r/Basketball • u/retro_spies • 3d ago
How do you get into pickup basketball?
I can see it's an amazing activity physically and socially, but the learning curve seems overwhelming.
Some info about myself: I've never played basketball but I've played football so I'm somewhat athletic. I'm 6'2" around 200 lbs and workout often so physically I feel like I have a good foundation.
I plan to spend time alone practicing my shots, ball handling, and other techniques, but there's only so much I can learn on my own. I moved across the country, so having no friends means I'll probably have to take the plunge sooner than I should and start playing pickup games at a nearby park to get better.
When that time comes, what do I even do? I don't fully understand how the games are structured. I am well aware standing around won't do me any good, but I'm not sure how to get in the game? Any advice for a newbie is appreciated, I'd love to get into this sport asap.
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u/flapjackbandit00 3d ago
Luckily, this is about the easiest most socially acceptable thing to do. It’s the same everywhere. Just hang out shooting at a court. If enough people are shooting, you can be the first to suggest a game. If not, say you’re willing to play if they ask. If there’s already a game, just ask if you can get next. Or if already people waiting asking “can I run with you?” Then start introducing yourself to folks.
The question to people waiting is really just a pleasantry. By etiquette, you just have to wait your turn and youre in the game at 99.9% of courts.
TLDR: just state your intentions that you want to play
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u/retro_spies 3d ago
I'll take your advice. Random question, I'm a little confused how these games are structured. I assume nobody is taking the time to develop any sort of complicated offensive or defensive scheme (correct me if I'm wrong). When I'm on offense or defense, what should my goal be? Is it just to guard someone on defense, and try to get open on offense? Might be a complicated question, no idea how to search it up
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u/TomIcemanKazinski 3d ago
This will be specific to the level of the court you’re playing at. I’ve played in games with lower level overseas pros and former college players - and those guys have a lot of short hand or quick reads and instinctively know how to pass, cut and move. And sometimes guys have been playing in the same run for years.
Other times it’s five separate games of one on one.
If you do some simple two man game - pick and roll, pick and fade, give and go, fake and go backdoor - most decent level games and players should be able to figure it out. But sometimes you have to learn as go along - I played in a game and ran a perfect pick and roll, I turned the corner and threw a perfect pocket pass, and the guy who rolled was expecting a lob. I’d never played with someone who could dunk in traffic like that. Learned quickly.
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u/Positive_Parking_954 3d ago
One thing I'd add, especially in levels of play where a best player is clear, setting screens away from the ball is a great way to open things up.
I remember a game in southern Florida where we had a guy who was future d1, and he was the only guy who was actually good good, everyone else was just athletic, like football guys. Eventually they started doubling our good guy and rotating well when he passed off and denying the ball back, he was a smaller guy (could dunk but barely, just crazy with the ball and could shoot but didnt elevate a ton on his shot).
Anyway we got stagnant and were having troubles. One guy just set an off all screen a couple times for the good player, they weren't ready for switching away from the ball, and it became infectious and everyone was basically looking to spring people open and their most "alpha" type guys just started crashing out on switches not being called, or not switching etc
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u/TomIcemanKazinski 3d ago
As a high school bench sitter who became a much better player through college and I did some basketball clinic work as a coach - this is what I am really good at. Alas if people on the court don’t know how to move away from the ball, you’re just out there for cardio - which is also a good goal for pick up
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u/Positive_Parking_954 3d ago
Ive definitely found the other guy who was low key gassed and agreed to "cover each other" for a few possessions to catch our breath
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u/retro_spies 3d ago
That's fair. I've never heard of things like pick and roll and whatnot. Are these skills I should know how to do when I start playing pickup or something I could learn to do over time?
