Growing up, I loved basketball.
Still do.
But I realized early, not everyone who plays dreams of making it pro.
Some of us just fell in love with what the game teaches.
MJ taught us that failure isn’t fatal.
He once said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games.
26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed.
I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life.
And that is why I succeed.”
That hit different.
Because at your early 20s, you start realizing that life, like basketball, isn’t about never missing. It’s about showing up for the next play.
Then came Kobe.
The Mamba.
Turning discipline into art.
Wasn’t the most athletic, but he was relentless.
While everyone else was resting, he was already in the gym.
Chasing perfection he knew he’d never catch, but doing it anyway.
That’s what Mamba Mentality really is.
Doing it scared.
Doing it tired.
Doing it because you promised yourself you would.
And then came the King.
Lebron taught us that greatness isn’t just talent. It’s about longevity and leadership.
Leading and elevating others up.
And then there’s Steph.
Changing the game. Not with size, but with belief.
Reminded us that even the smallest player can change how the whole world plays.
When I think about it now, maybe that’s what life is.
a mix of Jordan’s persistence, Kobe’s discipline, LeBron’s leadership, and Steph’s courage to innovate.
Basketball taught me early that greatness has versions.
Sometimes, it’s not about being the star player.
Sometimes, it’s about building your shot, finding your rhythm, and playing your own game well.