One Incredible Story

I get so unbelievably frustrated training players who just refuse to push past a certain point. Some players stop working hard when they feel too much sweat seeping out, while others stop pushing when their lungs start to hurt. Some people just refuse to go through pain. This story is for those people. 

Al Oerter was a track-and-field superstar who won the gold medal for discus throwing in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. Trying again in 1964, his top competition was a man who had already beat Al’s old records just with his practice throws! To make matters worse, Al tore the cartilage off the right side of his rib cage and badly damaged a cervical disc a week before the Olympics. Wearing a neck brace to dulll the pain, he amazingly managed to qualify for the finals. Of course, his doctor advised him to drop out because the pain was nearly unbearable. 

At this point, Al was hit with an inner voice we all get at times, “Don’t make a fool of yourself. You’ve got en excuse. Withdraw!”  

Still, Al suited up. Although his first throw managed to qualify Al for the last string of finalists, Al’s next two throws were failures and the pain on his side and neck only got worse. But Al had one last throw: 

“He stepped back into the ring and threw the discuss one more time. It sailed over 200 feet down the field for a new world record – and Al’s third gold medal. Looking back on that day, Al said… 

“The important thing for all of us to remember is that wherever we want to go in life, we won’t get there unless we bend all our efforts – mental, physical, and spiritual – toward that end.” (Lester Sumrall) 

Some people simply give it their all. Some don’t. It’s amazing that people like Al can exist and push their bodies and minds to such incredible heights, while others can’t even push themselves to break a decent sweat. But I guess that’s why some people succeed while others….just don’t. I don’t know about you, but Al’s story has inspired me. My advice, let’s all try to be a little more like Al.

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!!!

Don't Give Labels, Give Direction

As a skill development trainer, my job is to build up a player. That means I have to locate bad habits and correct them, but also locate negative thought patterns and spin them positive. The habits are easy, the thoughts are the challenge. A negative coach can make it nearly impossible at times.

Author Brian Biro wrote, “As we communicate our expectations of others, we influence their expectation of themselves.” I get so frustrated when I hear a kid say, “I’m not supposed to” when I’m trying to teach them a necessary skill. Basically, all they are really saying is somone doesn’t believe in me, whether that someone is their parents or coaches. Here’s the deal. If we don’t believe in our players, most will never believe in themselves.

I’m talking kids at young ages that already believe they will NEVER be fast enough, big enough, athletic enough, smart enough, or coordinated enough to master this skill or that skill. Coaches, we can help make your players better. We are some of the best at what we do. But don’t forget the part you play in their long-term development.

A good leader doesn’t give lables, LEADERS GIVE DIRECTION. If a small kid is getting his shots blocked around the basket, don’t tell him not to drive in against the trees, Don’t tell him he “can’t.” Show him how he can have success. How can he manuever around the basket? How can he be more creative, more ambidetrous? If a kid has a bad shot, we shouldn’t tell him not to shoot. Give direction. What adjustments should be made with his form? Can he/she get in more repetition? THEN COMMUNICATE YOUR EXPECTATION THAT THEY BECOME A GREAT SHOOTER! To me, that’s what coaching is all about!!!

Medicine Ball vs Rice

I was watching a little NBA fit on NBATV the other day, and Luol Deng was reaching his hands in a big bucket of rice. Now, obviously Deng was working on his hand and forearm strength, and that’s great. However, since my next DVD, “Keys to a Quick Handle – The Complete Medicine Ball Workout” is coming out soon, I got to thinking.

If I told you that you could take a ½ hour and improve your ball handling, hand quickness, explosiveness, fundaments, while improving your hand and forearm strength, OR take a ½ hour, squuze some rice, and improve your hand and forearm strength, what would you choose? That should be an easy answer. You would pick the ½ hour that would benefit your game the most, and equip you with the most skills. In other words, you would pick time efficiency.

That’s why I am so excited about the medicine ball. There’s no question that hand strength is essential. And that’s why NBA players like Luol Deng is taking the time and energy to squeeze and work with rice. But I also believe, that players like Deng will soon put that rice away and get their hand strength on the basketball court, with a basketball in their hands, taking game shots, and working on game skills.

