What Is the Triple Threat Position in Basketball?

Scoring from different areas on the court is an essential basketball skill a player can have.

This includes shooting close to the basket and making shots from mid-range and beyond. It demands a lot of practice to be more aggressive, effective, and unpredictable in basketball.

Players should always take their time when getting ready for a shot. Setting their feet, getting into a good stance, and squaring up to their target before releasing the ball can help.

Moreover, nothing is more critical to your offensive success than your grasp of the triple threat position. This leads to our main question: What is the triple threat position in basketball?

The triple threat posture allows you to shoot, dribble, or pass the ball. Hold the ball between your shoulder and knee with your elbows out to assume the position. 

Moreover, it would help protect the ball by using your body as much as possible. With your knees bent, you are ready to attack in any direction.

Options for Triple Threat Score

Three triple threat options are available when an offensive player catches the ball: shoot, dribble or pass.

However, you should use only one triple-threat option during a continuous sequence of movements since defenders can anticipate passes if multiple triple threats occur without fakes or shot opportunities.

The following is a brief explanation of each triple-threat option:

Shoot

When shooting the basketball, players need to square up facing their target while simultaneously protecting the ball by bringing it over both shoulders into a triple threat position.

Squaring up will allow the shooter to have better balance, rhythm, and control when taking the shot.

Moreover, players must also be aware of their surroundings, such as any defenders trying to block their shot.

basketball-fake-shot

If a defender is playing close, the player can use a pump fake or step-back move to create more space between them and the defender before shooting. This space creation puzzles the defender.

Dribble

When dribbling, players should keep their heads up and maintain triple threat posture. It can be done by keeping the ball high and tight to their bodies.

Doing this will make it difficult for defenders to snatch the ball while allowing players to attack in any direction.

Players must first get past their defenders to execute a successful dribble-drive (dribbling towards the basket).

dribble triple threat

There are two options: a change of speed and direction or a straight-line drive.

  • Change of pace is when players fake in one direction to get past their defender, dribble hard in the opposite direction. They then make a quick stop with a triple threat posture before attacking the basket. The idea behind changing speeds is that defenders may lean towards either side while waiting to make your move. Going fast one way and then slowing down to go back the other way gives you more time to attack.

  • Straight-line drive: Players can use the crossover dribble move when driving straight toward the basket. Crossing over involves crossing one hand over the other when changing directions of movement. The crossover has proven effective for many years because defenders usually only expect players to go in half of those directions instead of all four possibilities.

Speaking of dribbling, here are some great weighted gloves that can help improve dribbling skills.

Pass

The last triple-threat option is passing the ball to a teammate.

Players should use the same fundamentals for shooting or dribbling: keep their heads up, protect the ball, and square up to their target.

When making a pass, players should also aim for their teammate's "sweet spot." This spot is usually around waist height and in front of them so that they can catch the ball without jumping.

receiving-a-basketball

There are two types of passes: the chest and bounce.

Chest passes are best used when throwing the ball to a close-by teammate, giving them control over where to go with the ball. On the other hand, bounce passes are better for long-distance passes or getting the ball around a defender.

Pro Tip for the Triple in Threat Basketball

To improve passing accuracy, players should use their fingers and not their palms when making a pass. Doing this will help them control the speed and direction of the ball.

Also, they should make sure to lead their teammate in the direction they're supposed to go instead of throwing it behind them, which may result in a turnover.

Defending Against the Triple Threat Position

Defenders should keep their hands up when guarding a player in a triple threat. They should also stay between the ball-handler and the basket.

They can do this by either fronting them (standing in front of the player so they can't go past) or by using what's called a "drop" step. The defender takes a step back towards their hoop while keeping their hand on top of the ball handler's shoulder. This will make it difficult for the ball-handler to pass it to their teammates. 

If players are guarded in triple threat, they should use these defensive techniques to try and stop their opponent from scoring.

Does Triple Threat Basketball Work?

While there is no definitive answer to this question, a triple threat in basketball can be effective in different ways against different opponents.

Generally speaking, using the triple threat position can give players an advantage when attacking their opponent. It ties up the defender's hands and makes it difficult for them to defend against a straight-line drive or shot. 

However, if defenders can stay in front and block the shot, players should quickly get back into a triple threat to try again.

Additionally, scoring from different areas on the court using floaters or runners can be very effective in the less space available. Ultimately, it all comes down to player skill and decision-making.

Conclusion: Triple Threat Position

The triple threat stance in basketball is an essential skill that can be used to score from different areas on the court. It may not seem very easy at first with so many options and decisions to make.

However, this will be your second nature once you have some experience under your belt. If you are a basketball rookie or just playing for fun, give the triple threat a try! You won't regret it.

Joshua Bast


My name is Joshua Bast and I have been playing basketball ever since I was 7 years old. I love the game play, I love the feeling whenever I score a basket, but what made me fell in love was the camaraderie with my team mates. This blog is dedicated to help any up-and-coming basketball players maximize their potential.

Joshua Bast