BLOG 24: Game Prep

Film is everything.

We have never gone into a CIF game without fully dissecting and breaking down opposing team film. You are never too good to prepare, because anybody, on any given night, can not only shock, but humble you.

My absolute favorite part of studying an opposing team, besides breaking down team structure, tendencies, strengths and weaknesses, is to locate and analyze their best player. When a high level scorer enters the gym to play against us, our responsibility is to make sure he does not “get his.”Sometimes, it takes special defenses to handle that particular task, but part of any film session is spent breaking down their individual tendencies, only to make that job a little easier.

I usually watch multiple sample sizes, but if I only have one game on a team, I like to watch it about 2-3 times and at different/strategic times of the day. This process normally gets done before our team practice and prior to showing our players, because once we go into “game prep,” I like to have the game-plan ready to go.

Confidence comes from your body of work. In school, students always do better if they’ve dissected the study guide and prepared for the exam - similarly, film is a study guide to the game. With that said, breaking down game tape is an art and knowing what to look for is a skill, but just like any skill, repetition is key.

BlOG 23: The Impact of Sports on School Communities.

Athletics are undeniably one of the most important aspects of life within a school. Everyone loves talking about community and culture, but what they sometimes forget is that sports are the glue that bring students, staff, and athletes together and bind them to one common goal - Success within a competitive enviroment. At the end of the day, everyone needs a break from the rigors of everyday life, and what better therapy than athletes playing the game they love, students supporting their friends, and staff watching their students compete with pride.

Sports keep students out of trouble, off the streets, ensure physical/mental health, fill them with motivation, and provide them with memories that last a lifetime. At the end of day, isn’t the beauty of life based on experiences and memories made? When I look back at my early years of high school, one of the only memories my friends and I always talk about are the great times we shared on and off the court during basketball season. Basketball was also a ticket for me to play in college, get all my classes, and aid me with the proper discipline/time management skills as I received my bachelors degree in Kinesiology. As important as academics are, athletics are vital to complete the entire high school experience and bond together a proud school community.

BLOG 22: Reflections, Resolutions, & The Truth

Most of us, including myself, always fall victim to something very common, and that is; “starting January 1st, I’m going to…..”

New year, new goals, different motivation, but the question remains - how are you going to build consistency in your habits to support these goals? The busiest time of the year at the gym is the first week of January. Fine, let’s stretch that to the second week, but after that, you see a lot of the motivated new year warriors suddenly get too busy or lose the fire they started with.

Now, how do we carry out these resolutions in a consistent manner? Well, I’ve noticed a trend in my own behavior. Anytime I don’t have something to look forward to, I always tell myself “well, when an event or opportunity pops up, I’ll start locking in.” This is one of the most common “internal talks” that someone uses to convince themselves that it’s okay not to continue until something comes up (competition, wedding, summer, vacation, tryouts, etc).

Short Term/Long Term goals:

Excite yourself! Give yourself something to look forward to. You can internally create that “event or opportunity” that motivates you to stay consistent. A player development coach on the Sacramento Kings, Rico Hines, always reminds his players to know their big picture. The big picture you have for yourself, whether life changing or not, becomes a long term goal. When you decide to take a trip and drive cross country, do you drive 50 hours straight? Probably not. You stop off in several cities and appreciate the sites before ultimately getting to your final destination. These small cities, in turn, become your short term goals. If you’re on a quest to build a better body, setting daily caloric/exercise goals, which eventually lead to the completion of your weekly checklist, are the best ways to keep your mind engaged with the task at hand. Why do people quit the gym after 2 weeks? Well, the nature of a human being comes with the expectation of quick results, but when, after 2 weeks, they feel as though they’re at a standstill, they stop. Nothing great happens overnight!

What’s your ultimate goal? How will you get there?

BLOG 21: Visualize Before You Actualize!

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.”

-Napoleon Hill

In today’s blog, we’re going to look at visualization in a different perspective. You probably expect this to be individualized, however, we will take a slight detour in our way of thought.

Hesitation and insecurity will almost 10/10 times lead you to failure. If you don’t truly believe in your own vision, do you think someone else will? This reminds me of when Tim Manson, Isaiah Thomas’ trainer said, “We’re social creatures; nothing important in life has been accomplished without each other - none of us have done anything by ourselves.” How does this tie into visualization? Well, imagine you have a vision you don’t wholeheartedly believe in, and yet, try to pitch that vision to people - do you really think they’ll be confident enough to go all in with their own tools to invest in you? You can’t sell it, if you yourself don’t buy it first. Same concept goes for the leader/captain on a sports team; can you really lead if you’re unsure in your own abilities?

