“There’s a lot of remedies you can use as a basketball player to get better, but the easiest thing you can do is go to sleep.” — Kevin Durant

Hey Reader!

Note to 12-year-old Tucker.

When I was around 12, I carried my basketball everywhere. It basically felt like part of my body. One time, I even took it into the grocery store. I’m not kidding. I didn’t dribble it in there, though. I was too shy for that.

I spent hours in the driveway. I played a ton of 1v1 and 2v2 with my friends, my sister, and even my parents. I tagged along to my older sister’s AAU practices where I played against older, taller girls. I also played soccer, which helped my balance and overall athleticism without me even realizing it. And I was pretty good about the simple stuff, too. I usually ate well and got good sleep. (Thanks, Mom and Dad.)

Looking back, those habits gave me a huge head start, not just with my skill level, but also with growing tall, strong, and healthy.

And that’s really the secret to getting good before high school. It’s not fancy workouts or expensive shoes. It’s being around the game all the time, doing simple things over and over, and building healthy habits that actually help you improve.

The part I wish I had understood earlier had nothing to do with drills. It was the mental game and learning how to handle mistakes better. If I missed a shot or messed something up, I’d beat myself up. I have vivid memories of kicking the ball into the bleachers after a few misses during a workout and crying after AAU games where I didn't score many points.

The advice I'd give my younger self now is simple. Don’t let one bad play or missed shot ruin the rest of your workout or the rest of the game. Move on. It’s going to be okay. Listen when a coach corrects you. Fix your body language. Be coachable. Be a great teammate. Learn how to bounce back quicker.

That’s what kept going through my head while I was writing notes for our new 360 Player Assessment for middle school players. It felt like I was writing a message to my younger self. Keep doing the basic stuff. Keep loving the game. And get better at responding when something goes wrong. (I'm still working on that last one.)

Overseas Pro Basketball Player

P.S. Respond to this email and let me know what you're doing to change any bad habits you have that aren't helping your game.

3 Hacks From Me

Hack 1: Take your ball everywhere.

I'm serious. If you're walking somewhere, try to also be dribbling. (Unless it's the grocery store!) Your handle gets elite when the ball feels like an extension of your arm, not when you do fifteen minutes of stationary pounds in your driveway and call it a day. And dribbling on sidewalks and in grass will make dribbling on a smooth court that much easier.

Hack 2: Go get embarrassed in 1v1.

Find someone older and bigger. (Parents and siblings count.) Play them. Let them block your shot. Let them score on you. Playing 1v1 strips away all your fake confidence and forces you to actually figure out how to survive on a basketball court. And it builds the habit of moving on when things don’t go your way!

Hack 3: Get someone to assess you.

Ask for honest feedback from someone who cares about you and really knows your game. A coach, parent, trainer, whoever. Either have them fill out the 360° Player Assessment about you or find another way. To improve, you need to hear the truth about the player you are from an outside perspective. And the sooner, the better.

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

2 Questions for Growth

1. Are you avoiding asking coaches or others who know your game how you're doing because you're afraid to hear the truth?
2. How much does it bother you if you don't have access to a basketball on vacation, at your grandparents' house, or at your sister's soccer game? (The answer to this one could be quite revealing.)

Reply to this email and let me know!

1 Video to Watch

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