Remember, while the medicine ball is an old concept, this kind of medicine ball training is a new idea and a fresh way to train. The word will soon be out and I can’t wait to share it with you all. The promo is below: I would love to hear your thoughts.

Rope Burns to Success

I often use this illustration: If I put a lion on one side of the room and you on the other, would your definition of desire change? Would your definition of work ethic and persistence be different then it is now?

I’ve said this before, “The proof of desire in the pursuit” (Dr. Murdock). But I don’t think very many athletes understand this concept. Unfortunately, we live in the age of entitlement. So many players think that success is going to be gift-wrapped for them.

It’s as if they are at the bottom of a deep pit, waiting for someone to lift them out. All the while, a rope hangs down waiting for them to climb out. If they truly desired to get out of the pit, they would start their climb. Most don’t even get that far.

Then, there’s the rope burns. The pain. The exhaustion. The sweat that goes into climbing to the top. Even those who do start the climb, will give up due to the burns they suffer. The bottom line is: That is pursuit! You can’t claim desire without it!!!

Players, everyone starts in the pit; the majority don’t make it out. If you want to be the minority of those who do, learn to pursue. If your vocabulary needs a change, change it. If you need to work harder, smarter, or more efficient, figure out how. But don’t tell me your desire; show me your pursuit!

What is Your Kryptonite?

It’s been said that a team is only as strong as its weakest link. Now, obviously there are some exceptions to the rule. I don’t believe the Chicago Bull’s weakest link ever effected Michael Jordan’s ability to win a championship. Jordan needed some help, but the weakest didn’t keep him from a championship. However, when it comes to the individual, I believe there are less exceptions to this rule. A player is only as strong as his/her greatest weakness. Let’s examine that.

If a player is a great shooter, but can’t handle the basketball, their weakness will negatively impact their strength. They may not be able to get their shot off! If you can drive, but you can’t shoot, the defense will sag in and close your driving lanes. Your weakness will limit your strengths. When all said and done, many players actually become their weakness! What is your Kryptonite? Have we learned anything from Superman. In the end, what defined Superman? His powers? Or his weakness? That’s an easy answer. Despite all his abilities and strengths, Kryptonite still killed him. The greatest player to ever play the game, Michael Jordan, is known for his unbelievable strengths. But when it comes right down to it, he’s known even better for his complete lack of weaknesses! If MJ had a Kryptonite, no one managed to figure it out. Last summer, I was shocked when a 6′6 college player told me his coach wouldn’t allow him to practice his mid-post or face-up game. When I talked with that coach, he reassured me that he did not want his player wasting his time working on his weaknesses, when he could be focusing on his strengths. What a mindset! What this coach did not understand was that no matter how good this kids strengths became, he would always be shackled by those weaknesses. He was a great three point shooter with good athleticism and versatility, that would always be limited by what he couldn’t do on the basketball court. It’s a shame!

My advise to coaches and players is this. We must stop focusing on whether a player is a 1,2,3,4, or a 5; stop focusing on the position they play, and start focusing on giving them all skills they need.

Now obviously, some areas should be trained more than others. J.J. Redick needs to keep shooting. Point guards must always keep an emphasis on dribbling and passing. But if we keep ignoring our weaknesses, we will always limit our strengths and our potential! Don’t be Superman if you can help it. Get rid of your Kryptonite!!!

How Much is Enough?

Players are constantly emailing me asking how much time they should be putting in the gym, so I want to try to touch on that question.

Before I do, let me talk about the time I put in: Summer between Junior year and senior year in high school: 8 hours per day

First two years of college (Off-season): 4 hours per day

Last two years of college (Off-season) 3 hours per day

Professional: 2 hours per day

Now, that 8 hours per day I put in in high school was important. That experience taught me HOW to train, but the best training I ever put in was the 2 hours per day I put in the gym during my professional years. How is that? I learned how to maximize my time, cover more skills, and get more out of each minute. That is why we always say, “it’s not what you do, its what you emphasize.” People are always so worried about time. But that’s not what its all about. We have to be careful when we make training all about minutes and seconds. Many times I think players ask about time, so they can do just enough to be good. Never do just enough to get by. The basic guideline is this: Do everything you can, each and every day you can do it. Rest is important, and balance is important. But each and every person knows if they are truly giving their all. So for all you players wondering about time. Don’t stress. Just give it your all!