How to Overcome Your Mistakes in Basketball

~ 3-minute read

Intro

Mistakes in basketball are inevitable. Even the most seasoned players miss crucial shots, commit turnovers, or lose track of their defensive assignments. You can’t control the outcome of your efforts, but you can control how you respond.

Instead of letting bad plays drag you down, view them as opportunities for growth and realignment. Let’s explore strategies that will help you stay mentally resilient, regain your focus, and improve your overall performance.

1. Acknowledge the frustration

Our negative thoughts are defense mechanisms to avoid things that expose us to potential emotional trauma. It’s nature’s shield, and you can’t prevent it. However, you don’t have to allow these thoughts to derail your performance.

In his book Courage Over Confidence, Mitchell Greene suggests that athletes make room for “chatter” — those anxious, negative thoughts that surface during competition. Throughout your time performing, give these thoughts room to reveal themselves so that you can work around them.

Players stress themselves to be mentally tough and unshaken during games because the sports community tells them that’s what makes a great performer. The truth is that mental toughness is accepting the grueling parts of the journey and having the courage to push through them.

2. Manage your approach

Although you might not be able to control your thoughts immediately during the heat of competition, you can control how you present yourself on the court. Body language is a powerful tool and managing it allows you to pursue your performance goals actively.

Remember to "put on your suit and tie" — act the part, even if you don’t feel it. Like dressing for a big event, your body language should reflect your intentions. This strategy could lead to a higher level of engagement and better performance.

Showing up to games disengaged with slouchy shoulders, low enthusiasm (unless it’s your natural mode), and sluggishness are signs of low engagement with your team — impacting your interactions and willingness to perform at a high level. Walking slowly and carelessly around the floor, resting your hands on your hips, and not going the extra mile when your teammates need you directly affect your individual and team’s performance. You can control all of these tendencies so that you can be a positive influence for your team and give your chance to be an impactful player.

Even when you’re not performing your best, embody joy, passion, and engagement for an opportunity to bounce back and play productively.

3. Talk yourself through the game

Another powerful way to stay engaged is by talking yourself through the game. Verbalizing your thoughts keeps you engaged and focused on the flow.

Here are some potential examples:

• "When my defender looks away, I'll sprint to open space."

• “I’ve been making the same mistake but can solve it if I process what’s happening.”

• "If I catch the ball here, I'll attack immediately to gain an advantage."

• “Oh, there’s an advantage! I should pursue it before it goes away.”

• "That player seems disengaged, so I’ll hit the boards harder to outwork them."

• "I need to watch for an open teammate in this situation."

These thoughts can happen so quickly that they don’t even have to be complete sentences, so don’t worry about actually talking aloud. By actively talking yourself through the game, you become more attuned to what's happening and stay mentally sharp during its ups and downs.

4. Be persistent

You’re not always going to have the perfect mindset in a game, but you can be persistent with any of the strategies we discussed to realign yourself to doing the things you think make a great teammate and performer. Rather than succumbing to negative thoughts, actively engage in the things that truly matter to you and will influence your responses.

Summary

Basketball outcomes won’t always go your way, no matter how much effort you give—especially when you're still growing as a player. Instead of focusing on what’s out of your control, channel your energy into what you can. Give yourself opportunities to find your rhythm and ignite that spark within. Remember, it’s okay for your emotions to fluctuate during the game — that’s part of the process of being a human in an intense environment. Use these strategies to stay grounded and keep moving closer to your goals.

Rethinking Basketball IQ: Is it Misleading?

~ 3-minute read

Picture this: a young player, sharp with their passes and confident with their on-ball movements, is praised after a game for their “high basketball IQ.” The compliment feels like a badge of honor, suggesting a level of skill and awareness that sets them apart from their peers. But what does it really mean?

