“There is no such thing as a perfect basketball player, and I don’t believe there is only one greatest player either.”
– Michael Jordan

We have all heard that age old adage that “practice makes perfect” and to some extent most of us not only believe it but also aim to achieve perfection whenever venturing out on the court.

The problem with this approach is that there is no such thing as a perfect performance, it is quite simply unobtainable. Being aware and able to understand this, surprisingly obvious mental conundrum, is one of the first stepping stones to achieving basketball mental toughness and elevating your game towards obtaining peak performance.

The objective of any competitive sport is not to compile statistics that make for impressive reading. Statistics do to not necessarily win games. In any event, most of the things that take place on the hardwood floor are for the most part fairly intangible.

How does one measure hustle, heart, commitment, composure, shot selection, etc.?

The seasoned professional that is familiar with the inner workings of their own basketball psychology knows that if they have an open shot then they are supposed to take it, regardless if they have missed their last three shots.

This is known as a “functional mindset” and it is a necessary part of every athlete’s mental game. Basketball demands that the athlete stays confident and in control of themselves even when their performance is not perfect or when they are not experiencing their A game.

As far as sports psychology for basketball is concerned, a functional mindset can further be defined as the ability to perform efficiently as opposed to perfectly.

In fact, a functional mindset is the complete opposite of trying to make every outcome perfect.

Once this concept of function over perfection has been understood and accepted the athlete will stop trying to control their every movement, choice and execution. This will enable the athlete to let go and play freely, instinctively and without tension.

By freeing up the mind from focusing on matters that ultimately have no impact to the outcome of the game (i.e. personal statistics, missed shots, a turnover, etc.) their mental energy can be better directed towards focusing on things that can make a positive impact (i.e. execution of plays, being present in the moment, taking high percentage shot opportunities, etc.).

Try to remember that you are the one pulling the strings and that you are the one in charge of what you choose to focus on; not the other way round.

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