Bench: The Most Underrated Role in Basketball

by Coach Robert

When most players hear "bench," they often equate it with failure. But what if the bench wasn’t a punishment but a pivotal role with its own set of responsibilities and actions? The bench isn't a passive position; it’s a developmental opportunity. By shifting your mindset, you can transform your time on the bench into a critical phase of growth as a student of the game.

The Myths of the Bench Role

Many players fall into common traps of misunderstanding why they are in the bench role:

"The coach doesn’t like me."
"I’m not good enough."
"If I complain, I’ll play more."

These thoughts only create frustration and stagnation. Instead, the answer is this: perform the actions of the bench role.

Becoming a Student of the Game

Being on the bench isn’t about waiting for your turn; it’s about learning. A true student of the game uses this time wisely to understand the game on a deeper level. Basketball is full of problems to solve, whether on offense or defense. Every skill and maneuver is born from recognizing and addressing these problems.

The real issue isn’t being on the bench; it’s failing to learn the actions that pertain to this role.

What Is the Role of the Bench?

The bench isn’t about sulking or anxiously waiting for a substitution. It’s not about yelling at referees or clapping for teammates. Instead, the bench role is about defining your role on the court.

Here’s how you do it:

Study the game. Pay attention to what’s happening on the court. Observe how players in your desired position move, act, and react.
Ask questions. Talk to your coach or teammates for clarity on positions and strategies.
Develop necessary skills. Focus on the actions required for the position you aim to play.

From Bench to Court

Every position on the court has specific roles, and every role has actions that need to be mastered. For example, the wing position has two primary roles:

Aggressor – Driving downhill to create scoring opportunities.
Passer – Setting up teammates effectively.

If you’re currently in the bench role and aspire to play the wing, you must develop these skills step-by-step.

Aggressor Skills: Work on your hesitation moves, finishing footwork, and ability to counter when the lane is blocked.
Passing Skills: Learn how to deliver accurate passes under pressure.

By consistently showcasing these skills during practices and scrimmages, you will demonstrate your readiness to take on the wing position.

Proving Your Readiness

Changing positions—or earning more playing time—requires two things:

Skill Development. You must actively build and refine the skills needed for the position you want.
Effectiveness. Your performance must show you can execute those skills better than the current starter.

A coach notices these improvements. Coaches don’t want to see players waste away; they want students of the game who are committed to growth. It’s not about the coach giving you more minutes—it’s about earning them by filling a role more effectively.

The Choice Is Yours

Basketball, like life, offers you choices. You can remain in a stagnant state, or you can commit to growth. A player who refuses to develop stays on the bench. A student of the game seizes every opportunity to learn, grow, and prove their value.

Your coach can offer you resources, guidance, and opportunities to develop, but only you can decide to take advantage of them. Development is life; stagnation is death. As the saying goes, choose ye this day life.

So, what will you choose? Will you embrace the bench as a stepping stone to your potential? Will you become a student of the game and unlock your role on the court?

Shalom.