Mike: From Hooper to Basketball Trainer

How Basketball Has Changed

The game of basketball has evolved the most in the past 15 years, especially since the Golden State Splash Brothers, i.e., Curry and Klay, won four of the coveted NBA championships and broke the concept that one couldn’t win a title as a jump-shooting team.

You can kiss that concept goodbye now, since most NBA offenses heavily rely on volume threes and spacing the floor. That isn’t to take away from the fact that Steph Curry and Klay Thompson’s gravity causes so many defenses to scramble and consequently allows more of the dreaded middle penetration, resulting in easy baskets.

But these two weren’t the only cause of the rapid changes and high-scoring games we’ve seen in the NBA. You also have guys like James Harden, who has revolutionized the game with his multiple isolations, step-back threes, and his ability to draw fouls, which led the league to change certain rules.

I also want to mention Kyrie Irving, who, in the eyes of many, myself included, is the most skilled basketball player I’ve ever seen on an NBA floor. He has delighted us with some of the most artistic dribbles and finishes that scream poetry in motion.

Having a Bag vs. Knowing How to Play Basketball

Why am I saying all this?

The game of basketball has changed so much and become more of a circus that most of the young kids watching basketball want to emulate what they perceive as “having a bag”—individual skills display.

YouTube and other social media platforms are filled and saturated with so-called basketball trainers, often showing off excessive isolation dribble moves into a shot or a fancy layup. While these moves can be labeled as eye candy, do they translate into the game? Are these trainers actually helping young prospects get better at playing organized 5-on-5 basketball? And how do you choose the right trainer?

There’s a Difference Between a Skilled Player and a Smart-Skilled Player

Before I answer this question, I’d like to say this at the outset: there is a difference between a skilled player and a smart-skilled player. Skilled players will excel where the individual is the focal point, i.e., pickup games where it is more about showing your skill than facilitating the game. You’ll catch these skilled players on YouTube’s famous 1-vs-1 format and the like.

 These players seldom play at the professional level, for they lack the basketball IQ to play in an organized setting. That’s where the smart-skilled player comes into play, and the only one I can think of is the late Kobe Bryant. I’ll invite you to watch his Kobe Doin’ Work documentary and his Nike signature moves video so you can understand how this man had a panoramic view of the game. See, a skilled player knows who to give the ball to when the double-team comes. He knows who and how to attack closeouts, where the mismatch is, etc.

What Should You Look for in a Basketball Trainer?

So before you choose a trainer, you first need to decide what your end game is: Are you trying to play in a more organized, professional setting, or are you just trying to look glamorous? If it is the latter, then you shouldn’t even invest in a trainer; there are many YouTube videos for that matter.

But if your goal is to become the next smart-skilled player, then I’ll suggest you look for someone who is local, whom you’ve watched in 5-on-5 game situations and pickup games, and look for his instincts, vision, and ability to read the defense on a dime. And today’s post was actually about that, but I had to set the stage for it.

Meet Mike

I’m here today, as a 45-year-old man, to introduce a young man that I’ve watched and played against and with—the one and only Mike, probably one of the most lethal offensive players I’ve had the privilege of sharing the court with. Mike has a knack for reading the game that is very unique.

See, I’ve watched him train by himself and watched him use the moves that he practiced at the right time, organically, in a symbiotic way with the play or situation at hand. He doesn’t try to use a step-back move when it is unnecessary or crossover his defender when someone else is open for an easy layup.

To me, choosing a trainer comes with this observation first.

From Player to Trainer

Mike also played on his high school team and is currently looking to play for FCC. At his young age, his mind and understanding of the game of basketball are remarkable. He not only enjoys playing these days, but he’s also passing on what he has acquired to those behind him. My 16-year-old son has been on a strict regimen with Mike, and I can testify to how much his game has improved.

Notice that I didn’t say that his “bag” has improved.

I’ve watched my son make better decisions on the court, and I can only attribute that to the training that he has received from Mike.

Why Mike Chose to Become a Basketball Trainer

So yesterday, I asked Mike if he could share his story with my audience, and he acquiesced to my request.

I asked him the reason why he chose to become a trainer, and he said the following:

“Helping develop young men and women so they can build structure and discipline on their own, using my talents and gifts in the sport of basketball to teach and give the next generation what it takes to become a high-level basketball player. Making sure young athletes are aware of the many opportunities they are given at their age. Being somebody who, at a crucial age, decided to spend time on cultural things and addiction, I won’t sit back and watch the generation behind me lose the same opportunity.”

It’s About Learning How to Play the Game

And this is ultimately why I wanted to introduce Mike to my audience. When you’re looking for a basketball trainer, don’t just look at how many moves he can demonstrate on Instagram or YouTube. Don’t just look at how impressive his “bag” is.

Watch him play.

Watch how he reacts when the defense changes. Watch what he does when he’s double-teamed. Watch whether he recognizes the open man. Watch whether he understands spacing, mismatches, closeouts, and when to attack. Because there’s a difference between teaching a young player how to perform basketball moves and teaching him how to play the game of basketball. And from what I’ve personally seen—not only from playing with and against Mike, but also from watching the improvement in my own son’s decision-making—that is where Mike separates himself.

The goal isn’t just to develop a bigger bag.

The goal is to become a smart-skilled basketball player.

You can reach out to Mike via his instagram