Two Turkish Airlines EuroLeague passing aces – Luke Sikma and Thomas Walkup of Olympiacos Piraeus – stopped by to tell us a bit more about the art of passing, its fundamentals and its possibilities.
When asked about the three things that make up a good pass, each of them had different answers, however.
"For me? It's the why, who and where," Walkup says. Sikma sees it a little bit differently. "Timing, space and tempo."
Usually, the flashiest part of the game is when the ball goes through the hoop in a myriad of ways, but passing is a crucial part of the game that should never be overlooked. Sikma and Walkup can attest to that, especially during the process of learning how to become a great passer.
"I learn the most off of playing. Passing is really a feel thing," Sikma explains. "You learn best in real time, and you also learn from mistakes. Nobody likes a turnover!"
The video continues with both players teaching us their three fundamental types of passes. Walkup chooses the basic route with the bounce pass, the chest pass and then allows for a little creativity with a left-hook pass.
Sikma takes it all the way from the beginning with "his" bounce pass, the behind-the-back and – for the advanced students ¬– a trick pass off the elbow.
"Study the fundamentals, keep it simple," is Walkup's advice to the younger students of the game. "Step by step, that will lead you to success."