Eurostep Basketball Drill: The Basic Euro Plus 3 Variations to Beat Bigger Defenders

The eurostep is the move for big defenders. You're driving, a taller kid is waiting at the rim, and instead of going right into his chest you step one way, get him to shift, then go around him.

Coach Meech breaks it all the way down in this video. The basic version first, with a beginner drill you can do with a chair. Then three variations: the Panoi (pump fake) euro, the dribble jab euro, and the bump euro he says you'll see elite NBA guards use.

Not sure finishing is what you need to work on most? Find your training strategy with our free training quiz.

Regular layup vs. eurostep

Say you're right-handed. You drive, step and dribble with your left, pick it up, and go one, two, finish. Both of those last two steps go forward, same direction.

On a eurostep, those last two steps go in opposite directions.

You still take that first step with the dribble. You pick it up. Now step one goes to the side, left or right. The defender shifts. Maybe he tries to block it. Step two goes around him, and you finish. Two steps, two different angles.

The mistake most beginners make: steps that are too small

Most kids learning this don't cover enough ground. They take two small steps, one, two, and they're still inside the defender's frame. Still right in front of him.

You've got to get outside that frame. The first step is there so he bites. The second one has to get you to his outside hip.

And that's a big distance. Coach Meech calls it "a full push or kind of like a jump" to get to that next leg. Not a small step. Get there, and you can finish with whichever hand you need.

Beginner drill: euro around a chair

Put a chair right close to the block. No chair? Grab a trash can, two shoes, anything wide enough to keep you honest about getting outside it.

Start in close to the basket. Take a step with your inside foot and dribble with your outside hand. On the left side of the floor, that means a left-hand dribble with a right-foot step. Then step to the left so the "defender" slides, push back toward the middle, and finish with either hand.

What he wants you focused on is the footwork and the timing. Dribble and step, pick it up, one, two, finish.

To progress it, back up and drive into it full speed.

Variation 1: the Panoi (pump fake) euro

Same setup. You're driving, ball in your right hand, left foot step. But when you pick it up, you pump fake on that first step as you're stepping outside the defender. He jumps to block it. You keep the ball high while he runs by, then step around him and finish.

Why add the euro at all? Because if you pump fake and then take your next step straight forward, he might still be in front of you. He just went up to block. You'll get blocked.

So instead you jump that second step to the side. More space. Now he has to do something acrobatic in the air to even reach it, and you finish on the other side of the rim.

It's still the same two steps, by the way. Not a travel. The only thing that changes is the pump fake on your first step.

The Panoi drill (and why pacing matters)

Start at the nail, right at the free throw line, in the middle of the floor. Get nice and low.

He starts you back there on purpose. Speed opens up flaws. Your footwork might fall apart once you're moving, and that's exactly what you want to find out in practice.

Rip and swing that inside leg through first as you take the dribble. He calls that "super important," because it keeps your flow for the rest of the move. Next step, Panoi, euro over, keep the ball high, slide by, finish.

Not that tall, or your legs aren't that long? Start a little closer to the rim. Same concept.

Then there's pacing. A lot of you will try to speed through it, boom, boom, and just throw the ball at the rim. Don't. Slow down just a little after the pump fake. Watch the defender go by. Now you've got space and time to actually focus on the finish. Rush it and you'll probably miss, because there's a lot of detail in this move.

Variation 2: the dribble jab euro

This one's Coach Meech's personal favorite, and it's a counter.

Better players see the basic euro coming. They've played against it for a while. They can time it, block it, steal it. Against beginners, the basic version will destroy defenders. Against higher level players, you might struggle with it. The dribble jab gives your euro another level.

The setup's the same. Drive downhill with your right hand, first step and dribble with that inside leg (right-hand dribble, left-foot step). But this time you don't pick it up for the one, two. You take another dribble and jab.

