Did you know that Kobe Bryant was not a top ten pick in the NBA draft?
It’s easy to make the mistake of thinking that the best professional basketball players were born to play at their best. But the truth is that those with the world’s best basketball skills have come from humble beginnings.
Through hard work and dedication, they’ve made their way into the NBA.
To help you understand what it takes to become a professional basketball player, we’ve written a guide. Keep reading, and we will tell you everything that you need to know.
Learn the Basics of Playing Basketball
If you want to become a professional basketball player, you need to start with the basics. One of the first things you should focus on learning is how to make quick and swift movements on the basketball court.
You should focus on becoming flexible, agile, and strong. It’s also important to have great posture and to develop a good sense of balance.
The best way to quickly improve is by doing regular strength training exercises. This includes lifting weights, doing HIIT training (high-intensity interval training), and doing plenty of pushups.
You should also consider working with a training partner to perform drills that will help you to improve your hand-eye coordination. Those who have good coordination will be able to skillfully catch, pass, and dribble basketballs.
It’s also a good idea to get ahold of the best possible basketball shoes, such as the Air Jordan future.
Join a High School or Intermural Basketball Team
Once you know how to play basketball, you should consider joining a team. If you are in high school, you should consider joining your school’s team. It can also be helpful to join an intermural team.
While you’re playing on a basketball team, make sure that you make it a priority to improve. Ask your coaches for support and advice when you need it.
If you don’t make the varsity team right away, do not get discouraged. Some of the world’s most successful basketball players started out by playing on the junior varsity team.
If you want to stand out as a star basketball player, it is essential that you have the right mindset. Try not to think that you need to be the one who always makes the big plays. Instead, work on being a team player.
Pass the ball to your teammates often and always make decisions that are best for the team’s performance. Never take shots or make bold defensive maneuvers for the purpose of showing how skilled you are.
And don’t forget to encourage your teammates. Celebrate when they perform well and always offer your gratitude for those who help you to succeed.
Play College Basketball
It is a big deal to be invited to play for a college basketball team. In fact, less than four percent of those who play high school basketball end up playing the sport in college.
If you want to play college basketball, you need to have a deep love for the sport. You’ll need to spend many hours every day in training. This will put a strain on your relationships and will make it difficult to find moments to relax.
When you’re not playing basketball, you’ll need to focus on your studies. If your friends go out on the weekends to have a good time, you’ll need to have enough self-control to choose not to join them.
If you truly love playing basketball, it won’t be difficult to make decisions to stay focused on your goal.
As a Freshman, you’re going to need to earn playing time. Your coaches will want your team to win games. Therefore, they’ll be more likely to start players who have already been on the team for several years.
The best way to show your coaches that you deserve to be a starter is by performing well at practice. You’ll also need to show how dedicated you are to the sport.
This is why you should try to become a leader on your team. If your other teammates choose to go home and rest after practice, you should instead choose to stay on the court and work on drills.
You also need to understand that people who are tall, athletic, and who have lots of endurance tend to be better basketball players. If you are short, it might be difficult to become a professional basketball player.
If this is the case, don’t get down on yourself. Simply do the best that you can. Only around one percent of all college basketball players actually make it to the NBA.
Get Noticed by NBA Scouts
If you are able to become a starter on your college basketball team, you’ll be one step closer to getting to the NBA. You can improve your chances of getting noticed by scouts by posting your highlight videos online on platforms such as Instagram and YouTube.
You should also ask your coach to reach out to scouts to tell them that you are a skilled player who wants to join the NBA. If a scout notices you, there is a chance they will invite you to attend the NBA draft.
Becoming a Professional Basketball Player: One Step at a Time
If you are interested in becoming a professional basketball player, it’s important to know how difficult it is to be drafted by an NBA team. The best way to improve your chances of making it to the big leagues is by practicing drills and playing on a high school and college team.
