Practical Basketball post moves and controller controls
Start every sequence from the post stance with LT on Xbox or L2 on PlayStation. Then read the ball hand, choose the stick direction, and use the tap, hold, or double-tap finish shown below.
Practice tip: learn the post stance and standard spin first, then add the shot-button timing used by gathers, hooks, fades, and fakes.
POST PLAY ROUTE
Stance. Direction. Finish.
Post footwork
Enter the stance, exit, spin, gather, dropstep, or hopstep.
Hooks and fades
Use the starting ball hand to choose a same-side or spin finish.
Post fakes
Separate a double-tap hook fake from a tap-then-hold fade fake.
Controller moves
21
Platforms
Xbox · PS
Starting stance
Hold LT / L2
Enter the post stance before choosing a move
LT and L2 control the base stance. Releasing the trigger exits the stance or begins a standard spin; keeping it held preserves the stance for a gathered finish.
Post up
Hold the left trigger to enter and maintain the post stance.
HOLD LT / L2
Post exit
Release the left trigger without adding a direction to leave the stance.
RELEASE LT / L2
Post spin · right to left
Release the post trigger while moving the left stick left.
RELEASE LT / L2 + LS LEFT
Post spin · left to right
Mirror the standard spin by releasing the trigger while moving the left stick right.
RELEASE LT / L2 + LS RIGHT
Gather spins, dropsteps, and hopsteps
These sequences keep LT or L2 held and add the shot button. The number of presses separates a dropstep from a hopstep.
Gather spin · right to left
Keep the post trigger held, move the left stick left, and tap the shot button once.
HOLD LT / L2 + LS LEFT + TAP X / SQUARE
Gather spin · left to right
Mirror the gather by moving the left stick right before tapping the shot button.
HOLD LT / L2 + LS RIGHT + TAP X / SQUARE
Dropstep
Move the left stick up, left, down, or right while double-tapping the shot button.
HOLD LT / L2 + DIRECTION + DOUBLE-TAP X / SQUARE
Post hopstep
Move the left stick up, left, or right and tap the shot button. RT or R2 is optional.
HOLD LT / L2 + LS UP / LEFT / RIGHT + TAP X / SQUARE
Choose a post hook from the starting ball hand
A same-side stick direction produces the standard hook. Moving across the body produces the spin hook.
Post hook · right hand
Begin with the ball in the right hand, keep the post trigger held, and direct the left stick right.
HOLD LT / L2 + LS RIGHT + HOLD X / SQUARE
Post hook · left hand
Begin with the ball in the left hand and mirror the standard hook toward the left.
HOLD LT / L2 + LS LEFT + HOLD X / SQUARE
Spin hook · right to left
Begin in the right hand and move the left stick across the body toward the left.
HOLD LT / L2 + LS LEFT + HOLD X / SQUARE
Spin hook · left to right
Begin in the left hand and move the left stick across the body toward the right.
HOLD LT / L2 + LS RIGHT + HOLD X / SQUARE
Add RT or R2 for post fades
Fades add the right trigger while keeping the post trigger held. Use the left stick to choose a same-side, cross-body, or backward release.
Post fade · right hand
Begin in the right hand and direct the left stick right while holding the shot button.
LT / L2 + RT / R2 + LS RIGHT + HOLD X / SQUARE
Post fade · left hand
Begin in the left hand and direct the left stick left while holding the shot button.
LT / L2 + RT / R2 + LS LEFT + HOLD X / SQUARE
Post fade · backwards
Use this straight-back fade from either starting ball hand.
LT / L2 + RT / R2 + LS DOWN + HOLD X / SQUARE
Spin fade · right to left
Begin in the right hand, hold both triggers, and move the left stick left.
LT / L2 + RT / R2 + LS LEFT + HOLD X / SQUARE
Spin fade · left to right
Use a left-hand start for the left-to-right version. The original note repeats right hand, so watch the starting side if the move does not mirror correctly.
LT / L2 + RT / R2 + LS RIGHT + HOLD X / SQUARE
Use button timing to select the post fake
Hook fakes use a double-tap. Fade fakes add RT or R2 and use a tap followed by a held shot input.
Fake into hook · right to left
Begin in the right hand, direct the left stick left, and double-tap the shot button.
HOLD LT / L2 + LS LEFT + DOUBLE-TAP X / SQUARE
Fake into hook · left to right
Begin in the left hand and mirror the double-tap sequence toward the right.
HOLD LT / L2 + LS RIGHT + DOUBLE-TAP X / SQUARE
Fake into fade · right to left
Begin in the right hand, hold both triggers, then tap and continue holding the shot button.
LT / L2 + RT / R2 + LS LEFT + TAP THEN HOLD X / SQUARE
Fake into fade · left to right
Use a left-hand start for the left-to-right version. The original note repeats right hand, so watch the starting side if the fake does not mirror correctly.
LT / L2 + RT / R2 + LS RIGHT + TAP THEN HOLD X / SQUARE
Practice the input layers in order
A failed post move can come from the stance, starting hand, direction, or shot-button timing. Isolate those layers before trying a full combo.
1. Confirm the stance
Hold LT or L2 and make sure the player has entered the post state before adding another input.
POST TRIGGER FIRST
2. Read the ball hand
Identify whether the ball begins on the right or left; hook and spin direction depend on it.
RIGHT OR LEFT
3. Separate direction from timing
Test the stick direction first, then add tap, hold, double-tap, or tap-then-hold timing.
ONE VARIABLE AT A TIME
4. Build a short combo
Combine one footwork move with one finish only after both inputs work consistently on their own.
VERSION CHECK
Post moves FAQ
Quick answers for stance, footwork, hooks, and button timing.
What button enters the post stance?
Hold LT on Xbox or L2 on PlayStation. Releasing the trigger exits the stance.
What is the difference between a dropstep and hopstep?
The dropstep double-taps X or Square and accepts four stick directions. The hopstep taps once and uses up, left, or right; RT or R2 is optional.
How do hooks and spin hooks differ?
The standard hook follows the starting ball hand. A spin hook moves the stick across the body toward the opposite side.
Which move should I learn first?
Start with post up, post exit, and the standard left and right spins. Add dropsteps and shot-based finishes after those directions feel natural.
References and related pages
The original community control list and related site pages are collected here without interrupting the move guide above.
Community Discord controller reference
The community control list used for the 21 Xbox and PlayStation sequences on this page.
PRIMARY COMMUNITY REFERENCE
Full controls reference
Compare these controller inputs with the separate PC keyboard table.
INTERNAL CROSS-REFERENCE
Game status
Check whether a playable experience is available before attempting to reproduce these moves.
CURRENT AVAILABILITY