A shifty and effective move to fool a defender, the Euro Step is a great offensive move in basketball. If you don’t watch a ton of basketball, or play it, you may not know what a Euro Step is. But you’ve heard the term before if you watch the NBA. It’s especially known in Europe (obviously) and in the NBA. Not so much in College or High School except for the elite players.
What is a Euro Step in Basketball? The Euro Step is an offensive maneuver where the offensive player picks up their dribble, takes a step in one direction and then takes a second quick step in another direction. The Euro Step move is used to evade or fake out defenders.
It is also known as the Two-Step or Long Lateral. The Euro Step is used only on offense as its purpose is to fake out defenders and attack the hoop.
When executed perfectly, the Euro Step is one of the toughest moves to defend in basketball. A well-timed Euro Step can put a defender out of balance and away from the ball. This could help open a clear shot or path to the basket.
Both steps in the Euro Step maneuver are crucial, as each plays a specific role. Between the stop of the dribble, then step in one direction to another, the Euro Step is not easy. It’s quick, well timed, and takes a lot of athleticism.
If you can add this to your arsenal in pickup basketball, your scoring opportunities will likely increase! For more on pickup basketball, read our article on how to play pickup Basketball and proper etiquette on the court.
Now that you know what the Euro Step is, let’s review how to properly execute the basketball move.
Contents
How do you do a Euro Step in basketball?
Executing a Euro Step in basketball at least requires some ability to dribble a basketball while running. This is how you evade a defender; because you are moving quickly, stopping, then almost starting again. When a defender is guarding, and moving backwards or side-to-side, a well-timed Euro Step can throw them off balance.
So how do you do a Euro Step in basketball?
- Dribble
- Stop your dribble
- Take a step in one direction (with one foot)
- Take a step in another direction (with second foot while first foot planted on ground)
- Shoot/Layup at basket
Doing the first four steps quickly and smoothly is how to properly execute the Euro Step. As you are dribbling the basketball and moving towards the hoop, you quickly stop yourself and your dribble. When you stop your dribble, you finish by being planted on one foot. This is the first step. Then immediately (and quickly), you take a second step with your other foot and in another direction, leaving the first foot planted. You then immediately shoot or layup towards the basket; or pass if necessary. Any other movement of your feet off the ground after the second step will be a travel.
Euro Step: step-by-step view:
Even better, illustration and movement graphic:
https://www.mikesudal.com/manu-ginobili-the-eurostep
As you can see, it’s really a three-step process. The five bullet points above include dribbling and shooting, which is obviously the entire play. But in general, the actual Euro Step is three steps:
- Stop Dribble
- Take a step in one direction
- Take a step in another direction
This next video will really help you learn how to do the Euro Step with practice made simple. All you need is a basketball and hard surface to practice, and maybe even a hoop.
Fundamentals of the Euro Step:
Is the Euro Step a travel?
At a glance, the Euro Step may look like a travel. That’s because it’s deceptive and quick along all while stopping your dribble. Then the two stops with the body still moving makes the move appear to the causal viewer like a travel.
However, the Euro Step is not a travel. A travel violation is when a player has taken more than two steps without dribbling the ball. The key word is “more”, more than two steps. A Euro Step move is two steps total. That’s why it’s so important to stop both feet firmly in the euro step all while moving quickly and smoothly.
Your feet should not slide, glide, or pickup. That’s when it becomes a travel and will most certainly be whistled by the referee. For the Euro Step move to not be a travel, it must be a clear two steps. And two steps only.
The move, the Euro Step, is crafty, shifty, and quick. It’s understandable that referees may call it a travel and must review. Some reports from various levels of basketball that officials unfamiliar with the Euro Step may call it a travel.
The timing of when the dribble stops is where things can get questionable for referees. If the dribble is stopped too early, it may be a travel as that could be views as three steps.
The Euro Step Layup and controversy
A Euro Step Layup is just like a Euro Step move but the finish is a layup. By finishing with a layup, the second and final step is a push off step. This pushes you into the air and makes it appear as a third step. Causing the casual fan to think it’s a foul and some referees as well.
The Euro Step Layup is a James Harden controversial move because it appears as though he’s taking three steps. In fact, some of them he has taken three steps, yet they didn’t call it!
See the controversy yourself. However, Harden is an expert at this, and his timing is perfect.
As you can see, timing is everything, and can be difficult for even the best referees. It’s because of the timing of when the dribble stops compared to the step, which they call a “gather step”. Which is technically the first step but can be viewed as the last step before the Euro Step starts.
Gather Step, Travel, and the Euro Step as viewed by the NBA:
Here is how the NBA defines the “gather step” and how it plays out with a Euro Step move:
- For a player who is in control of the ball while dribbling, the gather is defined as the point where a player does any one of the following:
- Puts two hands on the ball, or otherwise permits the ball to come to rest, while he is in control of it.
- Puts a hand under the ball and brings it to a pause, or
- Otherwise gains enough control of the ball to hold it, change hands, pass, shoot, or cradle it against his body.
Confusing right? Seems like a lot of gray area and judgment for a referee to make. Now how do you bring in the gather rule with the travel rule?
- A player who gathers the ball while progressing may
- (a) take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball or
- (b) if he has not yet dribbled, one step prior to releasing the ball to start his dribble.
- A player who gathers the ball while dribbling may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball.
- The first step occurs when a foot, or both feet, touch the floor after the player gathers the ball.
Basically, once your dribble stops, the first foot that stops right then is the first step. You can take two steps when your dribble stops but remember when your first step is considered.
Who has the best Euro Step?
The Euro Step move was not all that popular in the NBA until the last 2o years. Given the name, “Euro Step”, it’s obvious where the move originated. Yep, Europe. Why is it called a Euro Step? Because the move was commonly used in European Basketball Leagues for decades, before brought to the NBA. It was introduced to the NBA in 1989 by Sarunas Marciulionis, a Lithuanian Professional Basketball Player.
The move was later popularized in the 2000’s by another European Player in the NBA, Manu Ginobili. Ginobili is in the step-by-step illustration in the earlier paragraph of this article. He is widely known as the one who made the Euro Step popular in the NBA. Manu Ginobili is also arguably the best ever to execute the Euro Step in the NBA.
Many ask though for current and past NBA players, who has the best Euro Step? Here is our list and some of their highlights to back it up:
Manu Ginobili
Dwayne Wade
James Harden
Russell Westbrook
Giannis Antetokounmpo
These are my top 5 and most people’s top 5 all time in executing the Euro Step. As you can see, these players are or were some of the best in the NBA during their time. All of them will be or are already Hall of Famers. It takes a lot skill and a high level of athleticism to be great at the Euro Step. Most players who do the Euro Step are also the ones who handle the ball and shoot more. And are the ones who “attack the rim”, which is the purpose of the Euro Step.
What is a Euro Step, conclusion
When well executed and timed perfectly, the Euro Step is a move in Basketball like no other. It helps fake out and evade defenders to help open up a clear shot at the basket.
Although the steps in completing a Euro Step seem simple, physically doing so isn’t. It takes good coordination. But the Euro Step can be simple; dribble, step one way, step another way, and shoot. Add a pump fake pass into it and then you really can fake out a defender.
It’s a beautiful play and fun to do and watch when completed correctly. Especially when you finish with a basket!
The Euro Step is done mostly by the highest level of athletes who have incredible basketball skill. It takes good dribbling, moving, and pivoting ability while maintaining balance.
Thank European Basketball playesrs Sarunas Marciulionis and Mani Ginobili for brining the Euro Step to the NBA. And thank today’s star for continuing to use it and perfect it.