Stay Ready so You Don’t Have to Get Ready (Video)
There’s a story that says time and chance happen to us all.
I had a player that was playing less than five minutes a game at the beginning of the season. Everyday he came to practice, eager to get better and eager to learn. He stayed engaged. He worked with me before practice, during practice and after practice. He went as hard as he could trying to get better in every rep. Later in the season, we had a player become ineligible and another one go down with an injury. In one day, this player was burst from playing less than five minutes to playing 15-20 minutes per game. Because this player had the approach to not check out but check in even though he wasn’t playing, he was ready and was able to seize his opportunity.
I had a teammate, earlier in my playing career, that was in a similar situation. He was a back up guard and never thought he was going to get to play. Myself and the rest of his teammates tried to urge him to check in everyday and stay ready but he went in the opposite direction and checked out. When one player went down with an ankle injury and another player picked up his third foul in the first half, he was called to go in but he didn’t know the sets and wasn’t prepared to handle the ball against pressure and he lost his opportunity. He lost his chance to prove to his coach that he was ready to play.
So I urge you, stay ready so you don’t have to get ready. Stay checked in so when your time and chance comes, you’re ready to seize it.
Related Articles
Secrets to Creating Wide Open Shots
In this breakdown, we reveal how great offenses create wide-open shots by keeping the ball one step ahead of the defense. From 0.5 decision-making to elite spacing and smart fakes, these habits turn good shots into great ones, every possession.
Patience in the Process of Player Growth
This week’s blog reminds players to slow down, trust their development, and find joy in every step of the journey. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be—embrace the process.
Learn how to build consistent, game-ready shooting rhythm.
Build your shooting rhythm with this simple but powerful two-minute drill from PGC Basketball. Learn how focusing on your target eye, using comfortable footwork, and tracking your makes can help you shoot with confidence and game-ready consistency.
About PGC
PGC Basketball provides intense, no-nonsense basketball training for players and coaches. Our basketball camps are designed to teach players of all positions to play smart basketball, be coaches on the court, and be leaders in practices, games and in everyday life.
We combine our unique PGC culture with a variety of teaching methods and learning environments to maximize the learning potential of those that attend our sessions. In addition to spending 6-7 hours on the court each day, lessons will be reinforced through classroom sessions and video analysis.
Our goal at PGC is to empower you with the tools to fulfill your basketball dreams, while also assisting you in experiencing the joy of the journey.
To learn more about PGC Basketball, including additional basketball training tips and videos, visit our YouTube Channel or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Share This Post