What does it take to be a great basketball player? The fact is that it requires more than just talent. You have to practice, learn and work hard to be able to become a basketball great. Start by reading this article in full to absorb all the advice it provides you.

One of the first things you need to learn when it comes to basketball is how to guard the ball. To help develop the skills needed for this, ask your friends for a friendly game of basketball. Invite some players who are skilled to teach you how to guard the ball.

Make sure that you practice teamwork when you are on the court, or people may have a hard time dealing with you. You may want to impress others on the court, and this may give you the idea that you should shoot the ball yourself, but it would be best to pass the ball to someone who is open.

Every shot should have an arc. The ball should arc at the highest point, then began descending toward the goal. This arc helps keep the ball on course. Learn how to consistently shoot using the same arc for best results. As you practice, you will learn what works best for you.

Work on becoming a more clever basketball player, rather than trying to master a few clever plays. Your opponents will eventually figure out your plays, but will have difficulty if they cannot anticipate your overall playing ability. Learn to be surprising, quick thinking and more agile in your ability to get the ball and work the court.

Stop and ask your coach what you can do to help the team improve. Basketball is a team sport and every component must be working towards a common goal. The coach is there to offer guidance and provide instruction. Ask if there’s anything specific you can do to help and follow his advice.

You may get injured while practicing or playing. Don’t try to play if you are hurt. This is a physically challenging game, so you may end up hurt much worse. Being tough is one thing, but playing through injury can only harm you even further and make the problem much worse. Be sure to talk to a doctor if you feel that the injury isn’t going away.

Being able to anticipate your opponent is a key skill. Watch tapes and stay up on scouting reports. For example, you might look to see which players favor their left side and which have dominant right hands. The more you understand what you are up against, the more likely you are to develop an effective strategy during games. Knowledge can make you a strong defender.

If you want to be a top star on the court, use these tips to better your game. Practice every day so that you can learn them through and through. If you start to use expert advice when you play, you will find that you become an expert yourself over time.