The ball screen is a huge part of basketball at all levels. In my 20 years of coaching, I’ve seen its popularity grow from the high school level all the way down to youth basketball.

In fact, many coaches have made it the basis of their offense.

While there are many ball screen offenses, 2 of the most popular ball screen offenses are the 20 Ball Screen Offense With Don Showalter & the European Ball Screen Offense.

For those unfamiliar with Coach Showalter, here’s a couple highlights from his USA Basketball & high school coaching resume:

• 10 gold medals
• A 62-0 international record
• Over 600 high school wins

In the spirit of his international success, let’s look at 3 reasons why the 20 Ball Screen Offense beats the Euro Ball Screen Offense when it comes to creating great shots for your team!

But first, let’s take a quick peek at the basics of each offense.

Euro Ball Screen

The Euro Ball Screen Offense looks like this:

• 1 passes to 2 and cuts away.
• 4 ball screens for 2.

• 4 rolls after the screen.

• If 2 can’t score or pass to 4 they swing the ball to 5.

• 3 cuts through to the opposite corner as 1 lifts.
• 2 pops out to the wing as 4 lifts to the slot.

• 5 passes to 1 and sets a ball screen, continuing the pattern.

20 Ball Screen

Here’s the basics of the 20 Ball Screen Offense.

• 1 passes to 2.

• 2 cuts to the opposite corner.

• 5 sets a empty side wing ball screen.

• 4 cuts to the opposite block. 
• 5 rolls.
• 3 lifts.

• 2 looks to 4 or 5. If they aren’t open, they reverse the ball to 3.

• 1 lifts and receives a pass from 3.

• 3 cuts opposite as 4 sets the wing ball screen, continuing the pattern.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of both offenses, let’s move on & examine why the 20 is the superior offense.

Gold Medal Reason #1 - Triple Gap Creation

In the Euro Ball Screen Offense, the non-screening big is positioned at the slot. If that player is a non-shooter, the defense can have their defender plug the nail, taking away a driving lane from your ball handler.

In the 20 Ball Screen Offense, the non-screening big is at the opposite dunker spot. That opens a HUGE gap for 2 to attack. It also:

• Puts 5 in position for an easy shot if x5 helps
• Puts 5 in great offensive rebounding position

Gold Medal Reason #2 - Ball Reversals

The data behind the value of ball reversal is indisputable. 

• More ball reversals = higher points per possession (ppp)

In fact a recent study shows:

• No ball reversal or paint touch =.706 ppp
• 1+ ball reversals = .935 ppp

What do ball reversals mean specifically to Coach Showalter’s 20 Offense?. WATCH here as he talks about how shooting percentages increase based on ball reversals.

In the Euro Ball Screen Offense, it is easy to deny the reversal.

If 2 can’t score or pass to 4, their only realistic option is to pass to 5. If x5 denies that pass, the offense has stalled.

It’s much harder to deny reversals in the 20 Ball Screen Offense With Don Showalter. Because of the huge gap, x3 is not likely to be in a denial position.

If x3 does slide into the passing lane, 3 can easily bump higher to create a passing angle. Additionally, if x3 does try to deny, that makes 2’s gap even bigger!

Gold Medal Reason #3 - Separation At The Screen

In the Euro Ball Screen, only the initial screen is set with the screener coming out of the post. After that, every other screen is a perimeter pass and follow.

That makes it harder for 5 to create separation from their defender before they set their screen. Getting that separation is critical to breaking down ball screen defense.

In the 20 Ball Screen Offense, every screen after the first ball screen comes from the post. That allows the screener to get space from their defender, giving the ball handler more of an advantage off the screen.

Why “Buy American” Should Be Your Offensive Mantra!

Ball screens are popular because they work. Or, I should say, they can work.

What makes them more likely to work are things like:

• Big driving gaps

• The ability to reverse the ball & screen again

• Separation at the screen

All 3 of those are reasons why the 20 Ball Screen Offense With Don Showalter is at the top of the podium for ball screen offense! Give it a shot and see your offense become golden.

Comments Most Likes First   Oldest First   Newest First Dan Smith says: 2/18/2025 at 5:27:23 PM This is great Jeff, thanks for the informative article! I noticed in the first diagram, the euro version was 4+1, then goes 5 out. I'm surprised they find that to be an effective way of doing a ball screen offense. Plus no shot at 2nd chance points...although may lead to better transition D I guess, haha. Like     login   register

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