The Wide Steal: Why Wingspan (Not Reaching) Wins the Crossover Battle

The most common on-ball steal I see in the NBA right now isn't about reaching low or reaching forward. It's about using your wingspan wide.⁣
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Offensive players are coached to get great driving angles, get to your hips, and open them up. But if they're attacking that close to you, your wingspan can get to that jewel pocket before the ball does. You're not tracking the ball, you're anticipating it. It left the left hand, it has to go to the right hand. Just beat it to that spot.⁣
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I love breaking this down on the wall first. Simple drill, simple concept, and yet players constantly mistime it or reach in wrong. That tells you everything. Some guys are instinctively good at this and some have never practiced it a day in their life. If we want great finishes practiced, this deserves the same rep count.⁣
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Start on the wall. Progress to movement. Build it into live 1-on-1 where the only rule is they can cross over. Old school block practice, but it works. #shorts