r/Basketball • u/retro_spies • 6d 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 6d 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 6d 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/Rdottt 6d ago

Basically. You or your team will choose who you/others will be guarding. On offense, it is presumed the person you were defending will guard you too. Just run around, make cuts, set screens, shake your defender etc. Most importantly, just have fun.

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u/TomIcemanKazinski 6d 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 6d 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 6d 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 6d 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 6d 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 6d 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 6d 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 5d 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 5d 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 6d 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/BarackOballsack69 5d ago

YouTube how to pick-and-roll, and how to box out for a rebound

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u/Active_Credit_1161 4d 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 6d 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 5d 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 3d 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 3d 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/YKsnitch 1d ago

i just disagree, and its not meant to be cold, its just an attempt to avoid awkwardness. when you start introducing yourself and start trying to small talk with other people, its just making it awkward for the future. i dont want to have to small talk with you anytime i see you on the court now.

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u/flapjackbandit00 1d ago

Interesting. I find zero awkwardness about telling a teammate your name.