Offensive Breakdown
1 vs 1 Situation- Diverse Strategies and Moves in the Arsenal
I'm an extremely versatile offensive player.
I can do it all when necessary. When the intuition takes over.
I am creative, and my curiosity made me enterprising.
The more difficult the challenge becomes, the better I get; it’s bigger than basketball.
I'm a facilitator by nature, not a scorer, though. I prefer to keep my energy on playing defense and make good plays for others. I score only when the team needs it, or when I have a great opportunity.
In these moments when my focus is on scoring, I read and analyze my defender, along with the team defense configuration, and I adapt to that.
For example, if a tall or heavy defender guards me, I will blow by or create separation to shoot over.
If a smaller defender guards me, I would shoot over without separation or use my strength to get close to the rim.
In the video bellow, starting from 0:19, there is my last recorded one v one game at MIT against a random student (6’5 forward).
Here is a 3 vs 3 in which my team was down and without offensive rhythm so I had to take over and play isolation to get some momentum.
The Initial Nest - Playing Center/Power Forward
As I said earlier, center/power forward is the only position I officially played in a club for a long time. I've quickly become terrific in that role, so playing this position became my comfort zone.
I have multiple moves to eliminate defenders from the low to the high post, along with good footwork.
My lack of confidence growing up pushed me to look to create opportunities for others at the post systematically, and I became pretty good at it.
From my experience, the role is the most exhausting and physically challenging. There is so much contact on offense and defense.
I felt more limited and less efficient when playing in that position, until I mastered the fade-away shoot and developed other moves to avoid wasting too much energy.
Finding my Wings - Becoming a Slashing Forward/Guard
When I first discovered a glimpse of my potential in Brussels, I realized that a slasher type of game style was the most convenient option, so I developed that side.
I was relatively light and mobile for my height (200 lbs).
Outside of the post, my shooting game was not great, but I was quick, explosive, agile, strong, and durable.
I’ve always known that I could beat most defenders especially in a triple threat position, because my first step is pretty quick and my decisions can be hard to predict. It is worse now that I have a jump shoot that I trust.
Even when defenders are able to anticipate that I’m going for the drive, it is still very challenging to stop me without help and without committing a foul.
I can get close to the rim in many ways, I adapt everything depending on the defense and the context, and I also have multiple options in my bag to finish there, I have a pretty good touch.
I could vary my pace without trouble and finding a balance in the air has never been complicated for me.
I also have a good enough ball control and no problem to dribble the ball hard.
Therefore, it is possible for me to blow by most of my defenders, especially if a screen is set for me or if I have more land to take off.
Nowadays, I don’t ask for a screen when I play for fun, unless a lockdown defender guards me. It became a comfort zone I generally don’t want to get into, just like playing at the post against average players.
The Rise of a Floor General - Evolving into a Point Guard
At 6'7, I've seen myself playing the point guard position or being the primary ball handler in Brussels and US fields.
The reason is that I was sometimes the most comfortable player with the ball in my hand under pressure and that I’m a true strategic leader.
As you will see in the videos, I use my attributes to run fastbreaks as soon as I have the occasion.
If my defender is behind me and the last men are not great rim protectors, I do not hesitate to finish myself, though. It is a bucket or a foul in most of these cases.
I am also more willing than most to pass the ball for the best shot possible.
Making my teammates feel confident is more important to me than individual prowesses on the court.
I took advantage of my slashing qualities and added strategic/organizational abilities and court vision acquired from maturity, game situations analyzed and memorized, and often playing chess.
I use my gravity at the post or when driving to get good looks to open teammates.
The role allows my natural elder brother's leadership to shine, but it has its downsides for me:
The first one is that the closed-minded members of basketball communities I try to thrive in, unable to see beyond the fact that I'm tall, have a hard time allowing me to grow in this role in peace.
Then, you will see in the videos that I can dribble the ball at a high pace when I need to, but it has never been my thing, just like shooting from far.
It is still a new position, so I need more concentration in game situations. I take this role only when there is no choice or my goal of the day is to get out of my comfort zone, but I’m better than average.
I am currently working hard on it specifically, because point guard would be my dream position; I prefer to make plays for others over scoring myself.
When it Rains, it Pours - Mastering the Long Range
As I said, I had never been a shooter, and nobody taught me to shoot from afar. But I've always known deep inside that I could be very good at that; my hand-eye coordination and intuitive understanding of shooting mechanics are as good as they get. It allows me to be a good passer. My hands are also relatively small compared to people of the same size.
In May 2023, I started a journey to craft a solid enough shoot. My aim was never to become a shooter, I just wanted to be good enough not to be left open and, therefore, to create more opportunities for the other aspects of my game.
Today (in September 2023), I shockingly reached a level that allows me to shoot confidently and efficiently in-game, from a very long distance, unbalanced, off the dribble, off one leg, contested, and even with my left hand.
I have multiple ways of shooting from deep in my arsenal because when I realized that I could do better than just shoot open 3s, I started working to make this initial weakness one of my deadliest weapons.
The crazy part is that I haven’t even shot 2,000 3s since the start of this journey. I was mainly focused on school and had to keep time for my other passions.
I can shoot in 2 or 1 motion, depending on the situation.
Today, I’m an excellent shooter and shot-creator if warmed up.
I don't have the fastest natural release, but I can shoot it very fast if needed, especially off the dribble or moving; it has rarely been necessary because:
The average players rarely expect me to shoot, “I don’t look like a shooter”; I’m wide open or have enough space most of the time.
If they overcommit, I blow by them and attack the rim or stop for a midrange shoot.
They rarely have the quickness, length, and anticipation to defend it effectively, even when they take my shot seriously.
I’m tall and have long enough arms to shoot over most defenders without being bothered if they don’t defend tight enough.
So it's all about me and my focus in general, and I’m highly focused when I’m competing.
I can really shoot from very deep. I didn’t learn to do it, I just discovered that I can, almost as easily as I can shoot a basic 3.
I started to train it not with the expectation of shooting them in game, but because it makes every other jumpers easier:
I can also shoot while moving, fading away, or off the dribble, which is pretty useful in 1v1 situations. This is not the way I usually play, but that is something I can do if needed:
My Hidden Strenght - Midrange Specialist
Even though I didn't have the confidence to shoot them a lot playing in my Belgian club, I have always felt like I would be a good midrange shooter.
Sometimes, I felt like I should shoot, but then it was a battle between my intuition and limiting beliefs.
My father trained me specifically on this part of the game and helped me build my confidence.
When I realized and accepted who I was, my intuition finally won this war and took over forever.
Today, I can confidently shoot midranges in many ways, naturally, effectively, and without overthinking.
This is a shot that I rely on mainly if other areas of my game are neutralized. It’s very useful against great defenders/defenses because it’s not expected and it’s easier to shoot over them than it is with a 3 pointer.
I can score more than 10 free-throws in a row on good days.
Off-ball movement
As you may have noticed from the clips, I’m not the type of player who absolutely needs the ball in hand to be effective on offense.
I try to often reposition myself, depending on my teammates’ needs and movements.
I change my pace to get positional advantages over my defender, or to get me open for a shot or a drive to the basket.
I don’t hesitate to set a screen when I see a good opportunity for a teammate; they do not need to ask.
I either fight for rebounds on offense or position myself to stop the fastbreak. It depends on my team and the way the opposite team plays.
