Ready, or Not

By: T. Fakhoury 

4 Seconds Left on the clock, you are tied 90-90, if you win, you go to the NBA Eastern Conference-Finals, you know that you can score, but guarding you is a 2,13m Second Team All-Defensive Player... You know that you spent countless hours training and perfecting every single movement. But as an Athlete can you make this decisive shot, can you make this moment a moment of truth?
 
Athletes who understand the power of the present are ready to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. A basketball player who sees a game winning shot must. Be prepared to take it, both mentally and more specifically physically ready, knowing that these opportunities can decide a player’s career, understanding that the present moment cannot be underestimated as this moment is right now, unique and uncertain. By being confident and making a quick smart decision you position yourself for successes.
 
The Example given in the first paragraph actually happened in the 2019’s NBA Playoffs, the Toronto Raptors and the 76er’s where tied at game 7, with 4 seconds left, and Kawhi Leonard, one of the coldest NBA players know, a guy who typically doesn’t speak or take leading action, was inbounded the ball with 4.2s left. He decided to shoot a fade-away shot from the corner with Joel Embiid right on his face, just as the buzzer sounds, the ball bounces 4 times around the rim, the hole arena stops, every single eye was looking at the ball, as it falls through the net, the whole stadium erupted. Who knew that after hitting that shot, in the 2 Round of the Playoffs, would mean that the Toronto Raptors Would eventually win the NBA Championship.
 
This opportunity given to Kawhi, expanded his basketball opportunities and allowed him to play for many more years, as well as making him more valuable as a calm and collective player, this was one the most important moments in his career and eventually gave him the image of a prime example of how keeping your cool and being smart in those moments can expand your opportunities. Everybody can do it, but what can you do in moments that people show their weakness? That is pressure. It’s all about performing under pressure, in crucial moments, that will define you as a player and even as a person.