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The Rise of Positionless Basketball: Why European Players Are Changing the Game

January 28, 2025 – Rob White

The Rise of Positionless Basketball: Why European Players Are Changing the Game
The Rise of Positionless Basketball: Why European Players Are Changing the Game

The Rise of Positionless Basketball: Why European Players Are Changing the Game

It’s widely accepted that the best basketball players in the world play in the NBA. But in recent years, some of the league’s most dominant players have been European stars—Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama, better known as Wemby, has shattered records in his first 100 NBA games, scoring more points, grabbing more rebounds, blocking more shots, and making more threes than any player in history.

What sets these European players apart? It comes down to how they learn the game compared to players in the United States. The key difference? Fundamentals.


How Players Are Developed: Europe vs. the U.S.

The European Approach: Fundamentals First

In Europe, basketball training prioritizes:

Shooting – Perfecting form, footwork, and consistency

Dribbling – Ambidextrous ball-handling under pressure

Passing – Precision with both hands, correct mechanics

Rebounding – Boxing out, reading shot trajectories

Defensive positioning – Understanding angles, rotations

Offensive spacing – Movement, timing, and court awareness

Most European training consists of skill development and structured drills, with gameplay used sparingly to test progress. Players spend hours mastering individual skills before they ever compete in full-speed scrimmages.


The U.S. Approach: More Games, Less Development

In the United States, the focus is heavily skewed toward gameplay, particularly through travel basketball and AAU tournaments.

🛑 The problem? Most players spend far more time playing games than actually working on their skills.

A typical U.S. player:

Travels long distances to play multiple weekend tournaments

Plays 2-3 games per day during peak AAU season (March–July)

Practices with their team only 1-2 times per week

Rarely engages in structured skill development

Even in team practices, most time is spent on plays and strategy, rather than improving core fundamentals. The result? Players develop bad habits, such as:

Over-reliance on pressing defenses (instead of sound positioning)

Gambling for steals (instead of moving their feet)

Reaching on defense (instead of staying in front)

Poor shot selection (chucking deep threes or forcing drives)

Minimal ball movement (one or two passes before a rushed shot)

This lack of emphasis on fundamentals has led to a skill gap, which becomes clear at the highest levels of basketball.


Kobe Bryant’s Criticism of AAU Basketball

The late, great Kobe Bryant—who grew up playing in Italy before moving to the U.S.—was an outspoken critic of AAU basketball.

In a 2011 interview, he famously said:

“AAU is the worst thing to happen to college basketball. These kids aren’t getting good coaching. They’re playing too many games and not working on their game enough.”

Kobe understood that true skill development happens in the off-season, not through an endless cycle of games. Players need to put in focused repetition at game speed to refine their skills.


The Rise of Positionless Basketball

This overemphasis on gameplay has stunted the development of all-around players in the U.S. In contrast, European training produces versatile, positionless players—and Nikola Jokić is the perfect example.

From Shaq to Jokić: A Shift in Playing Style

Twenty years ago, the role of a 7-footer was simple:

🏀 Rebound

🏀 Protect the rim

🏀 Score in the paint

The best big men—like Shaquille O’Neal—dominated inside but lacked skills like shooting, passing, and ball-handling. Shaq, for example, was:

A poor free-throw shooter (career 53% FT)

Not a primary playmaker

Offensively, ineffective beyond dunks and layups

Compare that to Nikola Jokić, who has completely redefined the center position.


Jokić by the Numbers

In the 2024-2025 season, Jokić has ranked:

📊 2nd in scoring (31.5 PPG)

📊 3rd in rebounds (13 RPG)

📊 2nd in assists (9.7 APG)

📊 1st in 3P% (47.3%)

📊 81% FT shooter

He brings the ball up the floor, orchestrates the offense, makes pinpoint passes, spaces the floor with his shooting, and defends at a high level.

This all-around skill set is why positionless basketball is taking over the NBA.


What U.S. Players Can Learn from the European Model

1. More Skill Development, Less Gameplay

U.S. players need to reverse the ratio of training to competition. Instead of playing several games per week, focus on:

Daily shooting form work

Ball-handling drills under pressure

Passing mechanics & decision-making

Game-speed drills for finishing at the rim

Reading defensive and offensive schemes

2. Master the Fundamentals (Even If You Think You Have)

The best players in the world still practice the basics every day:

🏀 Passing with precision (two hands, proper follow-through)

🏀 Dribbling equally well with both hands

🏀 Shooting with proper mechanics and consistency

🏀 Defensive footwork and positioning

🏀 Rebounding fundamentals, regardless of size

3. Play Basketball the Right Way

Forget flashy, inefficient play that doesn’t translate to real competition. Instead, embrace:

Smart shot selection (not just deep threes and forced drives)

Ball movement and spacing

Understanding multiple positions (not just playing one role)

Getting teammates involved


Final Thoughts

The positionless player is changing the game, and U.S. players must adapt. The key? Prioritizing skill development over excessive gameplay.

Instead of spending weekends playing back-to-back AAU games, dedicate time to:

Becoming a great shooter

Becoming a great passer

Becoming a great ball-handler

Becoming a great rebounder

Becoming a student of the game

Every player—regardless of size—should strive to impact the game in every way possible. That’s the future of basketball.


How Perfec’Shot Can Help

At Perfec’Shot, we’re dedicated to helping players refine their shooting mechanics. Our training aids eliminate off-hand interference, ensuring a pure, one-hand shot—just like the best shooters in the game.

📢 Want to improve your shooting form?

Check out Perfec’Shot and start building a fundamentally sound jump shot today! 🚀🏀

 

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