Excellent Resource for Fans as Well as Players and Coaches
As someone who never played competitive basketball, I purchased "The Basics" hoping to gain a better appreciation of what it means to be a solid, fundamentally-sound basketball player. This DVD offers an outstanding look at tools that must be developed in order to be successful on any level, including youth leagues, high school, college, or in the pros. Coaches Wilkens and Helm do an excellent job of instructing viewers on how to handle the ball properly, make passes that won't be picked-off, get away from defenders, and box-out in order to rebound.

"The Basics" offers comprehensive overviews of the nuanced aspects of ball handling, passing, shooting, offensive rebounding, and playing defense. On dribbling and passing, emphasis is placed on using proper technique based on where the defender is located. For example, players are taught when to throw chest passes, bounce passes, or overhead passes in different situations to minimize risks of turnovers. They are taught specific movements to get open on offense to create space between themselves and defenders. When rebounding, the coaches demonstrate how to neutralize the opponent's ability to go after the ball before attempting to grab it.

Wilkens and Helm have assembled an excellent product that can help casual fans better understand the game. Viewers will be better able to appreciate players who go the extra mile to help their teams win. "The Basics" isn't just great for players and coaches, it is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn what it takes to be fundamentally-sound on the court.

Not a whole lot new going on...
This will be helpful perhaps if you are an EXTREME beginner. If you are not, however, it will sound like a bunch of the same cliches your coach threw at you in junior high. I was expecting a little more (he is a hall of famer, after all) and just didn't get it. If you are an intermediate or advanced player you will get little to no help from this video in terms of ideas for new moves or new ways of looking at the game. There's also a considerable amount of pretty transparent filler--cheesy graphics and repetition. Of course, it is called 'the basics' so it might be ok for beginners, I wouldn't know. As far as anyone else goes, though, I think you'd be better off saving the cash...

Outstanding video for the right age group
This is an outstanding video. The pace is right and the voice over is the right speed. I bought it for my 7 and 8 year old daughters, but realized that they would only be able to digest the large amount of information in small bites. So we watch and then break to practice. You may wish to sit thru each video in one sitting, but spread it out for your kids. Like the Chinese say (my kids are half Chinese) Hear and forget, see and remember, do and understand. Excellent pair of videos.

Excellent for starters!
I recommend this book for beginner to intermediate basketball player who wants to improve skills. Contains everything from defense stance to basketball shooting.

For my daughters aged 13, 12 and 9...
We watched the first tape tonight (offensive basics) and we were delighted with it. As some reviewers have noted, it is not entertaining; but, that's not why I got the tape. We have many tapes and DVDs that ARE entertaining. This one does one thing and does it well: it teaches kids the fundamentals of roundball and gives them great drills. I had to stop the tape so they could go to bed--they loved it. Highly recommended.