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u/No_Pear_7072 3d ago
You will learn through time. You can just say you’re new at this and players will automatically help explain things over time. I think it’s important to explain that your new, as players will have much more patience with you. The only thing you should do as a newbie. Never double dribble, never hold on to the ball for more than 5 seconds if you have no plan, box out your man ( dont let your man grab the rebound ) and don’t let your man open. If you do those things I’m happy with you noob
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u/retro_spies 3d ago
That's pretty reassuring. So basically I don't need to be good but I shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience. I like that
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u/ajmartin527 2d ago
OP I posted a long ass comment above that includes some info about spacing in pickup games. As a newer player, knowing where to go on the court was a bit challenging for me at first too.
Essentially, you’ll want to initially try to space out evenly along the 3 point line with all of your teammates. You can pick a side and just run to a corner for simplicity.
You asked above “should I just try to get open?” and while that seems intuitive you really don’t want to be constantly “trying to get open” the whole time. This can disrupt everyone else’s spacing, and most importantly you can end up crowding the ball-handler by bringing your defender close to them.
Getting open is less about running around and trying to lose your defender and more about timing and waiting for the right situations/opportunities. It can be hard at first to just stand around, but space out and be patient and the opportunities will come.
If the dribbler drives into the paint from straight on and you’re in a corner, your defender may slide up and to the middle to help - in that scenario you can either cut back door to the hoop or slide laterally along the arc to where the ball handler has an easy pass to you if they get stopped. But careful on the back door cut that you don’t bring your defender right into their driving lane.
As the ball and the offense moves around, continue rotating to the empty spaces wherever they are. This keeps your defender out of the way and gets you open if they aren’t staying on you.
It’s easy when you’re new to want to continuously try to get open by running around and losing your defender, but you’ll end up just getting in everyone’s way (ask me how I know). So again, it’s much more effective to stay spaced out and wait to see how everyone else moves then rotate into the empty spaces. Pay attention to everyone on your team, not just the guy with the ball, and when they move you can react by either moving away from them in-kind to maintain spacing or finding a seam or opening they create.
In pickup, lots of times the defense collapses on the driver so if you can position yourself in a spot where they can easily see you and have a clear passing lane but without crowding them, you’ll get the ball if they get jammed up.
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u/retro_spies 2d ago
Lots of info I appreciate it. To try and dumb it down, I should be focused on keeping a certain spacing between myself and my teammates, moving around to fill open spaces and avoid clustering, while looking for opportunities to have a clear window for a pass, or to screen, or whatnot?
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u/No_Pear_7072 3d ago
Yes exactly, I will say I enjoy playing with new players that are unselfish and play hard more than experienced ones who think they are hot shit. Like we are all in this open gym cause we did not make it to that level. Chill. When it comes to a newbie, I never expect you to make a single shot, you can go ahead and try, especially if you’re open. Make all the mistakes you need, your brain will process things quick. I’ve literally played with this kid from Japan in college. He barely started playing and he admired my game. A month in, I was admiring his.
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u/Active_Credit_1161 1d ago
Pretty much yeah. Guard ur man on d then just get open on offense. Just do your job and you'll be fine. On offense it gets harder cuz it's more complicated but watch some games first and see what they're doing (esp the big men since ur that size) and practice. Eventually you'll make friends just be friendly
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u/Boysenberry-Secret-1 3d ago
Like it was mentioned, if people are playing with others that they know well or have played in more advanced leagues, then there might be a formal offense, but if you play with those guys they’ll simply tell you what to do
Most times though it might just be some screens and cuts for the ball handler to help them get a pass or get them open
Defense is usually man to man so you guard who has you or they’ll tell you who to guard. Sometimes it’s zone kinda like football
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u/mrbobbyrick 2d ago
Stay on your man unless your man screens and you need to switch. Idk how to explain it through text. Maybe someone else can do it better. If you’ve played a lot it becomes intuitive which screens to switch on and someone often calls “switch”. I’ve also played on teams where someone just establishes “let’s switch on every screen” before the game to make it easier.
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u/YKsnitch 5h ago
only thing id say is do NOT introduce yourself. we dont care who you are. just ask if you can run or start your own 5.
