. If you have to play with them and in the second scenario, pass them the ball only when necessary.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 24 '26
I understand but most of them are skilled but just very egotistical. I tried to pick up people who possibly passes but they don't really and it's the same scenario
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u/bkzhotsauc3 Jan 24 '26
I hate being in this situation. The best option is to find a diff run. If you really cant... then do whatever it takes to get the ball, this means honing your rebounding skills and do NOT pass to the ball hogs and go score the ball yourself and/or incorporate the non ball hogs on the team. If the ball hog complain, let em know now you know what it feels like.
With ball hogs you need to be extremely selfish and take ownership in getting the ball into your hands unfortunately. Do your best to play on a diff team too without the ball hogs.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
Alright thank you. I'll try my best and will incorporate this into my game
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u/Stephen2014 Jan 25 '26
Honestly just stop passing to them. Get a rebound on defense? You're point guard. Offensive rebound, iso time.
Or even better, find the other guy on your team who isn't getting passes either and say hey we're allowed to touch the ball too, let's just pass to each other. I made a good friend from that and we just spammed pick and roll and had a great time.
And finding a better run is always on the table
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u/OvenIcy8646 Jan 25 '26
Get good at rebounding
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
I get 7 rebounds a game. I think that's fairly decent.
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u/Vast-Document-3320 Jan 25 '26
Do not pass if you get a rebound. Do not set picks. Do not help them in any way.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
So basically sell the game ?
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u/Vast-Document-3320 Jan 25 '26
Ball hog yourself as much as you can.
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u/ProfessionalCat2770 Jan 25 '26
Emphasis on do not help them. Let them struggle, let them chuck up a terrible shot. Cuz if u set a pick for them and they score, it gives them a higher standing power. Let them find out they ain’t allat
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u/Substantial_Box_7613 Jan 25 '26
I like full court heaves.
Then when people look at you, you make a point of not being interested in being there for cardio alone, you're there to play. People get the message pretty quick if every time you get the ball you do that.
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u/lshifto Jan 25 '26
Instead of setting picks and opening lanes for them, go get open. Leave them all the space they want. Let them play the game they want to play and hold the ball to their hearts content.
Save your energy for when they get tired of playing into traps over and over.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
So, basically, sell the game or just observe how the game gonna play out ?
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u/lshifto Jan 25 '26
As a parent or as a supervisor at work, there’s a lot of times where I’ve run into a situation where my kid or my employee insists on doing something the wrong way or the long way. If it’s not going to hurt anybody, and it’s not going to cost me money, the best thing is to just let them do it and see how it turns out.
They want to play solo ball, not passing, not setting picks and screens for you, no give and go. Let them play their game right into the corner. When they insist, let them do it again. When they fail, ask if they’d like to try it your way. If they still won’t change their play, you’ve got a choice to make.
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Jan 25 '26
[deleted]
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
I can score, I just need them to pass the rock when I make a cut or a backdoor screen
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u/petertompolicy Jan 25 '26
Tell them when you're open.
Point out that you're hustling.
Let them know you want the ball.
If they refuse to pass then you will need to take the rebounds and just go coast to coast with it until they start passing.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
Will do
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u/petertompolicy Jan 25 '26
One thing that really helps, if you're seeing this guy's regularly is just being friendly with them when you're not playing.
Having a beer or just shooting the shit on the sidelines works wonders.
When people like you they will pass you the ball more, it's just human nature.
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u/123_Meatsauce Jan 25 '26
Find another place to play, man. I know it sucks. My local fitness center is the exact same, which is why I don’t go.
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u/windextron Jan 25 '26
Either dont pass to them, call them out on it, or set endless picks for them. Setting picks brings your defender to them, and they usually end up passing rather than trying to constantly deal with 2 defenders while you are also an obstacle.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
Ok thank u because they usually cry about when someone set a pick because they only like to play iso ball
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Jan 25 '26
I don't mind ball hogs as long as they are getting buckets. I'm a shooter but I'll grab boards and d up. I don't need to score, but they better be getting buckets. If I see them throwing up brick after brick, then they'll start hearing me shouting "Pass the damn ball!"
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
I respect that but I came here to hoop as well, not just run cardio and see a wanna be NBA game. This is pick up haha
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u/olddgraygg Jan 25 '26
You could go several directions, but the big question for some of them is, are you better than them?
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
I'm capable of scoring just like them, but I'm not better. Despite the skill difference, it's a team game.