Beneath the surface, the phrase begins to unravel. It’s vague and subjective, leaving players and coaches to interpret it in ways that oversimplify or ignore some of the complex decisions made during live games. This isn’t an isolated story — it’s a common narrative that raises an important question: is “basketball IQ” truly a clear label for decision-making and performance on the court?

How does this affect me as a player?

The purpose of highlighting this is to give players the most clarity they can acquire on what it takes to master basketball. Like many beliefs circling the community, they infiltrate the minds of players and influence the way they play and approach basketball.

1. A narrow view of decision-making: The term suggests a one-size-fits-all level of performance, making players believe they need to excel in all areas of the game, which is unrealistic.

2. Bias toward specific skills: Basketball IQ is often associated with skills like on-ball navigation and passing, leading players to believe that other strengths have less value.

3. Distorted path to growth: The focus on "basketball IQ" can mislead young players, drawing them away from focusing on their unique strengths and frameworks that allow for success.

4. Unnecessary pressure to be “smart”: Players may feel pressured to make “perfect” decisions every time, not understanding that basketball is about informed decision-making without guaranteed results.

5. Misalignment with the complexity of the game: By focusing on basketball IQ, players can overlook the unpredictable and disruptive nature of the game, making them feel less capable when outcomes are not as expected.

6. Cultural Bias in the Game: The widespread use of basketball IQ perpetuates cultural biases in the basketball community, leading young players to chase media-driven ideas rather than exploring their own paths to mastery.

Why is it misleading?

Basketball IQ is not a measurable statistic like points, rebounds, or assists, and applying this term inaccurately, or at all, can mislead the discussion around a player’s capabilities.

Unlike traditional IQ tests with definitive right or wrong answers, basketball offers no such simplicity. There aren’t necessarily any “correct” answers in basketball — only well-informed decisions performed with advanced execution. Even great decisions don’t guarantee success — an open shot can miss, a perfectly timed pass can be intercepted, and a strong defensive effort can still result in a made basket.

This is where the idea of basketball IQ becomes problematic. The term implies a universal standard of intelligence, but the game is far too nuanced for such a simplistic label. It unfairly prioritizes certain skills over others, often focusing on players who excel at on-ball navigation and passing. Meanwhile, other playstyles and decision-making frameworks are overlooked or dismissed, leaving some of the game’s most masterful performances underappreciated.

This bias is largely influenced by the way basketball is consumed. Fans and analysts focus on what’s exciting or easy to understand, often overlooking the deeper intricacies of the game. While this perspective works for entertainment, it’s misleading for players trying to grow. Instead of exploring the full complexity of basketball, players may chase simplified narratives that don’t reflect the reality of the sport.

The complexity of basketball

Basketball fans often assume players make the “right” decisions at the “right” times, but this oversimplifies the game. In high-level competition, things change rapidly as ten players constantly make individual and team-based decisions. This environment makes it almost impossible to predict what will happen next consistently.

Watching basketball on a screen with a bird’s-eye view gives you a full picture of the action, making it easier to analyze decisions. However, when you're on the floor, the game looks and feels much different. Split-second decisions are made in real-time with limited visibility, adding to the challenge.

Additionally, there aren’t truly “correct” decisions in basketball because there are often many effective options. The same situation can lead to multiple approaches that result in positive outcomes. For example, one player might choose to pass, while another might take a shot — both could be equally successful depending on their skills and the context.

Speaking of skills, not every player has the same ability to capitalize on opportunities. A player with the speed to cut through tight spaces might seize an opening that others wouldn’t attempt. Yet, both players can still make impactful decisions their way.

Each player has a small set of specialized skills and frameworks. These are areas where a player performs their best. Outside of these areas, a player’s performance can vary depending on many other elements such as skill, physical tools, perception, and more. This doesn’t exclude a player from being a great decision-maker — it’s part of the natural complexity of basketball.

By understanding these dynamics, we can see why basketball IQ is too narrow and limiting to fully capture the decision-making process in such a fluid and unpredictable game.