Kobe Bryant used to visualize himself making a game winning shot over and over and over again, so when the time actually came, he wasn’t fazed because he had driven his mind to that particular moment, countless times. When you see a guy that sure In himself, as a teammate or coach, you naturally do what? Well, you ride or die with him and wholeheartedly believe in him regardless of the outcome, right? I don’t want to stretch this blog out too long but i’ll leave you with this; Believe in your own vision, so others do too - you’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish together.

Thank you!

BLOG 20: Your Circle MATTERS!

“You are a product of your environment…”

In today’s world, there's so much competition, where it almost becomes impossible to differentiate between real supporters who have your back vs people who are merely there to watch you slip. Who you’re surrounded by, actually, who you DECIDE to be surrounded by, becomes crucial when it comes to building your brand. When you have a circle who constantly checks in, asks how you’re doing (not what you’ve been doing), before anything, is a true support group. A question you should ask yourself is; does the circle I’ve surrounded myself with motivate me to be better? Remember, sometimes you meet people who want you to do well, but not better than them. This is a sad reality, however, we live in a world built strictly off competition and a race as to who can make it to the top of mountain first (not necessarily a bad thing). In order to adapt, you need to make sure to surround yourself around people who are in their own lane, truly support one another, there for each other, and want the best for the collective circle. In my case, it’s the best feeling knowing I have people in my corner I can rely on for anything, and it’s always in a genuine manner (and visa versa). With that said, seeing them succeed motivates me to keep working relentlessly to reach my goals.

BLOG 19: What You Post MATTERS!

Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok dominate our lives, whether we like it or not. Everything, including business ventures, networking, and brand recognition are heavily dependent on your social media reach. With that said, as powerful as a simple iPhone containing these apps can be, they can also lead to brand collapse as fast as your finger can press “post.” Remember, ultimately, your name is your brand, regardless of what your business is called. Post ACCORDINGLY.

ATHLETES:

A simple 7 second Tiktok post can lead to a school retracting their scholarship offer. This is essentially 4 years of free education and sports traded for 7 seconds of “fun.” Coaches want mature and responsible athletes, not ones who are using profanity or doing silly things on their social media. Think about it like this; If your 35 year old self saw your 17 year old video, what would he/she think. Again, THINK BEFORE YOU POST!

Thanks for reading.

BLOG 18: What You Eat MATTERS!

For this blog, I’m not going to dive too deep into the science of nutrition when it comes to performance, but will tell you a story first hand, off experience. What you eat MATTERS! First and foremost, there are tons of scientific studies done proving how crucial your diet is when it comes to playing sports. Let me backtrack. In Taiwan, a few year back, after games, we used to come back home exhausted. Exhausted is actually an understatement because I felt like I just got hit by a truck due to how long and physical games are outside the United States. Lucky BUT unlucky for me, we had a McDonald’s right across the street where I would go and “refuel.” Refuel huh? You guys know how much McDonald’s I would’ve had if, one day, my roommate didn’t turn to me as I was eating my fake Big Mac (didn’t taste entirely the same in Taiwan), and say, “are you a Honda or a Ferrari?” I replied with a “huh?” He said, “if you owned a Ferrari, would you go to a random, no named gas station, and put in 87 gas?” I said “no, definitely not” as I was ready to drink my Oreo McFlurry. He said, “then why have you been filling your Ferrari 87 and expecting it to perform?” How quickly things changed; I never had Mcdonald’s again while I was there, and let me tell you guys, I really noticed a difference on the court in terms of overall energy, feeling lighter, more explosion in my step, and actually coming back home NOT as exhausted. Moral of the story, give your body what it needs or it won't perform for you.

BLOG #17: The Noise Outside Bothers You? Close The Window!

“An entire sea of water can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly, the negativity of the world can’t put you down unless you allow it to get inside of you.” This quote speaks volumes, not only for athletes, but for businessmen, doctors, lawyers, & so on. We, as human beings, (although we don’t admit it), care too much about what outsiders think of us. Jay Shetty, a great speaker, who has mastered the Monk Mentality says, be close to everything but don’t let it consume or own you. Thinking about this, awareness of everything around us is important, but training your mind to understand that it doesn’t matter how great you are, there will ALWAYS be someone who won’t approve is equally as crucial. Let’s think about some of the greatest athletes to ever live; Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Lebron James. What do they all have in common? Sheer and unquestionable GREATNESS, right? Do you know how many people absolutely despise them? More than you think. Why? Well, simply put, YOU ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE. A very intelligent friend/mentor of mine (@Fbabadjanians) said, “haters only exist when you pass them on your way up the ladder…ever notice that there are no haters above you - always below looking up?” Think about it. People below you hate on you, why? A multitude of reasons, but the biggest being; You’ve made yourself better than what they imagined themselves being. That’s completely fine. My biggest advice to anyone reading this is; Just Do You and keep your same energy everywhere you go. Something makes you happy, do it with no second thought because whether you do or don’t someone out there will talk regardless. The Noise outside is bothering you? Just close the window and get back to work.

