Put :30 On The Clock

Even when we have a trainer, a team and a great support system, there are those of us who struggle to make real, visible improvements. If those players have trouble, then it's clear that those who are not as fortunate can have the same issues as well. In this episode we lay out the clear, easy to understand blueprint to how you can get better, no matter what it is you are trying to develop or sharpen; so if this is you, TUNE IN! Follow us on IG, Tik Tok, Facebook, Threads and Fanbase @WorkWithCoachPhil for drills, concepts and approach to the game both on and off the court.

Both your enemies and allies are quick to tell you what you cannot do. Your enemies wish to attack your morale and confidence. Your allies don't want to see you hurt in case your dreams do not come true. Strangers lean towards negativity, so even they will shoot your dreams down if they somehow get knowledge of what you're up to. They are all correct. But what if your heroes listened to them? What if your favorite players took their advice? No one would ever stand out from the crowd, and there would be no one to look up to, or chase. Who told you that you are not someone else's hero? On top of that, who said that you cannot AT THE VERY LEAST, do the work that heroes do? If you don't score 40K points in the NBA, does that mean you should give up basketball altogether? Looks crazy when you see it this way, because it is.

There will always be someone demanding that you prove yourself. As long as you're trying, this person will exist. Is that a problem? It shouldn't be. You have to know which ones are worth your effort and which ones aren't worth a moment of your time.

With so many variables to deal with when it comes to being successful, you can't afford to let what you CAN control slip out of your hands. You have more than enough to deal with; the absolute LAST thing you need is to hear from your own conscience & guilt gang up on you until regret lands the final blow. It is that serious.

It is easy to recognize that Tyrese Maxey is having a breakout year, especially with the role he has taken over for his team. What is not easily seen is what it took to be given the opportunity in the first place. You don't get to put up the numbers that he does by being shy; so if you're looking to advance to the next level, you need to take advantage of your chances the way Maxey does his.

If the spotlight is on anyone right now, it's on James Harden. It's almost as if the NBA media forgot to tell us what Wemby had for breakfast because of the fact that the Clippers are still winless since adding The Beard. Things may improve from this point, but AT this point, we need to understand what we are looking at and what we can learn from this very wild situation.

It’s an unspoken line, that separates players who contribute to scoring, from players who are expected to carry the scoring load. Some get this responsibility, most don’t, and it’s not always fair. What comes with being on either side of that line? It might surprise you to find out.

We never take the time to think about how many stars have to align for us, JUST to be able to play the game that we love. It takes a lot of time & commitment to improve & perform, and if we simply just STOP, take a look at everyone and everything supporting us, we'd play a lot harder and a lot better. Basketball is not guaranteed, we have to act like we know that!

If you do what everyone else does, you will have what everyone else has. This is one of the greatest ways to destroy your own opportunity to live out your dreams. Amongst those who understand you will be right at home, but to the overwhelming majority you will look like a maniac, just because you're doing what's required to succeed. Don't let it discourage you, let it ENCOURAGE you that you're not amongst the "normal."

Who you play for, for the most part, is out of your control. Who plays for you, also, is often out of your control. Practices & games allow you to get a real good look at the other person. What happens when you don't like your coaches/ADs, etc.? What happens when you don't like that player that you recruited? How do you handle that? Tune in, that's how!

No one ever dreamed of hitting the game-winner as the 8th player off the bench. We have all imagined ourselves as the best player, taking the biggest shot, under the most pressure. When our basketball journeys began, we went into our games and practices this very same approach, never considering that our superstars are so few in number that we can name them without hesitation. Then we started playing, and reality started to set in... Has the very approach changed since you've started? It's worth diving into.

The moment is something we all have dealt with. It manages to stay away from us for the most part, but when it comes, it strips us down to our true character. You are either prepared for the moment or you are not. How you handle what's going on internally is everything, and even though it really is THAT simple, it has humbled all of us at one point or another. In this episode, we go over what it does to us and how to be bigger than the moment.

It seems like a pretty easy thing to understand: don't get too high when you succeed, don't get too low when you mess up. Simple right? Well, there is a reason why so many hoopers struggle with this. What is often simple is not easy to do, they are two different things. In this episode we dig into why this is a real issue and what you can do to manage your emotions when you do well and when you don't.

You are encouraged to be yourself, all the time, until it really matters. If you want to get ahead, you either agree with what your superiors believe, or you at least keep your beliefs to yourself. There is a price to pay for being your own person and speaking up for yourself. If you ever choose to go against the grain, you need to know what comes with that, both good and bad, ESPECIALLY as a hooper!

You have dreams & goals, both individual and team oriented. The greatest opponents to your dreams and goals are often the people closest to you. Most of the time, the intentions are good, but even the best intentions can have terrible effects on what you are trying to accomplish. How do you protect your ambitions as you climb this basketball ladder?

When it comes to your development as a hooper, you have to be very aware of why you're doing the work that you're doing. Today's players are far more skilled with the basketball than players were in the past, but the IQ of today's player is also WAAAAYYYYYY BELOW that of the player of yesterday. Why is that? It's clear to us, and in this episode we share not only how to see the problem but what you can do about it.

Each and every person that plays competitive basketball has an agenda. It is no secret, but to many it is considered wrong to have personal goals and targets to hit while playing a team game. Even though there is a time to be really selfish (the off-season) we have to keep in mind that this very selfishness is what allows every great player to be great, and every role player to contribute the absolute most towards winning.

Everyone wants to go pro. Everyone wants to say that they get paid to play basketball, to live out their childhood dreams; but we also know that most don't get to live that dream out. For those that do, they get checked when they walk through that door, finding out that their fantasy is far from the reality. Both on and off the court there is a lot you have to consider when it comes to hooping full-time, and it explains why there are so few who can actually do it. The sacrifices do not end just because you signed a contract, they keep coming, so it forces you ask yourself, again, is this really what I want to do?

Most hoopers prefer offense over defense, that isn't a secret. But coaches are always on your neck about how important the other side of the court is. There is a CLEAR disconnect between the coaches and the players, and in this episode that disconnect is exposed & dealt with. It turns out that it's nothing more than a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding that we won't have anymore. EVERYBODY ON THE LINE!

It happens all the time. Roles and responsibilities change based on the circumstances of the team, and you have to be ready to embrace those changes, especially in today's game of "position-less basketball." You may have more added to your plate or have some things taken away, but it will serve you best to be prepared for whatever may come your way.