Final thoughts

When we say that a player has a high basketball IQ, are we referencing their unique decision-making? Are we aware of the areas they are not advanced in? Are we also referencing the wide array of tendencies and awareness outside of what’s popular? Not currently.

If you are a player looking to master the game of basketball, avoid using and acknowledging the term “basketball IQ”. Instead, appreciate the infinite showcases of mastery, awareness, and informed decision-making when you watch and play it.

If you’re a player who is in pursuit of playing basketball with a high IQ, I recommend pursuing fluency in your own approach instead. Play the game and allow your understanding of the game and your performance to grow organically without the influence of an ineffective blueprint.

Every decision and movement on the court is a result of an individual’s understanding of their own strengths and the opportunities around them. Any player can be a master of their framework, creating opportunities and elevating their game in ways that don’t fit into a simple “IQ” box.

Improving Your Basketball Game Sense: Mastering Your Strengths

~ 3-minute read

As basketball fans, it’s natural to view certain players as near-perfect performers. These are the athletes who seem to dominate every aspect of the game on both ends of the court, leading us to believe they possess all the tools. But is this belief truly accurate? Can any player, no matter how skilled, master every scenario they encounter?

In truth, compared to the countless situations basketball presents, even the best players are only fluent in a select few. So why does it feel like they can do anything? The answer lies in their self-awareness. The greats understand their strengths with clarity and know how to influence the game by leaning into these strengths. They aren’t masters of everything, but they are experts in focusing on what they excel at — using their strengths to shape the game.

While they can’t always avoid other scenarios that they don’t excel in and pursue ones they master, they do so just enough to make a big difference. This, I believe, is what separates master performers from great players who don’t have a similar impact alongside possible fluency in a wider variety of scenarios.

Our culture tends to celebrate legends as if they simply have more skill than others. But the truth is that even the most elite athletes have just as many weaknesses as strengths, if not more. This isn’t a sign of failure but a reflection of the human condition. No one can master everything, especially in a craft as complex as basketball, where the number of unpredictable scenarios to learn and discover is almost infinite.

Why do players have weaknesses?

• They aren’t personally connected to certain aspects of the game.

• Physical limitations can hinder development.

• Mastery takes time, and time is limited.

• Players find success by leaning into their strengths.

• Perfection is an unattainable goal.

For these reasons, players must compensate. They must endure the effects of their weakness, but allow the skills and qualities they excel at to be at the forefront of their performances on a consistent basis. When they stray too far away from their strengths their performance can potentially decline.

Having weaknesses doesn’t stop you from being a great basketball player. Your greatest attributes alone can make you a standout on the court. While your best self may come with flaws, it’s your strengths that define your impact. Weaknesses are part of the journey — part of being human. No player is exempt from them, but when you embrace your strengths and allow them to grow, your weaknesses become less of an obstacle.

In the early stages of development, players show glimpses of their future strengths. Recognizing these isn’t a cue to immediately move on to something else. Instead, it’s a sign to nurture those strengths, to hone and refine them.

By adopting this mindset, the path to mastery becomes clearer and more attainable.

How can players take on this approach?

To begin changing their approach, players must first take a step back and reflect on their game with honesty. This means identifying their true strengths — those skills or tendencies that naturally stand out and make an impact in games. Rather than chasing the idea of being "complete" in every aspect of basketball, players should focus on deepening their mastery of what they’re already good at. This requires self-awareness, recognizing where they truly shine, and understanding how to lean into those abilities to elevate their overall performance.

The next step is to stop viewing weaknesses as failures and start seeing them as part of the natural balance of a player’s development. Acknowledge them, but don’t allow them to overshadow what makes you effective on the court. By focusing your energy on refining and expanding your core strengths, you can begin to influence the game in more meaningful ways. Embrace the mindset that greatness comes from a sharp focus on what you do best, not from trying to be perfect at everything. When players start thinking this way, they not only change their approach but also open the door to more consistent growth and impact.