In The Know w/ Finke & Hill

Do you have any regrets? I’m sure this is a question you have been asked throughout your life once or twice. To me, regret is a big word. We all have heard the saying “everything happens for a reason” and as cliché as that saying is, I 100% believe in it. So, when someone asks me if I have any regrets, my short answer is no. However, if it were somewhat possible to go back and change things there is one thing I would tweak.

During my time as a player in college, one of my biggest flaws was that I let my emotions control me. Yet, I didn’t even realize it at the time. In the summer/offseason I felt on top of the world. We would all hear from fans and peers how great we were as players and that the next season “was our year”. All of our workouts felt great because realistically there was no pressure. My shot always seemed to feel amazing and I had the mentality that I couldn’t miss. I had all the confidence in the world, rightfully so. I was working extremely hard by going all out in the weight room and getting countless shots up along with multiple extra workouts. 

So What Changed?

Well, once the season hit and a little bit of adversity would creep in, my mind would shatter to pieces. I would let one bad game control me for way too long. I paid way too much attention to what fans would think and that I was letting my teammates down. I would try and say publicly that I wasn’t worried about a bad game, but truthfully I let it destroy me inside. 

But why?

From an outsider’s perspective, it makes no sense. I was going extremely hard in practice day in and day out, I was getting extra work in before and after practice, but yet for whatever reason, I couldn’t get my confidence back. 

I was mentally soft.

I was letting the game of basketball and all of the noise around it control me. I put the work in and deserved every minute I was getting. There was no reason why I couldn’t have had the mindset that I was the best shooting big in the country. 

So What Have I Learned?

The biggest thing I have learned is to find different interests off of the court. Over the past two seasons, I have really tried to get into different hobbies. I read books, study real estate, try and grow myself as a person and so much more. When I leave the gym after a practice or a game, whether it was the best game of my life or the worst, I flip a switch. I turn to other interests in my life to take my mind off of the game. 

In college, I would go back to my apartment and sit in my room and watch Netflix and think deeply about everything that had happened in the last practice or game. It was extremely unhealthy.

Now it is different. I have changed my habits and feel so much better about myself. It truly is no coincidence that in the past two seasons I have shot the ball the better than I ever have before. Shooting around 50% from three in the past two years seems crazy, but to me, it’s not. I haven’t worked any harder than I was in college. In fact, I work even less. While out in Europe, I haven’t had unlimited access to our gyms like I did in college, so because of that, I have gotten fewer reps up. The only thing that has really changed is my mental approach. I BELIEVE I am the best shooter in the gym every time I step foot on the floor. I know I belong and I let my play speak for itself. 

My Two Cents:

I have said it in previous posts, but I will say it again. Find different hobbies or interests to let you escape from the thing that consumes you the most in your life. It is healthy to take a mental and physical break away from your job, school work, or whatever it is. It will make you that much better with it going forward. You will also enjoy it more. I remember dreading going to practice on some days. I didn’t want to be around the game at all. It was controlling everything about me. Now, I can’t wait to get back in the gym and get to work.

Like I said at the beginning of this, everything happens for a reason. If I didn’t go through those difficult times then I never would have found this mindset. For that, I am extremely grateful. 

God Bless.

Michael 

P.S.

As always, leave any questions or comments that you might have for Malc and me. We appreciate all the support!