How many times have you seen pro basketball players and wished you were just as good as they are? Countless times I believe. The truth is, wishing doesn't get anything done. You have got to take steps to improve your game. The likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant and all the superstars on the court didn’t acquire those skills overnight; they had to work hard to master their craft. They don’t have two heads, neither do they have more than two hands. They learned to develop their skills with workout and training and that’s the same thing you need to do.
There is no surefire way on how you can improve your basketball game and take it to the next level other than giving the game time. Practice, they say, makes perfect. If you keep at it, you will get there.
Quickly, let's take a look at some tips on how you can take your game to the next level.
1. Hard Work
You know it's easy to think that the game is not as hard as it is portrayed, but then you would be fooling yourself. Each time you get on the court, there are probably 9 other guys who are more determined than you are. They probably have more skills and more strength. They have what it takes to beat you every time. So how do you match them? You don’t have control over what they have but you have control over you and what you got is hard work and resilience. You have got to compensate for what you lack in skill and strength with hard work. Hard work always pays off. Get off your butt early in the morning. Workout late at night. Keep doing it for weeks, months and years. It may take time but it will eventually pay off. Ask the star players, they will tell you that they are out there on the court alone for hours each day learning new skills when every other person is lounging away. If you work harder than your opponents, there is no way you won’t be able to beat them on the court one day. It may not happen immediately but slowly and surely, your star will shine.
2. Don’t Ignore the Little Things
Most basketball players who want to be great, focus only on the big things like making 3 pointers but it’s not all about that. Making the baskets is just a result of many other seemingly little things like footwork, form, workouts, the kinds of food you eat, etc. It will be easier for you to shoot, make the baskets and dribble when you have paid attention to the little things. It is pretty much like you can’t grow tall if your roots are not properly planted into the ground. So while you are working hard, do not ignore the little things. You will be sure to level up your skills in no time.
Another thing you should not ignore is practicing your shooting skills, there are many basketball hoops out there in the market, but an adjustable hoop will for sure give you a challenge. If you want to try these adjustable basketball hoops then investing in one will be a great idea. Buying a basketball hoop, especially if you manage to get yourself the right one, will provide tons of fun for you and your family and the more you play, the better you become. However, whenever you are choosing a basketball hoop, you must ensure such a hoop is well suited for your family’s needs.
3. Trust the Process
It’s sad to see aspiring basketball superstars giving and bailing out on the process because they are not reaching their goals as fast as they would want to. Consistency is what pays off. Time is not in your power to control, but you can keep working hard while waiting. No one may be seeing all your hard work at the moment but very soon, your light will shine. Keep training and perfecting your skills. Keep building your confidence. Keep building your resilience. When you have injuries, don’t think the world has come to an end, pick yourself back up and get at it again. This time, put your entire mind into it and keep trusting the process. Eventually, the process will always deliver and your name will be the talk of the town.
4. Take Time to Ask for Help
There are some things you may not understand all by yourself, there are things that may be beyond your comprehension of the court. Do not be shy to ask for help, if you want to know how it is done. One of the biggest reasons players fail is because of pride. Just because you can do 3 pointers and dunks doesn’t make you a superstar yet. You have got to be able to replicate the same results and exceed your best each time and you might not arrive there if you are too proud to ask for help. Asking for help will not reduce you in any way; rather you learn and get better.
5. Break Your Records
There are going to be bad days when you fall short of your expectations. There are also going to be days when you are invincible. Such days when you have a game, don’t settle. If you can do an alley-oop or Down and Back sprints in 5 seconds, don’t settle for 8 seconds and be cool with it. Find time to improve yourself each time. This is what makes a basketball superstar. Find ways to improve your basketball game and take it to the next level each time you are on the court and never settle for less, when you can improve on yourself.
You must come to terms with the fact that practice makes perfect. You need to put in the extra work, if you want to become the next basketball superstar. Watch as many videos as you can, listen to the pros and take the opportunity to make use of these skills during your games.
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.