“The story we tell ourselves isn’t just a reflection of who we are. It’s a blueprint for who we’re becoming.” ~ Simon Sinek

Hey Reader!

I’m back in Brussels.

I played here in Belgium 2 years ago, and since then, I played in Spain, got released halfway through the season, finished the year in Finland, and now I’m back!

In the same city, with the same club. But a different version of me.

A few weeks ago, before I arrived in Belgium, I decided to analyze the last game I played in Spain. It was the game right before I got cut. Honestly, I didn’t want to watch it. I knew it was going to be uncomfortable.

I played about 20 minutes in that game, and I broke down every single touch I had. Not every minute... every touch.

My first touch didn’t come until 3:20 into the game, and it was a rebound that I just passed to our point guard. My second touch was another rebound. Same thing.

Over five minutes into the game, I finally got my first real offensive touch. I got an open three and missed it. Then I got a good look at the rim and missed that, too.

Later in the first half, I got a pass for a pretty wide-open three. Now, at this point in the season, I wasn’t shooting a good percentage, and the other team knew that. The defender was barely guarding me. And yet, I didn’t even look at the rim. I caught it and passed it right away.

That play stood out to me more than the misses.

My teammate made the right pass. I was wide open. But I was in such a state of overthinking and lacking confidence that I wasn’t close to being a threat.

I did have some good moments in that game. I played with pace when I got a rebound, I played physical defense, and ran the floor for a transition layup. But I also saw what I needed to look in the face: by that point in the season, my confidence had slipped, and it showed up in how I played.

I’ve broken down a lot of young players’ games by now. And I know it takes some guts to send somebody a game where you didn’t score much, or you didn’t get many touches, or you don’t feel like you played well. And that’s why I did the uncomfortable thing for myself. And I shared it in our community.

That game in Spain is part of my story. But it’s not the end of it.

I’m bringing those lessons with me back to Brussels.

If you’ve got a game you don’t want to watch, that might be the one you need to watch most.

Brussels Basketball, BNXT League

P.S. If you want me to break down your game film, I’ll show you what you’re doing well, what might be costing you opportunities, and what to work on next. Use code 20OFFBREAKDOWNS for $20 off your first breakdown at HackingHoops.com/game-analysis.

3 Hacks From Me

Hack 1: Stop waiting to feel confident

A lot of players wait for confidence before they act. It works the other way around. Send the email. Watch the film. Ask for feedback. Take the open shot. Then you build confidence because you have evidence that you can handle hard things.

Hack 2: Treat setbacks like information

When something doesn’t go your way, ask yourself: What is this showing me? Maybe you need to become a better defender. Maybe you need to make quicker decisions with the ball. Maybe you need to get stronger. The answer might not be fun, but it’s almost always useful. And that's where growth starts.

Hack 3: Reinvent yourself this season. I am!

Reinventing yourself doesn’t mean pretending the old version of you never existed. It means taking the lessons with you and choosing what’s next. Your past gives you experience. It doesn’t get to decide who you become.

*View all of our past emails at hackinghoops.kit.com/posts​

2 Questions for Growth

1. What is one action you have been waiting to take until you feel more confident?
2. What is one part of your game or mindset that you need to reinvent this season?

Reply to this email and let me know!

1 Video to Watch

This video has one idea I keep coming back to: action creates evidence. You don’t have to feel ready before you take the next step.

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Check out our other free resources at HackingHoops.com.

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