This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to spend time on and off the court with NBA players Derrick White (Boston Celtics), Greg Oden (former #1 NBA Draft Pick), Jalen Pickett, and AJ Lawson, along with NBA coaches and trainers. From intense workouts and basketball camps to conversations over dinner, on the golf course, and even in airports, I walked away with 7 powerful lessons that go WAY beyond basketball. Here are my biggest takeaways! 👇 1️⃣ PURPOSEFUL REPS > RANDOM REPS Working out with Derrick White taught me something powerful: NBA players don't just work hard. They work with PURPOSE. Every drill had a specific objective tied to game situations, weaknesses, and the player's role. Derrick specifically wanted to improve his LEFT hand, so we worked on left-handed passing, finishing, ball handling, and making reads under pressure. LESSON: Stop collecting drills. Start mastering skills that actually translate to games! 2️⃣ DETAILS SEPARATE GOOD FROM GREAT One thing that blew me away was how SHORT and EFFICIENT these NBA workouts were. Many of the structured sessions lasted just 30–40 minutes! But EVERY rep counted. ✅ Wrong angle coming off a screen? Do it again. ✅ Wrong read? Start over & play with pace. ✅ Didn't hit the required number of shots? Keep working, the standards matter. The Celtics coaching staff even recorded and cataloged drills to track player development. LESSON: It's not about how LONG you train. It's about how INTENTIONAL you are! 3️⃣ CHARACTER MATTERS MORE THAN YOUR PLATFORM This might have been my favorite lesson. Greg Oden and Derrick White were two of the most humble, gracious, and teachable people I spent time with. I'll never forget watching Greg take time for fans everywhere we went. Airports, on the street, in the middle of eating his food, etc. I asked him if it ever got exhausting. His response? "I really don't mind because I know it brings a smile to people's faces." That stuck with me. And Derrick White was always full eye contact, engaging & humble. Those little details matter in LIFE & this game.

🏀 THE MINDSET OF A POINT GUARD: Become the Player Your Coach TRUSTS! Point guards, preseason is your opportunity to separate yourself! Parents & Coaches this is a good time to remind your players of these things. Being a great point/lead guard isn't just about your handles, shooting, or how many points you score. It's about your MINDSET, LEADERSHIP, and the VALUE you bring to your coach and teammates. Here are 5 ways to separate yourself this preseason: 1️⃣ LEAD BEFORE YOU'RE ASKED TO LEAD Don't wait until your coach names you captain. Don't wait for your coach to beg for a leader to step up. Leadership is something you demonstrate DAILY & you need to make a mental decision now to step up out of your comfort zone. Here's some easy ways to do that: - Be early to practice. - Be the first to encourage a teammate. - Hold yourself accountable before you do that to teammates. - Set the standard with your effort and attitude. Be loud, clap, encourage & bring joy to the practice. Great point guards don't wait for permission to lead. 2️⃣ BE THE BEST-CONDITIONED PLAYER ON YOUR TEAM Want to earn your coach's respect quickly? Be in SHAPE & give max effort in your conditioning drills. When conditioning drills start, don't just try to survive them. Set the pace. Finish strong. Encourage teammates who are struggling once you finish. Your conditioning should be a competitive advantage, especially late in games when everyone else is tired. You can't lead a team if you're constantly trying to catch your breath. It doesn't matter if you're on the court, on the track, on the field or in the weightroom. Push through mentally & push your teammates. 3️⃣ COMPETE AT A HIGH LEVEL EVERY PRACTICE Don't be a player who only turns it on when the lights come on. Coaches notice who competes every day. We always talk about "Be a DAWG" but what does that mean? - Defend with intensity. Be the loudest player talking on defense. - Bring energy to every drill. Use your voice & speak up consistently. - Embrace physicality. Don't run from it, initiate it! - Respond positively to coaching. Be teachable. - Make winning plays, even when nobody is keeping score. Dive on the floor for loose balls.