That jab looks like the euro everybody knows. The defender bites. But you just dribbled, so you've still got a live dribble and two steps left. Pick it up, step, step, finish. It's almost like getting three steps on a regular euro.

He shows a second way too. Same drive, dribble jab one way, and they're baiting you to come back. So you pick it up and, instead of stepping back, take one more step in the same direction. Even if the defender knew it was coming, he only covered so much ground. That extra step gets you outside his frame, and you can get to a hook shot or an inside hand floater.

Adding handle to it

Start on the wing with the ball in your inside hand. Right hand, left wing, right leg forward. Dribble over top of your leg three times. Pull that right leg back and go between the legs, then step your left foot out and drive downhill.

Get into your dribble jab, jab to the inside on that bounce, step out, one, two, finish. Get a handful of reps. Then do it the other way, jabbing the other direction.

He wants 10 to 20 reps, finishing in different ways, really working on that footwork.

For more moves off the bounce, check out our post on dribble moves to beat a defender.

Variation 3: the bump euro

This is the one he saved for last. Same concept as the basic euro, one big difference: you're using it on the guy who's actually guarding you, the one on your hip as you drive. Not somebody sliding over from help side.

On that first step and dribble (right-hand dribble, left-foot step), he's on you. Bump him right there on that dribble. He goes flying by, or goes up to block it. Then take one regular step in front of you and one big step to the inside. Now you've got space laterally and he has to do something strange to block it.

Protect the ball

Sometimes after the bump, the defender won't jump. He'll swipe at it on his way out, trying to get a last second steal off your leg. If you pick the ball up right where he can reach it, he might get it.

So learn to pick it up high or low. High is like you're about to do the Panoi. Low means you swipe it down low as you get into the euro. Either way you're protecting it from that last swipe.

The bump euro drill

Start at the elbow. On the left elbow, bounce the ball with your left (outside) hand. Don't grab it at the top. Let it drop a little, then take it between the legs and split your feet, using that momentum to take off fast going downhill.

Your first dribble out of the between the legs is the bump. Then one, two, finish.

If you're smaller and can't get to the hoop from the elbow, step in a little.

Why train it this way? Too many players only know how to make moves with a long runway. Fast break from half court, plenty of time to think about which way to go. Games aren't always like that. This drill makes you get into the move fast off a quick read, in a tight space. Feel the defender, bump, go.

What to do next

That's the basic euro plus three variations. Coach Meech's advice is simple: go work on them. Film yourself.

If you're newer to the game, our basketball drills for beginners has a couple more finishing drills around the rim. And our weak hand basketball drills will help with finishing off either hand.

Still deciding what to train first? Find your training strategy. It's a free training quiz.

FAQ

What is a eurostep in basketball?

It's a finish where your last two steps go in opposite directions. Step one way so the defender shifts, then step around him and finish. A regular layup has both steps going forward.

Is the eurostep a travel?

No, as long as it's still two steps. Coach Meech points this out for the Panoi version too: the pump fake doesn't add a step.

Why do I keep getting blocked on my eurostep?

Probably your second step's too small. If you stay inside the defender's frame, you're still in front of him. That step should feel like a push or a jump to his outside hip.

What's a good eurostep drill for beginners?

Put a chair (or a trash can, or two shoes) near the block. Start close, step and dribble, step to one side, push back to the middle, finish. Back up and go full speed once it feels right.

What is the Panoi euro?

A eurostep with a pump fake on the first step. The defender jumps, you keep the ball high, and you step around him on the second step.

How do I eurostep against better defenders?

Try the dribble jab euro. Jab the first way with a live dribble, then you've still got two steps. Or take an extra step the same direction to get outside his frame.

What's the bump euro?

You use it on your own defender while he's on your hip. Bump him on the first dribble, take a regular step, then a big step to the inside.

Should I go fast on the eurostep?

Drive fast, yes. But after the pump fake, slow down a little so you can see the defender go by and focus on the finish.