Josh Okogie's rise to fame was when he blocked James Harden's dreaded step back 3-pointer. Now, the Minnesota Timberwolves guard shared some tips on how to defend the unstoppable move.
In an appearance on NBA TV, the 20-year-old shared that to stop Harden's step back, you have to be ready for it. This means that you have to constantly move your feet and keep jabbing at the ball.
Based on his observation, once Harden sees your feet set, then he'll see this as an opportunity to unleash the move. And when a defender lunges for the contest, it'll likely be called for a foul.
.@CallMe_NonStop of the @Timberwolves takes us into the mind of a defender whose task it is to stop James Harden's offensive moves. đ@NBA | #NBACareerCrossover pic.twitter.com/jJYEpCNmGw
â NBA TV (@NBATV) May 2, 2019
Furthermore, Josh Okogie shared some tips on how James Harden likes to bump his defenders to obtain space in preparation for the step back. For the incoming Timberwolves' second-year man, the way to counter this is to simply absorb the contact by standing your ground and move as he moves.
Regarding his block, Okogie was aware that the shot clock was about to expire and Harden had no choice but launch the shot. In addition to being ready for the move, one has to be aware of the clock and the current situation.
Not only does Okogie sound mature for a 20-year-old, but we might see an elite defender on the rise.
Follow Us
Subscribe