Unlock The Push Cross Move in Basketball

The push cross move in basketball is a useful way to get by defenders while maintaining high speed. It’s relatively simple to learn. Especially if you’re already familiar with crossovers. So today we’ll explain what it is, why it’s helpful, and provide a few specific game situations to use it in.

We’ll also share some in-game examples of where WNBA and NBA players use the move. You might be surprised to learn this is a clutch move for Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Sabrina Ionescu, and more. Finally, we’ll give you a few drills you use to add the push cross to your bag.

By the way, if you need a ball, check out our partner Wilson’s cool basketballs, including our favorite the Evolution.

What is the push cross move?

The push cross is a change of direction move to get defenders off guard. It is when you push the ball out in front of you from one hand to the other. Basically you explode forward, using a roll over to move the ball forward as you cross it into your other hand, rather than just pushing it side to side as you do with a crossover. This move helps you keep going fast, get a ton of space, and ensures you blow by defenders.

How to do the push cross move

Here’s how to do the push cross in a few simple steps. You can go left to right, or right to left based on your defender’s positioning. The goal is to get your defender’s momentum coming at you, then slide your defender over, and push the ball past them.

1. You can start with a behind the back or between the legs setup, or even a snatch back. Or you can just go right into the push cross off the dribble.
2. Start with your ball hand tight to your body, and keep your hand to back of the ball, rather than the side for a normal cross over.
3. Sell a drive to your ball hand side by getting your shoulder low, shifting your body weight to that side, and slowing your momentum.
4. But instead roll your hand toward the top of the ball and push it out in front of you while moving forward and slightly towards your other side.
5. Push the ball over your waist down towards the other side. The goal is to get it over the defender’s outstretched arm if there is one.
6. Then explode. Make a straight line drive to the basket with the ball now in you other hand, and attack the defender’s hips. As soon as you roll the ball over, try to blow by as fast as you can.

Pro tip: Make sure you don’t your hand stuck under the ball as you go to push it over to your other side. Otherwise the ref will call a carry as you bring it over.

Situations to use the push cross move in

This move allows you to keep your speed up, rather than slowing down. So here are a few use cases:

• Use it in transition to blow by defenders who come up at you and who swipes at the ball
• Blow by a big who’s come to help from help side
• Get by a guard who’s flat footed at the top of the key
• When the defense is back pedaling and then steps forwards to you, shifting their momentum forward, use it
• You can also use it to reject a pick and roll
• It’s most helpful for beating one defender, but actually you can also split double teams with it (try using the jolt dribble – two dribbles with the same hand low to the floor – off of it to avoid their active hands)

Examples of the push cross in the WNBA and NBA

Marina Mabrey push cross

Dallas Wings‘ sharp shooter Marina Mabrey uses the push cross coming off this screen to blow by the big coming to help. Notice how she pauses, encouraging the big to bring her momentum towards her, and then quickly uses the push cross to get by.

Sabrina Ionescu push cross

New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu rejects the pick and roll play, instead noticing her defender has gone under the screen. She uses the push cross to quickly get to open space and fires.

LaMelo Ball push cross

Charlotte Hornets’ point guard and NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball begins with a hesi to bring his defender forward and slow the defender’s momentum. He then uses the push cross to blow by him for the easy layup.

Free drills & workout plan to practice the push cross

Here are a few drills to build some reps with the push cross move, and to get a feel for the types of situations where it can be most helpful.

1. On your own push cross

• Start on the half court line facing forward with the ball in one hand.
• Dribble 2 steps forward with one hand.
• Hit a push cross and try to hit a layup.
• Get 5 layup makes in a row. If you miss 3 in a row, you start from 0 again.
• Now reverse and do it with your other hand.
• Then do the same thing but begin with a setup move such as between the legs or behind the back.

2. Push cross on command

• Start on the half court line facing forward with the ball in one hand.
• Dribble forward with one hand until the coach shouts out 1 or 2.
• If the coach says 1 you do a push cross and try to hit a layup.
• If the coach says 2 you do a setup move into a push cross and try to hit a layup.
• Get 10 layup makes in a row. If you miss 3 in a row, you start from 0 again.

3. Push cross with defense

• Start at the top of the 3, with the defense on the low block by the basket.
• When the offense dribbles, the defense runs at them to stop their shot.
• The offense can shoot or use the push cross to blow by.
• If the offense doesn’t score, the defense gets a point.
• It’s make it take it.
• Play up to 5 points (all ones).

Try the basketball push cross move

Add this move to your bag and get buckets! Up next, check out basketball dribbling drills you can do at home and some dynamic fun guard drills.