5 Game-Like Basketball Finishing Drills Every Coach Should Use to Develop Confident Scorers

If you want players who finish strong through contact, make confident reads around the rim, and are comfortable in chaos—these basketball finishing drills are a must.

You’ll find 5 of our favorite drills to develop scorers below…

But before we get there, here are a few more tools you may want to look at after you check out these 5 basketball finishing drills:

1. 5 Passing Drills to Build Tough, Smart, and Unselfish Basketball Players
2. How to Train Rhythm and Confidence with the One-Minute Basketball Shooting Drill
3. Mastering Shooting & Footwork with Crazy 8’s: A High-Energy, High-Repetition Basketball Shooting and Footwork Drill

1. Wing Drive & Finish: Teach Players to Finish Strong on Baseline Drives

Check out the Wing, Drive, & Finish Basketball Drill

When your players rip baseline, do they know how to take contact and finish? This series trains three finishing reads:

• Power Finish through contact
• Nash Dribble escape for reverses or skip passes
• Sweep & Counter to punish defenders who overcut the angle

Emphasize squaring shoulders to the baseline, using the body to shield, and attacking with intent.

2. The Barkley Series Basketball Finishing Drill: Developing Guards Who Can Post & Play Through Contact

Check out the Barkley Series Basketball Finishing Drill

One of the most underrated scoring areas for guards is the low block. This series trains players to:

• Barkley back down and finish middle
• Spin off pressure for baseline counters
• Keep the play alive with off-ball movement when help comes

We want our guards to be versatile—this series builds that toughness and decision-making.

3. 4-Finish Mikan Series Basketball Finishing Drill: Mastering Craft, Comfort & Creativity Around the Rim

Check out the 4-Finish Mikan Series Basketball Finishing Drill

This isn’t your standard Mikan drill. This version adds layers of game-like finishes:

• One-Foot Mikan for speed & touch
• Reverse Mikan for body control
• Two-Foot Power Mikan for balance & strength
• Kyrie Finish to score against size

It’s a simple way to build rim comfort at the start of every practice.

4. Comfort in Chaos Basketball Finishing Drill: Finishing Under Pressure, Hands, and Contact

Check out the Comfort in Chaos Basketball Finishing Drill

If your players rush shots or panic under pressure, this drill teaches them to:

• Stay calm through contact
• Use shot fakes and footwork under pressure
• Square up in tight spaces

We want players who can keep their eyes on the rim and their composure in traffic—and this drill builds that.

5. 4-on-4 Game Drill: Building Finishing Decisions in Live Action

Check out the 4-on-4 Basketball Finishing Drill

This is a live-action decision-making drill. While it includes offensive and defensive concepts, it’s especially valuable for finishing. Players learn to:

• Recognize when to attack the paint
• Read and beat the second defender
• Finish strong or make the extra pass

Great finishers don’t just score—they make the right read. This drill forces decisions under pressure.

FAQ: Basketball Finishing Drills for Confident, Game-Ready Scorers

This FAQ expands on key teaching points and strategies to help coaches implement finishing drills that build tough, composed scorers around the rim. Use these insights to enhance player development and create a stronger rim-finishing culture on your team.

Q: What’s the most important skill for finishing at the rim under pressure?
A: The most essential skill is composure through contact. Players must learn to absorb bumps, stay balanced, and finish without rushing. Drills like Comfort in Chaos are designed to teach players how to stay calm in tight spaces, use footwork and fakes, and keep their eyes on the rim despite defensive pressure. Finishing is as much mental as it is physical.

Use Comfort in Chaos weekly to help players stay composed at the rim.

Q: Why should guards learn to post up and finish on the block?
A: Guards who can score on the block add a valuable layer to their offensive game. The Barkley Series Drill teaches guards to back down defenders, recognize help-side defense, and finish with counters. It also improves their feel for spacing and patience—especially when dealing with physical defenders. It’s a powerful way to build toughness and versatility in guards.