BLOG #16: 1000 No's But The One Yes That Will Change Your Life!

I read somewhere that adults actually get more upset when they’re told “No” as opposed to kids. In fact, “No” can be the single most destructive word in the dictionary and can lead to a downward spiral in one’s existence. In your life, contrary to popular belief, the percentage of you being told no vs yes is so lob sided, that it ends up being the common separator between the average, good, and great individuals in their specific niches. Why? Well, the {average} are told no a few times, get demoralized, question themselves, stop chasing, and consider a career change. The {good} are told no a few times, take it, lose some confidence, and shoot at a lower tier opportunity. The {great}, possibly with the same skillset as the {average}, take the no, don’t care, work harder, and knock on every single door until they get the yes. Thus, that 1 yes, can change their entire life. Let’s consider this; you email school after school with your basketball highlight film, right? 27 schools say no and the 28th gives you an opportunity. The opportunity then turns into a roster spot, roster spot turns into a scholarship, scholarship turns into a starting spot, starting spot turns into great stats, great stats turn into professional interest, professional basketball turns into a great resume builder, and finally, the resume turns into a long and fruitful career, when all is said and done. For your tree to grow, all you need is that 1 person out of 27 to say, “ Sure, i’ll plant it.”

BLOG #15: What's Your Why?

Your alarm sounds in the morning, you drag out of bed, shower, fix your bed, wash your face, teeth, hair, get dressed, and start your day. Now let’s think about WHY you wake up and get ready? What’s your WHY? Do you have one? Is everything you have planned in your day pushing or elevating you toward something - something you might not even see in your near future? On the flip side, do you just wake up and get through your day because you’re forced to? Your WHY can be anything; provide the best possible life for your family, play college sports, get into UCLA, land your dream job, and so on. Let’s say you’re a high school junior and your WHY is to play college basketball. You wake up every single day pushing to that goal by going to school, excelling in the classroom (GRADES MATTER), go to practice (GET BETTER), come home, finish HW, and do your pushups and sit-ups for the day. Now, that’s a day that revolves around a WHY. A WHY is a state of mind, by the way. Another junior in high school can get up and got through the same routine BUT get no better because he/she is just cruising through the day. Student 1 is pushing toward a WHY, while student 2, will likely not get to theirs. Similarly, on a weekend, you go to a restaurant with your friends and while they get the buffalo wings, you decide to get the chicken salad. You’re eating healthy to keep your body in the best possible shape to perform because you have a clear cut WHY! In summary, you need to establish what you want, why it is you want it, and Monday-Sunday, yes, 7 days a week, make conscious decisions to knock down the door standing in your way of you and your goals.

BLOG 14: Body Language; The Way You Carry Yourself Can Change Your Life.

The way you carry yourself and the energy you radiate on a daily basis can and WILL impact your quality of life. What do I mean by “quality of life?” Well, let’s break this down; Imagine, for a second, you’re the CEO of a multimillion dollar company and want to hire somebody to manage your business and interact with customers, all while you’re not around.
Your notes (post interview):

Candidate 1: Extremely qualified, dressed nicely, meets and over-exceeds all requirements, answered all questions correctly, doesn't smile much, unsure about a few responses, although impressed me with his knowledge, monotone, not very enthusiastic, and when asked if he had any questions, he did not.

Candidate 2: Very qualified (not extremely), dressed nicely, meets all requirements, answered 9/10 questions correctly but the one he answered wrong, he responded so confidently, you almost believe it. He knows his material well, always smiles, illuminates the room with his presence, asked me intelligent questions at the end of the interview (when asked if he has any), and seems excited to not only learn, but simply be here this morning for a potential opportunity.

Now, after reviewing these notes, which candidate are you taking? Although #2 was not AS qualified, his energy and enthusiasm coupled with the fact that he does, in fact, know his material, encourages me to believe he will go above and beyond to make sure all customers are happy. He had an eagerness to learn, despite the fact that unlike candidate 1, didn’t answer everything correctly. With that said, I know he will be a “student of the game,” while putting out the best possible product.

