I try to watch as much basketball as I possibly can. I have been a basketball junkie since I can remember and cannot get enough of this great game. I would watch it every single day if I could. I love the NBA playoffs and March Madness, but hate them because they signal the end of another season.
Now when I say I “watch basketball”, what I really mean is study basketball. You can gain a wealth of knowledge by studying how good players excel. Study their movements and how they react to different situations on the court. Examine what moves players make and why they make them. What did the defense do and how did the offense react? The MVP of the league, LeBron James, studies Kobe Bryant and tries to bring Kobe’s moves into his own game. You can never believe that you have “arrived.” You can always learn more and get better. You can always be incorporating new moves and new skills to your game.
Along with studying individual players, listen to the announcer’s evaluations of the game. Announcing crews almost always include former NBA players, such as Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson, and former coaches, like Jeff Van Gundy and PJ Carlisimo. Pre and post game shows include Jalen Rose, Magic Johnson, Jon Berry, C-Webb, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith. College broadcasts and shows are loaded with legendary coaches and players. These guys always bring views from the unique standpoint of being elite players or coaches at the highest levels of the game. Think about the incredible amount of basketball knowledge that these men bring to the table. The insight they provide on a nightly basis is an incredible resource for any basketball player or coach.
Don’t just watch the game, study it! Learn from the best, to be the best!