There is a part to this that I can agree with... and another part that I don't at all.
At its heart, basketball is not a complex sport. It is throwing a ball through a hoop. And as for easy answers... there is one key that unlocks the door to The Kingdom.
Roundball is all about one thing: Getting in the (roundball) Flow. That means, NOT thinking too much. NOT making things too hard. The more you ‘think’... the more you will fail.
“Everything just slows downs, you have supreme confidence. You get into the zone and just try and stay there. You don’t think of your surroundings. Everything becomes invisible. You're kind of locked in” -- Kobe Bryant.
learn how elite basketball players purposefully practice getting into the Flow State or as you may have heard it called, The Zone in basketball
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“1. When you’re in the zone, your mind and body give feedback to your actions immediately... The flow state allows you to react immediately because your mind is clear.
2. A person... won’t hesitate because he/she is afraid to fail... you don’t let failure get in your head, you go for it... All the worries you have in failing will disappear... It gives you the confidence to give your best performance.
3. Most people play basketball just because they love it... It gives satisfaction to what you’ve worked on the basketball court and the hours you spent at practice.
4. Your concentration is at its peak.. our focus is on our actions and winning the game... Concentration allows us total awareness of our skills and actions.
5. You’ll experience the balance between challenge and skills... This will allow you to use the peak of your abilities.
6. Effortlessness... you are much more flexible and relaxed.. the strain of the game won’t affect you. Your actions will not require too much effort and you do it smoothly. Decision-making is also effortless...
7. Altered state of time... When the time comes for you to make the crucial game-winning shot time slows down allowing you to be completely aware of the situation. The perception of time is altered when you’re in the flow state.
8. Clarity of goals... You are in control of your mind and body, therefore, you know exactly know what to do in the situation.”
End quote.
Now, I admit that getting into the Ultimate Flow State is not a default setting for most players and one that you can just throw a switch into. But guess what? It CAN BE. You can get better at achieving this State as so many top players have already learned and done.
Anyone who has spent time on the court knows what it feels like to just play freely and in harmony with others. It's probably one of the most beautiful feelings in Life that some of us have ever experienced. Maybe even the best in some ways.
Yes, there is a technical aspect and a mental preparation aspect to this game that you must also do to succeed. But that's not where the Secret Sauce is found.