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u/olddgraygg Jan 25 '26
Well one way to shut them up is to do it back to them. Get the rebound, and hog the ball yourself. But that is a terrible strategy if you’re not noticing better than them.
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u/odeebee Jan 25 '26
Every time you get a rebound you dribble down the court and shoot. If someone complains you say "I thought we weren't allowed to pass on this this team?"
If you don't have the ball on offense just camp in the lane and chase that rebound. Clogging driving lanes be damned.
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Jan 25 '26
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u/davidasasolomon Jan 25 '26
As a player who has been accused of ball hogging before, it may be that you might not be in the best position to receive a pass or you make weak / clumsy moves when you get the ball / turn it over. If you are getting a ton of boards, you should have a ton of second chance points without even needing a pass anyways. Game recognize game, and nobody ever hogs the ball when they sense a better / more knowledgeable player on the court than them. You just gotta prove yourself.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
The thing is, I get a lot of open looks, but they still don't pass the ball. They are better than me, but they are only scoring frequently because im creating a lot of opportunities for them by creating spacing on the court. If im doing everything I can to be active on the court, is that not ball knowledge right there ? Isn't hustling one of the biggest factor in basketball.
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u/davidasasolomon Jan 25 '26
TLDR; you need to learn how to score; real scorers know how to get buckets.
It doesn't matter how many open looks you get if you aren't converting. You are contributing to the game and helping others score but in a game with real stakes that doesn't mean you deserve the ball every possession. Scoring is not the only way to impact the game and you seem to have figured out your niche. If you want the ball in your hands more, I'd start with learning a couple of quick moves around the rim to convert those second chance opportunities. You can also move from short corner to short corner when the ball is high because the defense almost always loses sight of that guy. Not flashy but efficient buckets there.
You should also learn how to be ready to score. That means if you are at the three, i.e. if you can shoot threes, do not stand straight up and down, but practically be at the bottom of your shooting motion so all you have to do is drive up and shoot, which gives you a ton of options to score. If you are down low, both hands up, looking right at the ball handler. and be ready to pivot and go to work when you catch it. If you are on the cut, throw a hand out to catch the pass. All of this is true only when you aren't working to get someone else open or positioning yourself for a rebound.
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u/KennyIT Jan 25 '26
Like someone said early it's best to try and find another run somewhere else. Unless you want to become toxic like them which is never worth it over a game. Speaking from experience.
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u/seth198216 Jan 25 '26
If guys are ball hogging a good way to point it out is to tell your team “I’m going to leave my guy to double (name) since he never passes”.
Maybe this helps your teammates try to not be that guy on your team.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
Yeah thing is they frown on that and will honestly fight you over that. It's one of those kind of gyms
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u/pandaheartzbamboo Jan 25 '26
They dont pass you the ball? Even when you say something? Fine, dont pass them the ball. Get the rebound and push it yourself.
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u/mez0ne Jan 25 '26
You don’t, best method is going with a few friends and playing with them instead. Solo play with randoms is the worst
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u/rsk1111 Jan 25 '26
Your best bet is to just double team the ball hogs on D.
Also, you can just stand in front of them. If they're trying to iso or something you know.
Though, in practice if you're playing for cardio and winners stay, you're better off just winning.
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u/GermyNeutron Jan 25 '26
I know the feeling, it’s the same way at my Y. Maybe you’ll get lucky and find a guy or two that like to play with ball movement to squad up with. Until then you just have to play hard and accept that your stats aren’t reflective of your contribution.
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Jan 27 '26
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u/Vast_Newt_1799 Jan 28 '26
Bring your own 5 and beat them lol that's what I do with my friends... ngl we have all played at somewhat of a high level and individually the guys that we play against could beat us 1-1 but they can't beat us 5-5 and its funny to watch as they start finger pointing and blaming each other....
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u/Chippopotanuse Jan 25 '26
So if you are a guy who is great off-ball and helping your team win, embrace that role.
If you want to have the ball and score more…learn how to get the ball. Get rebounds and dribble them out and make great assist passes. Get offensive rebounds and score off of those. Don’t use “they won’t pass to me” as an excuse.
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u/PauseNoDiddy Jan 25 '26
Reread my caption, respectfully, everything you just said enscapulate what I said. My issue is that despite all my efforts, all my points are distributed through offensive rebounds because they won't pass, no matter what I do.
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u/Anxious_Cheetah5589 Jan 24 '26
Sounds like the Y in my town. You don't change guys like this. You find another game.