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3 Proven Tips to Scoring More Points

Be sure to warm up properly before each game

Larry Bird, one of the greatest players in NBA history used to get to the arena hours before a game and shoot hundreds of jump shots so that he could groove his shot and be ready for the game. Getting a feel for the ball, and your shot in a groove before the game is a key to having a good scoring night.

Think about is this way: if you were taking a big shot late in a game, would you rather have already taken 15 or 20 shots during the game so that you were warmed up and in a groove, or would you rather have just come off the bench, totally cold, not having taken a shot the whole game? I think the answer is pretty obvious. So make sure you get your shot warmed up and grooved before a game. Work on some form shooting drills, jump shots, and free throws so that your shot is ready to go right from the opening tip.

Get going early

Another key to having a big scoring night is to try to get going early in the game. If you can score a few quick baskets in the first couple of minutes, even before everyone is really warmed up and into the game, you'll have given yourself a leg up in the scoring column and put yourself on track for a big scoring night.

Some players think they can take a few minutes at the start of the game to get warmed up. They think hitting basket at the start of the game isn't a big deal because the score is still 0-0. I say that's crazy. If I hit a basket in the first 30 seconds of the game, I think to myself that I only need 4 more buckets and I'll be in double figures. Scorers think they can sneak in 1 or 2 baskets early in the game before their opposition has broken a sweat.

Think about it: if you score 4 or 6 points in the first couple of minutes, and only score 2 or 3 more baskets the whole rest of the game, you'll have a double-digit scoring game. And getting a few baskets early is a huge confidence builder. Once you hit a couple of early shots, it's easier to score later in the game because your confidence is high and you're more likely to be in the zone.

Don't underestimate the importance of free throws

Some people think a missed free throw is no big deal. Well, it is a big deal. It's a lost point. I had one game in college where I went 14-for-15 from the line and had a big scoring night, thanks in large part to free throws.

Improve as a free throw shooter, and you improve your scoring average. It sounds so obvious, but you'd be amazed at how many players don't view missed free throws as missed scoring opportunities. The better you are from the line, the more points you'll score, the more playing time you'll get, and the more you'll help your team win games.

You know those games you lose by 1 or 2 points? Well, guess what? I bet you or your teammates missed 5 or 6 free throws during the game. If you'd have hit them all, that 1 or 2 point loss may have been a 4 or 5 point victory. So no matter how good you are from the line, you can get better. Unless you're shooting over 85%-90% from the line, you should really focus on improving this part of your game.