Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill: Elevate Your Young Player's Game

Written by: Chris Hungerford

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Time to read 9 min

The Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill is a fundamental basketball drill that can elevate your child's finishing skills around the basket. This powerful training tool, inspired by NBA star Kyrie Irving, focuses on enhancing footwork and hand-eye coordination to make young players more efficient in scoring close-range shots.


To master the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill, we will explore various techniques such as the inside foot and outside hand technique, the inside foot and inside hand technique, and the outside foot and outside hand technique. These methods are crucial for developing a strong foundation in finishing at the rim.


Furthermore, we'll explore advanced variations of the drill to improve overall finishing skills like goofy foot inside hand finish, reverse lay-ups with different combinations of hands and feet, and two-footed jump techniques for various finishes. Lastly, we'll discuss incorporating these drills into your basketball training routine through regular practice sessions while combining them with other essential workouts (shooting & dribbling) to maximize results. By attending Breakthrough Basketball skills camps alongside these practices can further enhance their progress toward becoming an unstoppable force on the court.

Table of Contents:


Mastering the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill

The Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill is a unique variation of the classic Mikan drill that focuses on improving your finishing skills at the rim. This 12-variation workout helps you develop ambidexterity, footwork, and body control to become an unstoppable finisher like NBA star Kyrie Irving. In this section, we will discuss three essential techniques to master in order to excel at this drill.

Inside Foot and Outside Hand Technique

This technique requires players to use their inside foot as a pivot while shooting with their outside hand. For the left side of the basket, use your right foot as a pivot and shoot with your left hand to achieve balance and accuracy. The goal is to maintain balance and control throughout each repetition while also focusing on accuracy.

Inside Foot and Inside Hand Technique

In contrast to the previous technique, this one involves using both your inside foot as a pivot point and your inside hand for shooting. When approaching from either side of the basket, plant your inside foot firmly on the ground before extending up towards the hoop with your corresponding arm. Practicing this method can help improve overall coordination around tight spaces near or under baskets during games.

Outside Foot and Outside Hand Technique

This final technique challenges players by requiring them to utilize their outside foot for pivoting purposes along with their outside hand for lay-up attempts. As you approach from either side of the hoops court's key area - be it left or right - plant your outside foot and then use that same side's arm to shoot. This method can be particularly helpful for those who want to develop their ability to make difficult shots under pressure.


By incorporating these three techniques into your basketball training routine, you'll quickly see improvements in both ambidexterity and overall finishing skills at the rim. Remember, practice makes perfect - so keep working on mastering each variation of the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill until they become second nature.


Mastering the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill requires a combination of technique, repetition, and practice. By advancing to more complex variations such as goofy foot inside hand finish or two-footed jump techniques for various finishes, players can further enhance their finishing skills.


Key Takeaway:

Master the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill by incorporating three essential techniques: Inside Foot and Outside Hand, Inside Foot, and Inside Hand, and Outside Foot and Outside Hand. These variations of the classic Mikan drill will help improve your finishing skills at the rim, ambidexterity, footwork, and body control to become an unstoppable finisher like NBA star Kyrie Irving. Remember practice makes perfect.

Advanced Variations for Enhanced Finishing Skills

To take your game to new heights, practice advanced variations of the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill. These exercises challenge you further by incorporating two-footed jumps, reverses, explosive movements off both feet, and more creative finishes around the basket. Young basketballers can gain multifaceted proficiency by mastering these drills, enabling them to score in various contexts on the court.

Goofy Foot Inside Hand Finish

This variation focuses on improving coordination and balance while finishing at the rim with an unconventional footwork pattern. The goofy foot inside hand finish requires players to jump off their outside foot (the one farthest from the basket) and use their inside hand (the one closest to the basket) for a lay-up. This technique can be useful when trying to avoid shot blockers or create space against defenders in tight situations. Check out this video tutorial for a step-by-step guide on how to perform this drill effectively.

Reverse Lay-ups with Different Combinations of Hands and Feet

  • Inside Foot Outside Hand Reverse: Jump off your inside foot while using your outside hand for a reverse lay-up under the backboard.
  • Outside Foot Inside Hand Reverse: Leap from your outside foot but utilize your inside hand for executing a reverse lay-up underneath the hoop.
  • Incorporating Euro Steps: Add complexity by integrating Euro steps into reverse lay-ups as shown in this instructional video: 'How to Master the Euro Step'.

Practicing these reverse lay-up variations helps players become more unpredictable and effective finishers around the basket, making it harder for defenders to block their shots.

Two-Footed Jump Techniques for Various Finishes

Developing the ability to jump off both feet simultaneously is crucial for young basketball players as it enhances balance, power, and control when finishing at the rim. Here are some two-footed jump techniques that can be incorporated into your Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill routine:

  • Floater Finish: Use a soft touch to float the ball over shot blockers while jumping off both feet.
  • Jump Stop Lay-up: Perform a controlled jump stop before executing a powerful lay-up or dunk with either hand.
  • Pump Fake and Up-and-Under Move: After landing on both feet, use a pump fake followed by an up-and-under move to deceive defenders and create space for an open shot. Watch this tutorial on 'Mastering Pump Fakes & Up-and-Under Moves' for detailed instructions.

