NEVER AN OFF-SEASON

That’s right. You want to excel in basketball, well then there’s never an off-season.

I’m not saying you have to play ball 24-7-365. No sir. I am saying you have to work on your game as much as possible. Take some time to rest. That’s okay.

With the beginning of July, Travel Team basketball is upon us. High school basketball players will be traveling around the country competing against each other. College players are in the gym working out. Open gym at night. And the NBA players, well summer league is right around the corner.

Last month high school teams played in summer leagues and attended team camps. Our team at East Lansing played 11 summer league games and attended two team camps. We also squeezed in three practices.

If you want to get better, there’s never an off-season…

ISAIAH WHITEHEAD

The Brooklyn Net, talking to his coach Kenny Atkinson:

“He said, ‘My decision-making can be a little better, I can shoot a little better, I can defend a little better,’ ” Atkinson said. “That’s pretty telling. He didn’t want to tell me how good he was. He wanted to tell me what he was working on. We love that about him.”

DENZEL VALENTINE

“It’s all about mental toughness and pushing through things.” 

PAT SUMMITT

“The greatest reward for being a team player is that it means you will never be alone.”

TIMOTHE LIEAWU-CABARROT

“My energy is important part of my game.”

BRANDON INGRAM

From his father, Donald:

“If he continues to work hard, he’ll be successful in the NBA.”

STEVE KERR

“Remind yourself we get to play basketball for a living… We get paid a lot. We have fun. There is some heartbreak. There is some joy, and everything in between. It’s a pretty good deal. We’re among the luckiest people on Earth, win or lose Game 7.”

DENZEL VALENTINE

“He has a high basketball IQ,” said an NBA director of player personnel who asked not to be named. “He is a versatile player who will be able to play a couple of positions. He lacks NBA athleticism, but he’s a winner, competitive and a good teammate.”

An NBA VP of basketball operations was equally complimentary. “Denzel is a highly intelligent basketball player,” he said. “He helps his teammates be better players that helps his team win games. His pick and roll game is as good as most NBA players. He has NBA three point range with a quick release. He has shown leadership abilities that will drive his team to wins.”

DRAYMOND GREEN

Following the NBA finals – losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers:

“To sit and dwell on it, that’s not going to do anything for me. I’m not going to sit and throw a pity party for myself or my teammates or anybody else. We were a minute away from winning a championship. We had a 3-1 lead. We had all the opportunities in the world we needed. Got to take your hat off to them.”

LeBRON JAMES

“Just living in the moment. Next possession. Next play.”

LeBron is clearly practicing mindfulness.