How to Get Open Like Steph Curry: Off-Ball Movement Basics

Quick Coach Tips: How to Move Like Steph Curry (Without Needing to Be Steph)

Use these coaching cues in practice right away. No scrolling needed.

• Start with a jog, then burst – Teach players to change speeds unpredictably. Use the cue: “Jog, jog… sprint!”

• Cut at curves, not angles – Practice sprinting in curved lines around screens instead of straight cuts.

• Walk into screens – Instruct shooters to slowly “walk down” their defender before sprinting off the screen. This creates better angles.

• Jab before you go – Use a jab step before a screen to gain early separation. Cue: “Jab, then fly.”

• Stay tight to screens – Stress body control and physicality. Cue: “No daylight between you and the screen.”

• Never stop moving – Use dummy defenders in practice and run continuous “get open” drills. Reward constant, smart movement.

• Screen to score – Have shooters set off-ball screens. Defenders often overhelp, freeing up the screener.

• Relocate after passing – Run 2-man drills where the passer cuts or relocates instantly after the pass. Cue: “Pass, pause, pop out.”

Coach-Ready Breakdown: Teaching Off-Ball Movement Like Steph Curry

Why It Works

Getting open without the ball is a skill. It’s teachable. And it’s one of the easiest ways for a youth or high school player to stand out—without needing elite athleticism.

Steph Curry is the gold standard for off-ball movement. Here’s how to teach the core concepts he uses to get open, and how to make them stick with your players.

Drill Setup Ideas for Practice

Drill 1: Change-of-Speed Cuts

• Player starts on the wing.

• On coach’s whistle: jog → sprint → stop → sprint again.

• Add cones or defenders to simulate movement unpredictability.

• Cue: “Jog, freeze, go!”

Drill 2: Screen Angle Walkdown

• Set up a screener at the elbow.

• Shooter starts above the three-point line.

• Walk down toward defender (slowly), then sprint off the screen.

• Focus: setting the defender up at the right angle.

Drill 3: Tight Curl Contest

• Defender tries to chase shooter around screen.

• Screener sets real contact.

• Shooter must run shoulder-to-hip with screener—no space.

• If there’s space, reset and repeat.

Drill 4: Relocate After Pass

• In 2-on-2: pass, cut, or relocate instantly.

• Teach players to find open windows after the pass, instead of ball-watching.

Key Concepts to Teach

1. Unpredictability Off the Ball

Players often coast off-ball. Not Steph. He constantly changes speed—jogging, walking, sprinting in curves—and never becomes predictable. Use constraints in practice to force players to mix speeds and directions on every rep.

2. Using Angles and Screens the Right Way

Steph doesn’t just run into screens. He walks defenders into them, then explodes at the right moment. This not only creates better angles but gives time for the screener to actually get set. Teach patience before the screen—not just effort through it.

3. Creating Contact (Legally)

Your players don’t have to shy away from contact. Steph uses small jabs and arm bumps to gain separation or push defenders into screens. This helps with:

• Gaining a head start

• Forcing defenders into the path of the screen
  Emphasize body control and intent. This is controlled contact, not reckless fouling.

4. Constant, Smart Movement

Movement alone doesn’t guarantee results. Steph’s movement is smart—timed with teammates, purposeful, and synced with the defense’s mistakes. Teach players to move with a purpose: to draw help, to drag defenders, or to simply wear out their man.

5. Understanding Defensive Positioning

When defenders are in help-side (more than one pass away), they relax. Steph exploits this with timed cuts and quick relocations. Youth players can learn to recognize when their defender is ball-watching and cut immediately into that gap.

6. Screening to Score

Most players think screens are for bigs. But Curry uses screens to get himself open. When shooters screen, defenders often miscommunicate or switch poorly, leaving them wide open. Teach shooters to screen first, score second.

7. Capitalize on Scramble Situations

Offensive rebounds and ball rotations create chaos. Train your shooters to seek open space as soon as the defense scrambles. Cue: “Find a window fast.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Standing still after passing – Curry is deadly because he keeps moving.

• Rushing off screens before they’re set – Teach patience and timing.

• Creating space without control – Wild cuts without purpose won’t work.

• Not reading defenders’ positioning – Smart players see when defenders relax and attack.

Why This Matters for Youth and High School Basketball

This content is gold for non-star players. Most young athletes don’t get to dominate the ball. But off-ball movement gives everyone a chance to contribute.

Steph’s habits are perfect for:

• Role players who need open looks

• Guards who want to move without the ball

• Teams that run motion or read-and-react offenses

Coaches: bake these habits into your drills. Start every practice with movement work—not just ball-handling or spot shooting. Off-ball intelligence is often what separates good teams from great ones.

Let your shooters work smarter, not just harder.
Get them moving with purpose—just like Steph.