If you want to understand how NBA players train, it’s important to ask yourself: What am I actually seeing? Most coaches and players try to emulate what they see NBA players doing, assuming that the best players in the world must be following the best training methods. While this logic makes sense on the surface, it overlooks a critical flaw: the moments that outsiders get to see NBA players training are not the moments when true development is happening.
Where SOME Coaches Get It Wrong
There are two main times when the general public gets a glimpse into NBA player training:
- Media Availability at Practice
- Pre-Game Warmups
These are the two most visible moments where cameras are rolling and social media clips circulate, yet neither of them reflect true skill development. Let’s break them down.
1. The Illusion of Practice
Most NBA teams allow the media into practice for a short window. The problem? This isn’t real practice. Having been in the gym at these times, I can tell you that all of the meaningful work was done in the three hours before the media was let in. By the time cameras start rolling, players are cooling down, getting up light shots, or doing controlled drills for the sake of routine.
Yet, because this is what the public sees, it becomes the representation of NBA training in the minds of many coaches. In reality, the best skill development work is done behind closed doors, long before the media enters the building.
2. Pre-Game Warmups Are Not Development
The second common misconception comes from watching NBA players before games. Players go through their routines, working on specific shots they’ll take in that night’s game. Many young players and coaches copy these routines, assuming that if an NBA player does it, it must be the best way to train.
But here’s what most people don’t understand: Pre-game is not a time for development. It’s a time for preparation.
A player warming up before a game is focused on:
- Getting comfortable with their shot
- Finding their rhythm
- Feeling confident in the specific shots they will take that night
They are not focused on developing new skills. They aren’t trying to change their form, improve their balance, or add new layers to their game. The purpose of pre-game work is completely different from the purpose of a developmental workout. Yet many coaches unknowingly treat pre-game routines as a model for skill development, missing the foundational work that actually leads to long-term improvement.
Attention young hoopers:
1st Team All NBA hooper, Jayson Tatum, starts his workout with FORM SHOOTING
If it’s good enough for the the pros, you shouldn’t be big timing it
(Via @BobbyKrivitsky 🎥)
pic.twitter.com/LMICeTMKNi— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) February 10, 2025
An example of a common misconception. Someone, outside the gym, takes video of a player and a coach, and assumes that this is practice or development time. In my experience, having been in this situation many times, I can tell you that these situations are often two people that work together talking about what they had for dinner the evening before.
The Role of Periodization in Training
A big reason for this misunderstanding is that many coaches aren’t aware of the Periodization of Skills Training (PoST) framework. Without understanding periodization, coaches assume that all training is “development,” when in reality, there are different types of training with different purposes.
Most coaches unknowingly overuse Performance Training, which is about maintaining skills in a game-ready state, and underuse:
- Movement Coordination Training – Helping players explore and refine movement patterns.
- Skill Adaptability Training – Teaching players how to transfer their skills to game situations.
If you’re only doing Performance Training, you’re not actually developing new skills. You’re just reinforcing what’s already there.
The Problem with Social Media and Coaching Clinics
Beyond media access and pre-game routines, there are two other ways that coaches learn about skill development: social media and coaching clinics. Both come with their own issues.
1. Social Media Training Content
Social media is full of trainers posting workouts with NBA players. The problem? Many of these trainers aren’t educated in their craft. They coach based on opinion and personal experience, rather than research-backed principles. And because social media prioritizes engagement, trainers often focus on what looks impressive rather than what is actually effective.
2. Coaching Clinics: Expertise Isn’t Guaranteed
Coaching clinics should be a great resource, but they have a flaw: many of the presenters are not experts in the topics they present on.
It’s easy to assume that an NBA head coach is an expert in all areas of coaching, but that’s rarely the case. NBA head coaches excel at:
- Managing teams and staff
- Making tactical decisions
- Communicating with players
- Game Management
- And many other aspects of the game.
But many have little to no background in skill development. The best ones recognize their blind spots and hire specialists to handle these areas. Yet, when these same head coaches are invited to speak at a coaching clinic, they’re sometimes assigned topics they aren’t truly proficient in.
The result? Coaches hear an NBA head coach talk about skill development—even if that’s not their area of expertise—and take their words as gospel, reinforcing many of the same misconceptions that already exist.
The Consequences of These Misconceptions
When coaches misunderstand what true skill development looks like, players suffer. The most common problems include:
- Inefficient Training – Players copy workouts that aren’t designed for actual improvement.
- Stagnation – Players fail to develop adaptability, movement coordination, or new skills.
- Misplaced Priorities – Coaches focus on Performance Training instead of true developmental work.
What Coaches Should Do Instead
If you want to improve how you train players, start by asking yourself these questions:
- Am I focusing on skill development or game preparation?
- Am I providing opportunities for Movement Coordination and Skill Adaptability?
- Am I relying on social media workouts or research-backed principles?
- Am I learning from true skill development experts, or just big names?
The best coaches don’t blindly copy what they see—they seek to understand why certain training methods work. By shifting from imitation to education, you can help players develop skills that truly translate to games.
Final Thought
NBA players do work on their skills—but they do it in ways that most people never see. If you want to train like the best, don’t copy what’s publicly visible. Dig deeper. Learn the nuances of periodization. Focus on development, not just performance.
If we can shift how coaches approach training, we can create better shooters, smarter players, and a culture of true skill development.
