An offensive player who is in position to pass, shoot, or dribble the ball is at a particular advantage—so much so that they are said to be in a triple-threat position.
What Is Triple-Threat Position in Basketball?
A triple-threat basketball position is a posture where a player can do one of three things: dribble the ball, pass the ball, or shoot the ball. A player in triple-threat stance keeps their center of gravity low with one foot forward, and they hold the ball close to their hip away from the defender.
How to Get Into Triple-Threat Position
In order to get into triple-threat position, you generally must be the recipient of a pass. Because the rules of basketball prohibit double dribbling, you cannot be a triple-threat if you have already dribbled the ball. Assuming you are eligible to dribble, perform the following moves to get into triple-threat position.
- Receive a pass with both hands. You'll want both hands on the ball from this point forward.
- Square up toward the basket. You're only a threat to score if you have a good angle toward the basket, so position your torso properly.
- Establish a pivot foot. You cannot walk with the ball in your hands (that's a traveling penalty), but you can pivot around one planted foot. Practice your footwork to get this pivot move exactly right4. Extend the elbow of your dominant hand. Extending your elbow indicates you might start dribbling.
- 5. Fake out your defender. Try faking out your defender by taking a jab step with your non-pivot foot. You can also try head fakes to get the defender moving in one direction before you shoot, pass, or dribble in the other direction.
