For most young basketball lovers, the dream is to become an NBA star. This is understandable considering the fame, fortune and money that comes with being a star. While this has pushed many kids to play basketball, the truth is that only a few ever get to the top.
Achieving stardom in the NBA isn’t just talent; it also takes a whole lot of behind the scenes work. If you are a parent and you want to help your kid get to the top, we understand you. Our guide explores the essential steps needed to help your kid become the top 1% that gets into professional basketball.
How to Prepare Your Kids for an NBA Career
Here are ways to prepare your kids for an NBA career:
Developing Fundamental Basketball Skills
The first step on how to become an NBA star is to develop four fundamental skills. These skills include:
1. Ball Handling: This focuses on the kid’s ability to dribble with both hands, while maintaining speed, control and agility.
2. Shooting: It’s best for your kid to know how to shoot no matter the position they play. You should teach them how to get the proper form, focus on their footwork and follow-through. To do this, they can practice shooting from various spots across several locations while squaring their feet to the basket.
3. Passing: Ensure that they practice and develop their vision, accuracy and court awareness. They can do this with partner drills, passing relays and game-like scenarios.
4. Defense: It is best for your kid to also learn how to defend and build a strong mindset. By training and focusing on their stance, footwork and positioning, they would be able to help defend, communicate and rotate.
Tips for parents and coaches on preparing your kid for an NBA career:
- Start with basic drills and gradually increase complexity
- Focus on proper technique over quantity
- Encourage practice with both hands
- Provide constructive feedback and positive reinforcement
Physical Conditioning and Training
Pretty much like any other sport, a player interested in an NBA career must be physically fit. You want to ensure that your child trains, and possesses exceptional strength, agility, endurance, and recovery capabilities. To make this easier for your kid to possess as they grow, it’s important they focus on:
- Strength training
- Agility drills
- Endurance exercises
It is also important that they take the required nutrients to help them grow strong and help with the recovery incase of injuries. So you can focus on:
- Balanced diets that are rich in protein, healthy fat and carbohydrates.
- Sufficient sleep and rest
- Constant hydration and electrolyte replenishment
- Undertaking recovery techniques such as stretching, self-myofascial release.
Mental Preparation and Mindset
Getting to the peak of the NBA not only requires skills and physical strength, it also requires mental toughness, resilience and the will to win.
Here are some key mental preparation strategies to have:
- Confidence building
- Concentration and focus
- Perseverance
- Communication skills and teamwork
Educational and Professional Pathways
Now that your kid has understood the basics of how to become an NBA star, they also have to understand the possible pathways to making it happen. The most popular pathways include:
- High school graduation and one year of postgraduate education
- International competition experience such as the EuroLeague
- Early entry eligibility (19 years old, one year removed from high school)
Other pathways include:
- College basketball: Develop skills, gain exposure, and earn a degree.
- International leagues: Compete against top talent, gain experience, and potentially earn a higher salary.
- NBA G League: Refine skills, gain NBA experience, and potentially earn a call-up.
Preparing for NBA Drafts
Once you have undertaken all the steps mentioned above, you would be well on your way to the NBA drafts. However, this requires that you make preparations including the following:
- Early entry eligibility declaration
- NBA Combine invitation
- Team interviews and workouts
- Draft night selection
To ensure that you get drafted, it is essential that you participate in showcase events. Attend as many as possible, and you can also go for scouting combines. Keep in mind, as well, that your social media presence also plays a pivotal role in your drafting process, as it gives recruiters a chance to get a good look at your personality and skills.
Conclusion
It is a universal truth that the road to having a NBA career is tough and requires dedication, and excellent planning. This is why it is essential to start early and guide your kid to making the right choice. Once they get the right guidance and follow the tips mentioned in this content, they are on their way to stardom.