“Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now”— Dwayne Wade

South Florida sports fans were shaken on July 6, when Miami Heat All-Star Dwayne Wade announced he would leave the city where he began his professional NBA career 13 years ago to play for the Chicago Bulls in a two-year deal worth $47.5 million. Throughout his career in Chicago bulls, the Sunshine State has witnessed his incredible mental game in basketball and his mental toughness.

Few people expected Heat star Dwayne Wade to make it through 75 games this season after the injuries that he had the past few years. Even Wade wasn’t sure if that was a realistic target.

He ended up playing 74, missing seven due to health and one because of an undisclosed situation with his son. Because of the latter, he was willing to count it as a mission accomplished.

“It was 75, but I made a concession with myself because I missed one for my son,” he said. “I’m OK with it. Goal reached, in my mind.

“I gave myself a seven-game pad for being older and wanting to rest maybe at the end of the season. It was good. This was a good season. I’m not a young, spry kid no more, but it was good to be able to reach my goal. I’m happy about that.”

Wade said the only two statistics he cared about this year were 75 games and getting to the postseason. Even though Miami lost badly in Boston, it captured the No. 3 seed and will host Charlotte in the first round.

The 74 games played marks Wade’s most since 2010-11 and the sixth-highest total of his career. Throwing out the game he missed in November for personal reasons, he opened the season with 38 straight appearances. He never sat more than two consecutive games.

“It’s a testament to hard work,” he said. “Whenever you set out to do something, you’re gonna push toward that goal. That’s the only goal I had. I didn’t have a goal to average this or do this. I had a goal to play 75 games and help lead my team to the playoffs. I was able to do both of those. Good regular season from that standpoint.”

He closed the season averaging 19 points (on 45.6 percent shooting), 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. It was his goal setting ability and mental toughness that helped him to achieve this milestone.

Goal setting is much more than simply saying you want something to happen. Unless you clearly define exactly what you want and understand why you want it the first place, your odds of success are considerably reduced. By following the goal setting techniques of Dwayne Wade you can set goals with confidence and enjoy the satisfaction that comes along with knowing you achieved what you set out to while improving your mental game in basketball.

*Download the free mental game assessment and get started on Improving your Mental Game in Basketball