This hire of candidate #2 was made strictly off the way he carried himself in the interview this morning.

The same concept applies to basketball. Why would a coach want someone who’s unsure about his/her abilities, although very capable? Whether In life or on the court, energy and confidence are both very infectious, and like a domino effect, can bring down or uplift an entire unit battling to win a game. The 15th man on the roster, who never gets in the game, can win the game for his team, simply off the bench energy he provides.

BLOG 13: The Dos & Dont's When Interacting With Coaches (in person, email, or via text).

The way you interact with coaches who are recruiting you or ones you're trying to make a good impression on is something that must be taken very seriously. To start, NEVER say “yo coach,” “hey,” or “what’s good coach” to list a few examples. These are important to avoid simply because they’re not your friend nor is their mission to become “bro’s” with you. Always speak properly because coaches want someone mature who can handle themselves in a respectable manner both on and off the floor. Next, do not over-text or over-analyze their questions. In summary, don’t try too hard to impress because it’s extremely noticeable and seems as if you’re not being genuine in your responses. Always be yourself, check in here and there via text, and make sure you always ask how they’re doing when starting off a conversation. Remember, it’s bigger than basketball. Refrain from speaking about how you had 32 points the other day and nobody on the court was able to guard you because coaches want someone who’s a team first guy, not someone who’s entire focus is their stats - Trust me, if he’s recruiting you, he knows what you’re capable of.

To keep this short and informative, respect is key!

BLOG 12: Summer 2020 - Why's It Unique?

Summer was always the time I took my game to the next level. I truly believe, this year, because you essentially have yourself 2 "summer periods" without DISTRACTIONS (until games begin in March '21), you can see 2x the usual growth in your game vs years prior. The players who are taking advantage of it will most certainly enjoy this. Eventually basketball WILL be back! With that said, will you be ahead of your peers OR fallen so behind that you feel like there's no catching up? This summer is TRULY "separation season." You can potentially open a 5-6 month gap between you and someone you were neck and neck w/ before all this started.

How are you spending your summer?

BLOG 11: WHAT ARE COLLEGE COACHES LOOKING FOR IN A PLAYER- besides Skill?

1. Attitude; Next level coaches seek a player who is coachable, poised, a good locker room guy, and who displays the same body language in both W's & L's.

2. Work Ethic; Coaches look for players who come into the gym everyday, rain or shine, and work their tail off - regardless if they're starters or  15th guys off the bench.

3. Academics; Coaches want a true Student-Athlete who get their work done in the classroom. They will NEVER gamble on a borderline student. Eligibility is everything!

4. Intangibles; Are you willing to dive for loose balls? Can you pick things up on the fly? Are you mentally tough? Can you fulfill multiple roles on the floor to help your team win?

BLOG 10: Choosing The Right Trainer.

High school seasons are, without a doubt demanding on both the body and the mind.  At this point in time, coaches are looking for wins to help the school name grow, make a deep playoff run, get their players exposed to the next level, and of course, keep their jobs. This is where players constantly compete for spots and minutes. As a player, just because you had a starting job last year, doesn't mean you've secured that spot this season.  With that said, you need to constantly stay sharp and on top of your game because one practice can drastically impact playing time.  

1. Always Do Extra - arrive early and work on something you're not too sharp on OR stay after practice and get some extra shots up.

2. Ask Questions - Ask your coaches what's expected of you, what your role is on the court, and most importantly, don't be afraid to ask when you don't understand something.

3. Sleep well and take care of your body - a 25 game season can be extremely demanding on your body, which means fatigue can really affect your play.  The classic "oh, I'm not tired at all" line is not real.  You may not feel it, but your legs do, trust me.  Make sure you're constantly icing, stretching, and sleeping well.

4. Nutrition - You are what you eat. Fatty foods will only slow you down during season and with that said you should be feeding your body nutritious items that will provide you with sufficient energy.  For example, pasta a night before a game is definitely my favorite.

XFACTOR- Your mind is everything! Each night, take 10 minutes to reflect on that days' practice or game. Feed your thoughts with positivity and watch your game grow!

BLOG 9: Dealing With Negativity.

Having "haters", as weird as this sounds, means you're being extremely productive. There's a lot of jealousy in the world these days and many fall into thinking they have to constantly prove those people wrong.  Take all the negativity and channel it into motivational energy that drives you to get better each and every day.  Getting better and proving the naysayers wrong are two different things, always remember that!  Kobe, Jordan, and even Lebron all have people who speak negatively about them, no matter how well they're doing.  Why? How can you hate on the greatest basketball players of all time? Easy. Envy is the force that drives those who are less talented or have not amounted to what they desired to become to take that frustration out on the individuals doing better than them. Now, it's your job to block out the noise, keep swimming, and do what YOU do best. "An entire sea of water can't sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship.  Similarly, the negativity of the world can't put you down unless you allow it to get inside you."   

