What are fundamentals? Sports Fundamentals are the basic skills which a player needs in order to succeed in their chosen sport such as the ability to shoot, swing, throw, kick, punch, pass, serve, dribble, rebound, playing defense, setting picks, blocking out, etc. Former National Basketball Association (NBA) player and Coach Isiah Thomas expanded this definition to also include going "beyond the basics" as well as focusing on an individuals "inner game." The