Incorporating these advanced variations of the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill will help young basketball players develop enhanced finishing skills that translate well in real-game situations. As they continue practicing these drills regularly alongside other essential workouts like shooting and dribbling exercises, they'll see significant improvements in their overall offensive game.


By mastering the advanced variations for enhanced finishing skills, players can gain an edge over their opponents. Incorporating exercises into your basketball practice regimen can be a fantastic way to capitalize on these new approaches and sharpen those key abilities needed for success in the game.


Key Takeaway:

The advanced variations of the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill challenge players with two-footed jumps, reverses, and creative finishes around the basket to develop versatile finishing skills. The goofy foot inside-hand finish improves coordination and balance while reverse lay-ups with different combinations of hands and feet make players more unpredictable against defenders. Incorporating two-footed jump techniques such as floater finish, jump stop lay-up, and pump fake and up-and-under move enhances balance, power, and control when finishing at the rim translating well in real-game situations for young basketball players.

Incorporating Drills into Your Basketball Training Routine

Consistently practicing the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill and its advanced variations will significantly improve your ability to make more lay-ups in real-game situations. To maximize the efficacy of these drills, a comprehensive offensive skill development program should be implemented regularly to elevate your game.

Allocating Time for Regular Practice Sessions

To see noticeable improvements in your finishing skills, allocate time for regular practice sessions dedicated specifically to working on the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill. Set aside a minimum of fifteen to twenty minutes per session with the purpose of honing each variation before advancing. Consistency is key; therefore, try incorporating these drills into your schedule at least three times per week.

Combining Drills with Other Essential Workouts (Shooting, Dribbling)

Becoming an all-around offensive threat requires mastering various skills such as shooting and dribbling along with improving finishing abilities around the rim. Combine the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill with other essential workouts like shooting drills and dribbling exercises. This balanced approach ensures that you develop multiple facets of your game simultaneously while keeping each practice session engaging and challenging.

  • Shooting: Incorporate catch-and-shoot exercises, off-the-dribble shots, free throws, and mid-range jumpers into your routine alongside practicing finishes at the rim using the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill.
  • Dribbling: Develop your ball-handling skills with stationary and on-the-move dribbling drills, focusing on both hands' proficiency. Combine these exercises with the Mikan Drill to improve your ability to drive and finish at the basket effectively.

Attending Breakthrough Basketball Skills Camps

To further enhance your basketball skillset, consider attending a Breakthrough Basketball skills camp. These camps provide expert coaching, personalized feedback, and an opportunity to learn from other talented players in a competitive environment. Participating in such camps can help you refine the techniques learned through practicing Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill while also exposing you to new strategies and workouts that will elevate your overall game.


Key Takeaway: 

To improve your ability to make more lay-ups in real-game situations, incorporate the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill into your basketball training routine. Allocate time for regular practice sessions and combine these drills with other essential workouts like shooting and dribbling exercises. Attending Breakthrough Basketball Skills Camps can further enhance your skillset by providing expert coaching, personalized feedback, and an opportunity to learn from other talented players in a competitive environment.

Frequently Asked Questions Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill

Who is the Mikan Drill named after?

The Mikan Drill is named after George Mikan, a Hall of Fame basketball player who played for the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1940s and 1950s. He was known for his dominant inside scoring and efficient use of both hands around the basket. The drill focuses on developing finishing skills near the rim using various hand and foot combinations.

What is the George Mikan drill?

The George Mikan Drill is a fundamental basketball training exercise designed to improve players' layup techniques, ambidexterity, footwork, and overall finishing ability around the basket. It involves continuous alternating layups from each side of the hoop while focusing on proper hand-eye coordination, body positioning, and accuracy.

How to practice like Kyrie Irving?

To practice like Kyrie Irving, focus on mastering advanced variations of essential drills such as the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill, incorporating different finishes with varying hand-foot combinations. Allocate time for regular practice sessions that include shooting drills, dribbling exercises, agility workouts alongside attending specialized skill camps such as Breakthrough Basketball Camps.

How do you finish like Kyrie?

To finish like Kyrie Irving at the rim:

  • Master inside-outside foot-hand techniques
  • Incorporate goofy-foot finishes
  • Practice reverse lay-ups with diverse hand-foot combos
  • Fine-tune two-footed jump approaches for various shots

Conclusion

Mastering the Kyrie Irving Mikan Drill is an essential skill for young basketball players to develop their finishing techniques. By using different combinations of feet and hands, players can improve their agility, coordination, and overall game performance.


Advanced variations such as goofy foot inside-hand finishes and two-footed jump techniques can take your skills to the next level. It's important to incorporate these drills into your regular training routine by allocating time for practice sessions, combining them with other workouts like shooting or dribbling drills, and attending Breakthrough Basketball skills camps.


Check out HoopsKing.com for an array of training aids and materials tailored to help athletes enhance their basketball skills!

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