The wraparound is a game dribble move: a version of the behind-the-back where your hand wraps around the outside of the ball, sweeps it around your back and sends it forward, so it lands beside or in front of your other hand and you keep going without breaking stride. Use it when a defender lunges in for the steal or is too close for a front crossover, because your whole body stays between the ball and them. The name isn't standard across coaches; most teach this as a behind-the-back that keeps you moving forward. It's coached here, not graded: the camera can't follow the ball or your hand on it.
Set up
Get into a crouched control dribble: ball low and close, your body between the ball and the defender, other arm out as a guard.
Low and protected.
Dribble with your fingertips and keep your eyes up, not on the ball.
Get your body ahead of the ball on your dribbling side.
Body in front of the ball.
Move
Start the move as your outside leg is back and just beginning to step forward. The feet and the ball have to work together.
Ball goes as the leg comes through.
Put your hand on the outer side of the ball, never underneath it. A hand under the ball can be called a carry (NBA Rule 10; other leagues word it differently).
Swing your arm around in a circle behind you, as if reaching for your opposite back pocket. Keep the ball lower than your backside.
Reach for the far back pocket.
Send the ball forward, not just sideways, so it bounces next to the foot opposite your dribbling hand and out in front of your new hand.
Pick it up with the other hand and keep your stride going forward. Then attack, pass or go into your next move.
No stop, keep going.
Feel it
A good wraparound feels like one smooth step: your arm circles behind you, the ball pops out in front of your other hand, and you never slow down. If you have to stop and wait for the ball, or reach back for it, it went sideways instead of forward.
Fix-its
- The ball lands behind you and you have to stop Swing it farther around and send it forward, out in front of your opposite hand. Keep moving forward, not just side to side.
- Feet and ball out of sync, so the ball hits your leg Time it as your outside leg starts stepping forward. Walk through it slowly until the timing is automatic.
- Carry called Keep your hand on the outer side of the ball, not under it. Push the ball around; don't scoop it.
- Wide, high wrap that gets poked Keep the ball low (below your backside) and close to your body, with your body between it and the defender.
- Eyes on the ball Look up the floor. Drill it until you can do it without looking at the ball.
Drill
- Ball wraps to warm up your hands (no dribble): around your waist, around the world (head, waist, ankles and back up) and a figure 8 around your legs. Eyes up, as fast as you can control, and switch direction.
- Stationary behind-the-back: cross the ball continuously behind your body, wide, eyes up. Then pound it 3 times, cross it behind your back, pound 3 times, cross it back.
- Walking, then jogging: dribble in circles doing wraparounds, then go the length of half court changing direction, strong hand first, then weak hand.
- Zigzag drill: start in a corner, dribble at 45 degrees toward the middle, and on each whistle wrap it behind your back and go 45 degrees back toward the sideline, all the way to the far baseline without looking at the ball.
- Against a defender: use it when they lunge or crowd you, then attack. Spend 5–10 minutes on dribble moves every practice, both hands.
Sources
- Basketball For Coaches — 6 Basketball Moves You Need to Beat Any Defender
- Sikana — Learn the Behind-the-Back Crossover (video lesson)
- Jeff Haefner (Breakthrough Basketball) via ACTIVE.com — 5 Crossover Dribbling Techniques
- Coach's Clipboard — Dribbling and Dribble Moves
- Basketball For Coaches — 50 Basketball Dribbling Drills
- NBA — Official Rule No. 10: Violations and Penalties
Last checked 2026-10-26.