Dreamshake in Basketball: The Basics of the Dreamshake Move

The Dream Shake is an offensive basketball maneuver that utilizes shoulder movement, pump fakes, and pivoting to confuse a defender. Legendary NBA big man Hakeem Olajuwon—nicknamed “The Dream”—developed the Dream Shake in the late 1980s. Olajuwon built his hall of fame career off of his skill at performing the Dream Shake and other agile post moves, in addition to his defensive prowess and rebounding skills. In his 1993–1994 championship season with the Houston Rockets, Hakeem Olajuwon was the first non-American player to earn NBA MVP, Finals MVP, and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. Additionally, he was the first player in NBA history to earn all three awards in the same season.

Olajuwon’s Dream Shake is an effective move for low post play by dominant centers, such as Shaquille “Shaq” O'Neal, but hybrid players such as LeBron James have also used The Dream’s signature move to create space for mid-range jump shots. Other notable NBA players like Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers adopted Olajuwon’s distinctive shoulder shimmy during playing time and even evolved the move for the point guard and shooting guard positions.

An offensive player with exceptional quickness and footwork can utilize the Dream Shake to increase scoring options around the hoop. Practice these basic fundamentals to learn how to perform this basketball maneuver:

• Catch the ball in a jump-stop position. When you receive the ball from a teammate, catch the ball with both feet planted on the ground and your back to the rim. This allows you to decide which foot you prefer to establish as your pivot foot. The ball will be protected from the defender while your back is to the hoop, and the defender will be confused which direction you will choose to start your dribble.
• Develop your court awareness. A versatile scorer can utilize the Dream Shake from a low or high post position (beneath the basket versus near the free throw line) to create shot opportunities. Therefore, it is essential to develop court awareness to gauge where defenders are on the floor and how they will react to different variations of the move. For instance, a defender might overcommit to a shoulder fake toward the key and allow a wide open lane for a reverse layup or dunk near the baseline.
• Shimmy with your shoulders. A defending opponent will watch the way the ball handler moves their body to adjust their defensive positioning. A simple wobbling movement of the shoulders in one direction or another can shift the defender out of place. This allows the offensive player to create space and scoring opportunities without the need to begin their dribble.
• Use your eyes and arms to perform a shot fake. The Dream Shake is a deceptive move that aims to confuse an aggressive defender. You can feint a shot attempt with a pump fake to get your defender out of position. To perform a pump fake you will need to glance up at the rim and move your upper body with the ball in a way that mimics the motion of a shot without releasing the ball. If the defender overcommits to your shot fake and attempts to block, they will be out of position to defend a layup.

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