How to Play Basketball Fast: 7 Essential Drills for Speed and Agility

You know, watching a player like Jason Perkins explode for 19 points in a crucial win, you can’t help but notice it’s rarely just about raw power. It’s about that first step that leaves a defender flat-footed, the quick change of direction to lose your man on a cut, and the explosive leap to snag a key rebound. That performance, where he went 6-of-12 from the field and grabbed five boards to help Phoenix snap a losing streak, is a clinic in playing fast within the flow of the game. Speed and agility aren't just for the track star on the team; they're the foundational elements that separate a good player from a game-changer. Over the years, both from my own playing days and from analyzing countless hours of film, I’ve come to believe that specific, targeted drills are the only way to build this kind of functional basketball speed. It’s not about just running laps. It’s about training your nervous system and muscles to react, decelerate, and re-accelerate in the context of the game. So, let’s ditch the generic advice and dive into seven essential drills that I personally rely on and have seen deliver real, tangible results on the court.

First, let’s talk about the cornerstone of all athletic movement: the stance. You can’t be fast if you’re standing straight up. I’m a huge advocate for defensive slide drills, but with a twist. Don’t just slide back and forth mindlessly. Set up cones in a zig-zag pattern across the full length of the court. Start in a low, aggressive defensive stance—knees bent, back straight, weight on the balls of your feet. The goal isn’t just to reach the other end; it’s to maintain that perfect posture while moving laterally with maximum effort. I like to do three sets of this, with a 45-second rest in between. The moment your form breaks down, you stop. This builds the specific endurance for staying low and reactive, just like Perkins had to be when fighting for positioning on those five rebounds. Next, we move to something more explosive: the 3/4 Court Sprint with a Change of Direction. Start under one basket, sprint at about 80% intensity to the far free-throw line, then immediately perform a sharp, controlled jump-stop. From there, backpedal quickly to half-court, then sprint full-out to the opposite baseline. This drill mimics a fast break scenario where you might receive a pass, survey the defense, and then make your final burst to the rim. I’ve found that doing six to eight repetitions of this, focusing on the crispness of the jump-stop, does wonders for game-speed transitions.

Now, agility is nothing without the ability to control your body. For that, nothing beats the classic Lane Agility Drill, often used in NBA pre-draft combines. You start at the intersection of the baseline and the key, sprint to the free-throw line, shuffle across the lane, backpedal to the opposite baseline, and then shuffle back to your starting point. It sounds simple, but the key is touching every line with your hand and exploding out of each direction change. An excellent time for a guard is under 11 seconds, but when you’re starting, just focus on beating your own previous mark. I prefer this over simpler shuttle runs because it incorporates every movement plane. Another personal favorite, one that I think is criminally underused, is the Reactive Cone Drill. Set up four cones in a square, each about ten feet apart. Stand in the middle. Have a partner or coach point randomly to a cone, and you must sprint, touch it, and return to the center before reacting to the next direction. This isn’t about pre-planned patterns; it’s about training your brain and body to react instantly, simulating how you must respond to a sudden pass or a defender’s unexpected move. We’d do this for three sets of 60 seconds, and let me tell you, by the end, your mind is as tired as your legs.

Ball-handling at speed is a different beast entirely. That’s where the Two-Ball Dribbling Series comes in. Stationary drills are fine for basics, but to improve speed, you need to move. I’ll do two-ball dribbles while walking, then jogging, then sprinting in a straight line—first both balls pounding in sync, then alternating. Then, incorporate crossovers and behind-the-back moves while advancing up the court. The coordination required forces your weak hand to catch up and builds an incredible comfort level with the ball, allowing you to operate at top speed without thinking. Perkins’ efficiency (that 50% shooting clip in his big game) often stems from being under control and ready to shoot even after rapid movement; this drill builds that capacity. For pure, unadulterated footwork and leaping power, I swear by Box Jumps with a Lateral Component. Don’t just jump onto a box and down. Place a box or a sturdy platform to your side. From the ground, jump laterally onto it, land softly with both feet, step down, and immediately repeat on the other side. This builds the kind of elastic, reactive strength that powers quick second jumps for rebounds and rapid lateral cuts. I’d typically aim for four sets of ten reps per side, focusing on minimizing ground contact time.

Finally, we have to integrate everything. The “Suicide” with a Ball is my go-to finisher. Run a classic suicide sprint—touch the free-throw line, baseline, half-court, baseline, opposite free-throw line, and full court—but dribble a basketball the entire time. The challenge is to maintain control of your dribble when you are utterly fatigued. This is where mental toughness meets physical conditioning. It directly translates to those crucial moments in the fourth quarter when you’re tired, the game is close, and you still need to push the ball up the floor with pace and precision. In my view, if you can execute this drill well when exhausted, you’ve built the kind of game speed that holds up under pressure.

So, there you have it. Building basketball speed isn't a mystery. It's a deliberate process of training your body to move efficiently and explosively in basketball-specific patterns. These seven drills—from the foundational defensive slides to the integrative, grueling ball-handling suicides—form a comprehensive system. They target the exact energy systems and neuromuscular pathways you use in a game. Remember, watching a player like Perkins contribute 19 points on efficient shooting isn't just about talent; it's very often the result of this exact kind of unglamorous, repetitive, and focused work off the court. Start incorporating these into your training regimen, be consistent, and you’ll be shocked at how much quicker and more impactful you become on the floor. The game, after all, is often won by those who can think and move just one step faster.