Are You a Champion?

When you think of a champion, what comes to mind? A person has won a championship? The best player on a team? The player with the most points?
When I think of a champion, I think of someone who can lead the team and knows what is best to help the team win. He isn't the guy that only works when he has to but he is always excited to get better. He works hard every time he steps onto the floor and will sacrifice himself for the good of the team. He is humble and doesn't boast about himself. In this way, even the worst player on a team can be a champion. If we can commit ourselves to working hard and being a leader, we will be a champion whether we are a starter or the last person on the benhc; whether we are on a championship team or a team who can't seem to get that win.

Little Things

"We win because we do all of the little things with excellence." Doc Rivers
"We try to stress the little things because little things lead to big things." Steve Alford
"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen." John Wooden

All of these quotes talk about doing the little things. I think that a lot of people don't really know what the "little things" are. In my opinion, the little things are the things of your game that not many people will notice. Everyone remembers the flashy dunk or the deep three, but what people don't remember is the defensive stop your team just got that lead to that score. That stop is an example of the little things. It may have not been as remembered as the game winning play, but it could very well have been. Stress the little things and do them with excellence and you will win.

Overcoming Disadvantages

How can you overcome disadvantages? Well I think the first thing to do is identify what kind of disadvantage you have. There are two types of disadvantages. The first is ones that you can change. (small, live in small town, have a bad school team, ect.) The other kind of disadvantage is one that you can change. (shooting ability, speed, vertical, ect.) Once you identify which category your disadvantages fall under, you can get to work. Use all of the disadvantages that you can't change and instead use them as motivation. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Next you need to work on the disadvantages you can change. Size doesn't matter if you can dribble as good as the rest of them and shoot knock down shots.

Never be Satisfied

What sets Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Chris Paul apart from all of the other players in the NBA? The answer is that they are never satisfied with where they are. They never say "Okay, well i am a star athlete and one of the best in NBA so I'll just stop working hard and stay at this level." They know that until they are 100% perfect, they have a lot to work on. These athletes are great role models because they always are pushing to get better every day. We as younger athletes need to follow their example and never be satisfied at being as good as we are. We have to be constantly working hard to get better.