Put :30 On The Clock

No one ever dreamed of hitting the game-winner as the 8th player off the bench. We have all imagined ourselves as the best player, taking the biggest shot, under the most pressure. When our basketball journeys began, we went into our games and practices this very same approach, never considering that our superstars are so few in number that we can name them without hesitation. Then we started playing, and reality started to set in... Has the very approach changed since you've started? It's worth diving into. 

The moment is something we all have dealt with. It manages to stay away from us for the most part, but when it comes, it strips us down to our true character. You are either prepared for the moment or you are not. How you handle what's going on internally is everything, and even though it really is THAT simple, it has humbled all of us at one point or another. In this episode, we go over what it does to us and how to be bigger than the moment.

It seems like a pretty easy thing to understand: don't get too high when you succeed, don't get too low when you mess up. Simple right? Well, there is a reason why so many hoopers struggle with this. What is often simple is not easy to do, they are two different things. In this episode we dig into why this is a real issue and what you can do to manage your emotions when you do well and when you don't.

You are encouraged to be yourself, all the time, until it really matters. If you want to get ahead, you either agree with what your superiors believe, or you at least keep your beliefs to yourself. There is a price to pay for being your own person and speaking up for yourself. If you ever choose to go against the grain, you need to know what comes with that, both good and bad, ESPECIALLY as a hooper!

You have dreams & goals, both individual and team oriented. The greatest opponents to your dreams and goals are often the people closest to you. Most of the time, the intentions are good, but even the best intentions can have terrible effects on what you are trying to accomplish. How do you protect your ambitions as you climb this basketball ladder?

When it comes to your development as a hooper, you have to be very aware of why you're doing the work that you're doing. Today's players are far more skilled with the basketball than players were in the past, but the IQ of today's player is also WAAAAYYYYYY BELOW that of the player of yesterday. Why is that? It's clear to us, and in this episode we share not only how to see the problem but what you can do about it.

Each and every person that plays competitive basketball has an agenda. It is no secret, but to many it is considered wrong to have personal goals and targets to hit while playing a team game. Even though there is a time to be really selfish (the off-season) we have to keep in mind that this very selfishness is what allows every great player to be great, and every role player to contribute the absolute most towards winning.

Everyone wants to go pro. Everyone wants to say that they get paid to play basketball, to live out their childhood dreams; but we also know that most don't get to live that dream out. For those that do, they get checked when they walk through that door, finding out that their fantasy is far from the reality. Both on and off the court there is a lot you have to consider when it comes to hooping full-time, and it explains why there are so few who can actually do it. The sacrifices do not end just because you signed a contract, they keep coming, so it forces you ask yourself, again, is this really what I want to do?

Most hoopers prefer offense over defense, that isn't a secret. But coaches are always on your neck about how important the other side of the court is. There is a CLEAR disconnect between the coaches and the players, and in this episode that disconnect is exposed & dealt with. It turns out that it's nothing more than a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding that we won't have anymore. EVERYBODY ON THE LINE!

It happens all the time. Roles and responsibilities change based on the circumstances of the team, and you have to be ready to embrace those changes, especially in today's game of "position-less basketball." You may have more added to your plate or have some things taken away, but it will serve you best to be prepared for whatever may come your way.