-CNK10

BLOG 8: Accepting Your Role.

Any team you play on, whether it's middle, high school, college, or professional, you will be given a role. Coaches are always looking for guys to fit specific needs and most importantly, players who accept those roles. Many players end up jumping from school to school and never find a home because they simply do not accept the responsibility they're given and believe they deserve more. The role you're given is a clear highlight of your strengths on the court and what the team needs at that particular time. This doesn't mean you will stay limited to that one particular job for the rest of your life.  Remember that every single player from the scorer, rebounder, defender all the way to the bench player, play a vital role on the team. Some teams win simply because, for example, the bench players positivity and energy constantly echoes through the gym and motivates his/her teammates throughout the course of the game.  Therefore you must accept your given role, play it to the best of your abilities (with a positive attitude), and continue to show your worth in practice so your coach can keep piling responsibilities onto your plate.  After all, before James Harden became an NBA MVP candidate and max contract player, he was a 6th man on his first NBA team.  

Bottomline: Stay on your grind and keep improving while doing what your team needs you to do.  If you do all this with a positive attitude, you will eventually get what you believe you deserve. 

-CNK10

BLOG 7: Keeping A Sports Log.

A sports log is crucial for athletes who are constantly looking to find ways to get better.  Charting workouts and writing about what you did on a particular day is a great way to stay organized and consistent.  I also like to write about how I felt (confidence/energy wise) during the workout/practice and what I did well on that day.  The secret behind these logs are to write about your "bad days" as well in order to teach yourself to stay disciplined, because days like that are inevitable during a long season.  The best players are the ones who are mentally strong enough to follow up a "bad" day with an exceptional one.

A tip I leave you with: If you ever experience a "bad day," go back into your log and find one of your great days and try to re-capture that feeling of superior confidence you had while you were on the court playing really well.

Example log:

Monday: chest/tricep lift (pushed hard/went 5 lbs heavier on each set), basketball practice (played really well. Handle was tight, shot the ball really well off the dribble, and was feeling extremely confident in my role), late night workout (worked on crossovers and combos on the move/ finishes around the rim with left and right hand).  

-CNK10

BLOG 6: What Is A Reset Day?

A reset day is one of the most important days an athlete should use to cleanse their mind.  Seasons are long and can take a significant toll on an athletes' mind.  Mental fatigue is classified as overthinking, worrying, feeling depressed, and obsessing over a bad game or not meeting personal/team standards.  Everybody goes through a mental rollercoaster over the course of a 4-5 month season, it's only natural.  Dealing with it; well, that's a whole different ball game because it takes training and a ton of patience.  Players go through "slumps" because they don't know how to deal with mental fatigue.  I personally do not believe in a slump because I take a step back and remember that the ball hasn't changed, baskets don't move, and the rules of play are exactly the same, therefore it must ALL BE IN MY HEAD.  This is where a reset day comes in (which, by the way, has never failed me thus far). A reset day is where you, as hard as this can be, commit to taking a full day off from basketball and completely stay away from the game in that 24 hour span.  Just like your body needs a break, so does your mind.  DO NOT UNDERVALUE YOUR MIND!  The trick here is; take that day to focus on other hobbies and interests, while completely keeping the orange ball OUT of your head.  Hang out with friends, take a walk, play video games, concentrate on other things, and whatever you do, keep your spirit up.  In season, you may need to wait until Sunday to complete your reset since there's practice everyday. The next day after your reset, you'll notice how calm, refreshed, and excited you are to simply play ball. 

NOTE: without full commitment to this mental practice, 1 reset day may not be enough to cleanse your mind. 

-CNK10

BLOG 5: The Intangibles.

True ballers are made off the basketball court.  What does this mean? Well, off the court locations include the weight room, sand dunes, swimming pool, and track. It's not enough just to get on the court and work on ball handling and shooting.  Instead, getting in the weight room and strengthening different parts of your body or going to the sand dunes and giving your legs a hefty challenge will work on muscles that simply playing basketball might not touch. What happens when all parts of your body are fully strengthened and activated?  The answer is simple; translated success on the court.  The intangibles are an extremely important part of the process.  The greats spend as much time off the court working out as they do on.

For specific workout plans for the listed intangibles in my third sentence above, message me via the inquiries page. 

-CNK10