Integrate the Barkley Series into your guard skill development sessions.

Q: How can I teach players to finish when help defenders rotate?
A: Help defense adds complexity to finishing. The 4-on-4 Finishing Game simulates these scenarios by creating live reads. Players learn when to attack, when to kick out, and how to finish against a second defender. This kind of decision-making drill is critical for developing high-IQ scorers.

Use 4-on-4 drills to combine finishing with real-time decision-making.

Q: Is the Mikan Drill still relevant for modern basketball?
A: Absolutely—but it needs modern adjustments. The 4-Finish Mikan Series expands the classic Mikan into a dynamic set of finishes: one-foot touch shots, reverse finishes, and power moves. It’s a fantastic way to build touch, rhythm, and rim comfort early in practice. Updated Mikan drills help players finish creatively around size and pressure.

Start every practice with the 4-Finish Mikan Series to build finishing habits.

Q: How do I teach players to finish baseline drives with confidence?
A: Baseline finishes require precision and toughness. The Wing Drive & Finish Drill trains players on three options: powering through contact, using the Nash dribble to escape or skip, and countering when defenders cut off the angle. It develops the ability to read the help and respond with intent. Players become more confident when they know their finishing options.

Run the Wing Drive & Finish Drill to help players finish strong off the bounce.

Q: What role does footwork play in finishing drills?
A: Footwork is critical. It affects balance, timing, and the ability to adjust mid-air. Drills like Comfort in Chaos and the Mikan Series emphasize how to use pivots, shot fakes, and step-throughs to create space and maintain control—especially in crowded areas. Great finishers rely on their feet to create clean looks even in traffic.

Focus on footwork cues during finishing drills to increase success rate.

Q: Can these drills help players finish with both hands?
A: Yes. Most of these drills are designed to be run from both sides of the floor, with both hands.

• The 4-Finish Mikan Series includes one-foot and two-foot finishes from both sides.
• Wing Drive & Finish can be flipped for left- or right-side drives.
• Comfort in Chaos forces players to use whichever hand is available based on pressure.

This builds ambidexterity and rim versatility.

Run every drill from both sides to ensure players develop off-hand confidence.

Q: What’s the best way to create game-like contact in practice?
A: Use light contact pads, guided defenders, or live competition. Drills like Comfort in Chaos and Barkley Series integrate contact naturally, teaching players to expect and respond to pressure. Emphasize staying low, absorbing bumps, and finishing with composure. Controlled contact builds toughness without sacrificing form.

Have assistant coaches apply guided pressure during finishing drills.

Q: How do these drills help with decision-making at the rim?
A: The best finishers don’t just score—they make the right decisions. The 4-on-4 Game Drill is built to simulate help-side defense, defensive rotations, and kick-out reads. It helps players decide when to score, when to use fakes, and when to pass. These are the reads that separate a finisher from a scorer.

Add decision-making layers to finishing drills to improve basketball IQ.

Final Thought

Great teams don’t just get to the rim. They finish at the rim. These drills train your players to finish through traffic, contact, and chaos—and to keep playing through mistakes.

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TJ

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About the Author

TJ Rosene

Coach TJ Rosene, head coach of the Emmanuel University men’s basketball team and Director of Coach Development for PGC Coaching, has spent his career shaping young athletes both on and off the court. With over 400 career wins and 12 seasons of 20+ wins, Rosene’s coaching experience is extensive and impressive. His teams have competed in six national championship games, winning three NCCAA National Championships. Under his leadership, the Lions made their NCAA Division II debut in 2018-19 and quickly captured two season titles and one tournament title, along with an appearance in the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 in 2021.

Rosene’s success expands far beyond the scoreboard. He’s been named National Coach of the Year three times and Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year twice. But for Coach Rosene, the most meaningful part of his work is the lasting impact he has on his players’ lives. As he puts it, “Coaching is a rare opportunity to shape and mold the lives of young people. It’s a privilege that I never take for granted.”