“"It’s not a failure; it’s steps to success... There’s no failure in sports. There’s good days, bad days... Some days it’s your turn, some days it’s not your turn.” ~ Giannis Antetokounmpo
Hey Reader!
Spoiler alert: You won't die from shooting an airball. You're not going to lose an arm if you turn the ball over in a close game. You definitely won't starve because your man scored a backdoor layup.
The real worst-case scenario is looking back a few years from now and realizing you spent your basketball years trying not to mess up.
I felt this recently while watching some of my old AAU games. On my high school team, I was one player. On that Under Armour-sponsored AAU team with dudes like Naz Reid and Jahvon Quinerly, I looked like a different person.
I deferred. I hid. I got rid of the ball too quickly.
I remember thinking that they were the stars, not me. They were better than me, so my job was to get them the ball and stay in my lane.
Looking back, the starting five were really good. But it wasn't just talent. It was how they approached the game. They played like they were on a mission. They were willing to try new things, look bad, and then still be aggressive on the next possession as if nothing happened. I wasn't.
At some point in their career, every great player had weaknesses. Maybe they couldn't shoot, or their handle wasn't tight enough. The difference is, they were willing to put their game out there before it was perfect.
And that matters.
Players like Jahvon and Naz got better because they were aggressive before they had all the skills. They were willing to learn in public and make mistakes while everyone was watching.
There is a cost to playing safe. It doesn't show up overnight. It shows up slowly: less growth, less trust, less confidence, less opportunity.
Then one day you're a senior, and you're basically the same player you were two years ago. Same habits. Same hesitation. Same excuse that you were "just trying to make the right play."
No. You were hiding.
Of course, make the right basketball play. But don't confuse making the right play with shrinking yourself.
The players who start on varsity, play in college, and keep climbing aren't perfect. Jahvon got embarrassed. Naz had insecurities. The difference is, when the game starts, they're willing to put all of that aside and go hoop. They're willing to live with the mistakes if that's the price of reaching their potential.
Overseas Pro Player
P.S. Looking back at my old Sports U games, I can see how often I deferred and played it safe. I knew I was doing it, but I didn't know how to change it. If you'd like specific feedback on your game, I'd love to break down your film for you. Click here for more information.