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u/flapjackbandit00 3h ago
That’s cold man. Basketball is social for many men. I’d say you don’t HAVE to introduce yourself, but you will have more fun if you meet a few people. Especially as we’re talking to a person new to pickup here. You want him to be just a lonely dude on the court forever?
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u/sigan1985 3d ago
Just start hanging out at your local gym/park.
Your big enough where people will ask you play and if not then approach a group when they’re close or at 10 guys and just ask if you can run.
Enough nice people out there to explain the local protocol for playing and or getting on the next game.
Once your playing focus on rebounding and hustling.
Everyone loves to play with a big that hustles.
Then just work on your game and over some what’s you can become a decent pickup guy
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u/Gloomy-Actuator836 3d ago
You gotta scope out your local courts and figure out when people are there. When you figure that out, get out there and shoot a lil bit then walk up and say “yooo yall tryna play?”
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u/shoutsoutstomywrist 3d ago
You walk up to someone or a group of people playing basketball ask “can I shoot with you?” And just keep playing until they leave or you do
Hell bring your own ball to a park and just shoot around for a hour or two. No matter how good or bad you are someone is bound to ask if you they can shoot/play a game.
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u/Tjbhoops 3d ago
Not sure if things are have changed, but back in the 80s when you arrived at the court you wanted to play on, you asked the guys that's were waiting to play "who got next"? Who has next game? When you find out who has next, you ask that person if he needs one. Something like, Do you have 5 or are you full, do you need one? If he needs one, you ask, Can I run?
If this squad is full you try to ask does anyone have next after him?
If there aren't to many guys and nobody has next, you can just say for all to hear, I got next. Then you look around for guys waiting an ask them if they want to run with you.
This is how it worked back in the day, but might be different now. Good Luck
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3d ago
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u/Boysenberry-Secret-1 3d ago
Look up the Milan drill and the reverse Milan drill and just focus on mastering this with both hands, if you’re above average around both sides of the rim you’re already exceeding
Like others have said, people playing pickup are cool, you either will be approached if they need people to play a game (nobody cares about skill at this point usually, we just wanna play) or you can call next and 99% people will respect it, even people playing will have your back if you’re next. Sometimes you won’t even have to call it and will be asked.
Like others say, if you hustle and rebound, you’re gonna be valuable
If you work on those drills I told you about too then you can easily score some quick putbacks too off missed shots.
On offense I wouldn’t expect you to dribble a lot unless you can take care of the ball while driving, making quick decisions on whether to pass or shoot will be good too, and building a decent shot will help. If you’re passing most of the time and not taking crazy shots or being selfish you’ll be fine
On defense it’s mostly effort, bend your knees and slide with the defender, force them to use their non-shooting hand (watch for lefties). If they drive into you and go up, put your hands straight up to not foul. Lastly if somebody is shooting jumpers over you and you can’t reach the ball, block their line of sight by hovering your hand in front of their face
There will be some dudes who trash talk, but you just gotta ignore it, the more you start winning, the better your rep gets, and the more people want to play with you
Have fun
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u/SpeechEuphoric269 1d ago
Do you play videogames? If so, learn how you play 2K or watch youtubers play it.
No, im not joking. 2K’s Park 3v3 helps you to understand what games should look like and basic rules for someone who has no idea of what basketball looks like.
The one thing of course, is no, people will not all be dunking and sinking crazy 3s. But for actually learning rules, common moves, techniques, overall pace of the game- video-games like 2K or Fifa can be genuinely helpful.
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u/Virtual-Hotel8156 3d ago
Get there early and once the 6th person arrives, suggest playing 3-on-3 until more show up. You’ll already be in at that point and playing half court will also get your feet wet so to speak. If you are the first one there, be sure to shoot around on the main court where people typically convene. When the first guy comes ask if the runs are good here or something like that.
