“When I lose the sense of motivation and the sense to prove something as a basketball player, it’s time for me to move away from the game.” Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan could write the definitive book on basketball mental toughness, being great, and the adversity that comes in the ongoing pursuit of athletic greatness.

His quote is true, and the mental game of basketball is defined by motivation; it serves as the veritable fuel to keep basketball players’ fires burning on the court and driving towards personal triumph and the glory of team championships.

What can get lost in a sea of modern basketball psychology is that sometimes external motivational factors can overshadow the importance of internal motivations, and the pursuit of money, fame and celebrity can silence the necessary true love of the game needed to take one’s abilities to the next level.

Before leading his team to several professional basketball championships, and before cementing his status as both a Hall of Fame player and one of the single greatest professional basketball players to ever play the game, Michael Jordan was merely a young athlete deeply in love with the game itself.Over time, Michael Jordan took his love of the game and translated that passion onto the court.

Sports psychology for basketball touts the benefit of an insatiable desire to excel at the sport, and some of the best players of all-time can claim their positions alongside ‘MJ’ by virtue of having that requisite inner desire.

Players such as Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and LeBron James took their games to that next level of greatness by harnessing the love of the game and pouring it out onto the court for all to see every single game. And it’s obvious when players like those mentioned are using their love of the game to fuel their fire – all too often players fall victim to the external factors of money, fame, popularity, and celebrity endorsements and their talent fades along with their true internal motivations to play the sport.

After his first three professional championships ‘MJ’ could have unlaced his sneakers for good and lay to rest his burning mental game of basketball. He didn’t, and his love of the game remained high enough that he won multiple more championships along with league MVP honors, a roster spot on the USA Summer Olympics basketball team, as well as many, many All-Star Game nominations. All of those external factors could have given him reason to subdue his internal drive and seek other forms of motivation, but they didn’t.

Basketball psychology will tell you that the love of the game will provide the longest, purest form of motivation and drive, while the acclaim, money and celebrity will only be short-lived, always.
The external factors will fade over time, but true love and athletic engagement for the game will not only last the longest; it may render you a sports legend, something money or short-lived acclaim cannot buy.

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