Building the Complete Basketball Player
By Alan Stein·
Building the Complete Basketball Player
If you want to build yourself into a complete basketball player, you must start by laying a solid foundation.
Your athleticism is the foundation of your entire game. That is why the best players in the world are in the best shape.
By improving your athleticism (strength, power, quickness, balance, agility, reaction, etc.) you will be able to perform your basketball skills (shooting, ball handling, passing, rebounding, and defending) at a higher level with more efficiency and for a longer period before fatigue sets in.
I know most of you don’t have a traditional off-season due to the rise in popularity of AAU, travel ball, summer leagues and camps. However, the spring and summer are times when you must be conscious of making improvements in your athleticism and skill development. It is a time when basketball performance workouts should be your highest priority. A couple of brief workouts per week are more than sufficient if you train properly. As long as your workouts are purposeful and progressive, improvements will be made. And little improvements will add up big over time.
I encourage you to look at your game like a house.
First, you must pour a strong foundation. If you neglect this integral step, your house won’t last. If you don’t take care of your body, you won’t move well on the court and you will be riddled with injury. Once you have laid your foundation, you can begin building your house.
How do you build a house?
Brick by brick
You lay each brick with precision. You lay each brick with care. Every brick is important.
These 'bricks' are the fundamental skills of your game – shooting, ball handling, passing, rebounding, and defending. And every brick matters. Every workout is a brick. Every practice is a brick. Every shot is a brick. Every pass is a brick. You must be meticulous with every brick if you want a remarkable house!
Once you've laid your foundation (athleticism) and built your framework (skills) brick by brick, it's time to add the walls. After all, what good is a house without walls?
The "walls", which hold everything together, is the mental side. It's a culmination of 3 traits:
- Basketball I.Q.
- Ability to be coached
- True mental toughness
Once your walls are in place, you need to have a roof. The "roof" is your heart, your grit, your determination, and your motor. The "roof" will ultimately determine the value of your "house."
It doesn't matter if you have a solid foundation and four sturdy walls if you have a leaky roof. Heart matters!
To parallel the analogy of building a house, picture building your game the way you build a pyramid:
Remember…
It doesn't matter how athletic you are, if you aren't skilled, there is a limit to how good you can be.
It doesn't matter how athletic or skilled you are, if you have a low basketball I.Q., there is a limit to how good you can be.
It doesn't matter how athletic, skilled or smart you are, if you have no heart, there is a limit to how good you can be.
Make sure you build the house you want to live in!
Train hard. Fuel smart. Get better.
Alan Stein
Stronger Team
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PS: As any homeowner will tell you, the upkeep of your house is a never-ending process. If you don't take steps to maintain your house, it will fall apart and deteriorate. Constant upgrades, replacements, and renovations are a must. A house is never complete!
The same is true for your game. You must constantly and consistently work on your athleticism, your skills, your basketball I.Q. and your mental toughness on a year round basis for the duration of your career.
Players like LeBron James, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant are still working on their houses.
Are YOU?