The outlet and push, step by step
A defensive rebound: 4 has the ball with an opponent close, and 1 is the nearest guard. Step through the three moves.
Read the 3 steps as text
- 4 has the rebound, with X4 close. The first instinct is to dribble out of the traffic. The Transition guide says not to dribble out of the defensive glass.
- 4 passes straight to the nearest guard, 1. The first pass after the rebound should take under two seconds, because every second lost is a second the defence uses to set.
- 1 pushes the ball up the floor, with 2 and 3 running and 4 following. Time it from the rebound to the ball crossing half court: measure it, then improve it.
The guide also says to define an early offence trigger: who receives the outlet, where they go, and the first action off the catch. That part is yours to set for your team, so it is not drawn here.
At junior level
The outlet-and-push habit is a fundamental, not an extra, and every age can do it: get the ball out fast, push, and sprint back. At under-12, the whole job is to push the ball and sprint back, every time. Pair this play with sprint back: the guide’s one idea is that every offensive possession starts with “did we push?”, and every defensive concept ends with “and now how do we go the other way?”
Unofficial fan-created resource. Not affiliated with or endorsed by basketballimmersion.com. The outlet and push is adapted from the Transition guide, synthesised from The Basketball Podcast. Full credit to host Chris Oliver and all guests.