If You Look at Your Chances, You'll Miss Out on Yours

Apparently, you have a better chance to win the lottery than play in the NBA. And your chances to play college basketball are still a measley 2-3% percent. These are your so-called chances. But how do we explain those who make it? Are they all just natural talents mixed with just enough connections and happenstances? Or did the “lucky” percent just have the audacity to ignore their chances???

Synics and critics are everywhere. They want to see you fail, because it justifies their own mediocrity. See, they never had the guts to go for their dreams, so they can’t stand the sight of peope who are. They are the first to point to your chances and call you a fool for dreaming.

Now, I can honestly say that I have accomplished every basketball-related dream I’ve ever had, and some are still in the process. “But you didn’t play in the NBA.” Look, whether you believe me or not, my dream wasn’t to play there. I wanted to play overseas and see the world, and I received offers to do that. The funny thing is I decided not to accept the offers. The truth is I love training players and I chose that journey.

My point is this: You and you alone decide what your dreams and goals are. You can’t always control the circumstances. You might have the dream of playing at North Carolina but Roy Williams or Coach Hatchell might not think you’re the right fit for their program; another program might. You can’t magically change their mind, but YOU CAN PLAY COLLEGE BASKETBALL. That’s why I always tell players that they should have their goals and then their ideals. The goal should be play college basketball, and if they want to play at a specific college then that is their ideal. Bottom line: They shoot for college.

Now, as far as professional basketball goes. If NBA is your goal, you still will not be in control of someone giving you a chance. So have the humility to work your way up the ladder. Get your foot in the door and succeed at the level you are at. That will open the next level. See, people may scoff at ABA and CBA or even NBDL but who cares about those people and what they think. If you don’t give up, you never know what can happen. Bruce Bowen entered the league after 4 years of playing in the CBA and France. Even then, it took him several years to finally have some stability. How did he do that? Defense, a lot of hard work, and persistence.

Can that be you? Well, only if you stop looking at your chances. Because if you are caught looking at your chances, you don’t have one. If you look at your odds, you’ll be the odd one out. But if you keep your eyes on the prize, I’m not going to tell you it can’t be done. Go for it!!!