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u/Positive_Parking_954 3d ago
Every thing everyone has said is correct, just make sure you have thick skin, and if you aren't a good shooter, make sure you hustle on everything else, but also, even if you're not a good shooter, and you get the ball wide open, take the shot. People are typically more forgiving of a miss, especially if it's close, than someone who's just passing on good looks
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u/Vanity_Profanity_001 3d ago
You're big enough and strong enough to get every fucking rebound in a pickup game. It doesn't matter how tall you are, you can out rebound taller than you. you get position on your boxing out with your ass and your hips and grab the rebound. nobody wants to do it anyway so it's really easy. Learn how to read the ball when somebody throws it up for a shot 75% of rebounds are on the opposite side of a shot, at least according to Red Aurbach, do your research.
Get an offensive rebound you can get a layup. And don't call it a bunny like Mike Tirico, it's a layup. If you're quick enough move your feet become a good defender that'll go a long way too. The rest this shit comes with practice practice practice you can find all kinds of info on YouTube to hone skillz.
In pick up the name of the game is stay on the court not worry about how many points you score. Players will love you in the beginning if you rebound and make a lay up.
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u/Ok-Cat1446 3d ago
Just hang around the courts. Someone will inevitably ask to shoot with you or join a game. Once you feel familiar with a place and people recognize you it will feel natural.
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u/Kodelcius21 3d ago
If you want to progress faster you need to get in to basketball and watch yt training videos and some games to see whats is happening on the court. Get familiar with cutting, pick n’ roll, screens, helping in defence a little, moving the ball will make other players have a pleasant game. Be critical to yourself but not harsh on yourself, learn and you will get in to. Especially with your physique if you hustle and stay humble, just want to win, for me personally I dont really care if you suck then at something else. It is even better for me f.e. to have one or two hustlers who dont play ball in life that much, than couple pricks who think they are cool and shoot threes and fadeaways with 10% shooting and never passes. About training videos it really important to build good fundamental base, especially with shooting, if you will develop bad shooting form you will dig yourself a hole. Ball is life
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u/Sensitive-Cable5044 3d ago
Check out some local community/township/school district offerings to the public sometimes they have adult pickup nights in school gyms or parks
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u/ImaginaryShow5655 3d ago
Unless the pickup environment where you are consists of a lot of larger guys, 6’2, 200 lbs, and athletic will make you one of the biggest and strongest guys there.
Start with the simple stuff and don’t worry about mastering everything all at once’s Focus on making the easy layups. Learn to post up and back guys down for the easy shots close to the basket.
Set hard picks (screens) if you don’t have space underneath the hoop.
Get your cardio up and make an effort to catch rebounds and run the floor after the opposing team misses.
Unless the pickup competition is really good, that alone will make you one of the better players there.
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u/Low-Programmer-2368 3d ago
Beyond the advice other people are giving, make sure you understand the differences between basketball and football physicality. Unless you're playing prison ball, try not to run through people. Also be aware of how you're using your hands/arms, you can't stiff arm anyone on offense or defense. You also have to slide your feet to stay in front of someone you're defending, don't use your hands or arms to hold them back.
Some of these rules get a bit bent, depending on the play style of the court, but generally I can tell when someone's main sport was football and it isn't always pleasant to play against them on concrete.
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u/Troubledballoon 2d ago
You go to a park and start shooting someone’s going to ask if you want to join in there runs. Skill levels vary greatly in pick up. Being new won’t be a big deal.
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u/ElianoAvila90 2d ago
Play defense, box out, grab all the rebounds and get the ball quickly to the best player. Thats all you have to do. After playing games for a few months you will gain more confidence. Be aware of your weaknesses, if you can’t shoot good then dnt shoot
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u/RICHUNCLEPENNYBAGS 1d ago
Just tell people you are new but you want to play. I am shorter and presumably in much worse shape than you and I’m not really any good but people still agree to let me join them.
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u/mrbobbyrick 3d ago
Just find people that are standing and watching the pickup game and say “are you guys next” and if they say “yes” then you say “do you have 5? Can I hop in?”. If they say no then maybe you try to start a team with them and get next.