To: NBA rookies
From: Marc Isenberg
Date: December 18, 2011
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Your NBA career is about to start. Talk about being blessed! You've gotten to this point because you are ridiculously talented and genetically gifted. And most likely because you worked incredibly hard to become the best player you are capable of becoming. Enough with the accolades. This is no time to celebrate. Especially with your NBA career about to begin.
Transitioning from college or Europe to the NBA is fraught with peril. More so this season because of the lockout. Players will go through an abbreviated 3-week training camp, followed by a crazy 66-game season and a full slate of playoffs. It's not ideal, but it sure beats not playing.
Here's how crazy the year's NBA schedule is: In January, the Portland Trailblazers play an unprecedented 18 games, including 9 games in 13 days (7 road games, 2 home, and games on 3 straight nights). By comparison, last season the Trailblazers played 14 games in January.
This year's NBA rookies are at a clear disadvantage: Long lockout, shortened training camp, shortened season. But that's life.
If you're an NBA rookie, what are the keys to success?
1) Get in NBA shape...ASAP
Lack of conditioning shows lack of professionalism. Hopefully you took care of business during the lockout and showed up Day 1 in decent shape. If you didn't, the NBA can be a cruel place: simultaneously playing your way into shape and learning a new system is not a good strategy for endearing yourself to your coaches and GM. The key is to be sensible about your training. If you're behind in your conditioning, you can catch up. But you need to do it sensibly. Get in extra cardio, but do low-impact training, including bike, elliptical or swimming or water workouts.
2) Take care of your body
The NBA is a long season. In this abbreviated training camp and shortened season, there's an increased chance of getting hurt. Take care of your body like never before...or you will pay a steep price. My formula for (almost) guaranteed success: Get at least 8 hours a sleep a night, get off your feet a couple hours during the day (pregame naps are king!), significantly reduce soda, alcohol and fatty food intake, and increase CORE training. In other words: eat, sleep and breathe basketball.
3) Compartmentalize
The mark of a great NBA player is his ability to keep focused on basketball, even in situations when family and relationship issues develop. That does not mean focusing solely on basketball career and neglecting other aspects of your life. Just know that most of your waking hours, especially during the season, needs to be devoted to basketball--and nothing should interfere. Don't let outside distractions affect your focus and your performance. Think of basketball as your sanctuary from the "real world."
4) Prepare for the "rookie wall"
There is a high probability you will struggle as a rookie. Frustration, weariness and pain coupled with an insane travel schedule will likely take a toll on how you perform. Embrace the challenge. The keys are to stay positive, keep working hard, take care of your body and know that the adjustment to the NBA takes time. How you perform in April and May is a function of what you do now.
5) Play basketball, stay hungry
"Live as a poor man with lots of money." --Pablo Picasso
From now until the season ends, the only real necessities are a comfortable apartment, a decent car, a stocked fridge (preferably with healthy food), and wardrobe decent enough not to draw NBA fines. That's it. As a rookie, it's easy to give into the temptation to spend a lot of money, especially when your max-salary teammates are doing the same. If you're going to splurge on one thing, it should be healthy, gourmet food.
Keep in mind: Because the regular season has been reduced by 16 games, you're earning approximately 25% less. The money is still great, but this is not the time to blow your hard-earned income...especially in an uncertain economy. Go out and have a great rookie season. Then reward yourself with some of the money you earned. But do it sensibly.
6) Take care of your business
Your business is basketball. Most of your energy, especially during the season, should be devoted to improving your game and helping your team win games. That's what pays the bills. But neglecting your finances is a huge mistake. Hopefully you're already working with a team of qualified, competent advisors (agent, financial advisor, accountant/business manager, etc.). Their job should be to help you do your job--and to help you earn and save money. It should not be to enable you or shield you from the realities of business. You need to know what's going on and to take action if something is not handled appropriately.
If your goal is to make good financial decisions, read my booklet Go Pro Like a Pro. If you email me your address, I will send you FREE copy. That's right!! If you really want to delve deeper into these issues, make sure you get my book .
Or if you want "The More Fun Alternative to Money Players," try this:
--Marc Isenberg
Marc Isenberg is the author of "Money Players" and "Go Pro Like a Pro" and counsels athletes at all levels how to be successful in sports, business and life. Along with Nolan Smith and Sydney Smith, he founded Hoops Family to support basketball players and their families, which will debut in 2012.
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