I grew up playing soccer, but when it comes to watching sports, the NBA is my favorite. Some people might think that I watch it because I’m obsessed with height. I’m pretty unimposing. Watching people who are 7 feet tall run and jump is interesting, but I like the NBA because it’s a true showcasing of high performance. It’s a team sport, but in order for someone to score points, they have to perform as individuals. It’s one of the hardest sports to play. I think the NBA is a good metaphor for life. I wanted to write about this in an article.
Very few people play in the NBA
There are only 5 people on the basketball court at any given time. Players are in the league for years. Everyone knows about the league. Playing in the NBA is a rare honor, that a lot of people want to have. When you’re watching the NBA, you can be confident you’re watching the gods of basketball.
The difference between a D1 Player and an NBA player is huge
I’ve never met a D1 basketball player. I have no concept of what it takes to go to the 1st division, but I can’t imagine it’s easy. About 3% of all high school players play at any level in college. So D1 means you’re pretty good. If basketball were the SATs, getting into 1st division would be like scoring in the mid 1400s. Getting into the NBA would have to be like getting a 1590 or a perfect score.
Talent destroys hard work if it does enough work
A D1 basketball player might put more time into basketball than a normal person. But as long as they’re both playing competitively, an NBA player doesn’t spend much more time in the gym than a D1 player.
Evaluate your talent levels
This applies to anything you try. Try to be honest with yourself and know what you’re skilled and talented at. Make sure that you know how good you are relative to other people, and how much work you will need to do to get the results you want. If you do stuff that you’re bad at, you’re going to have a bad life. If you focus your mind on stuff you’re good at, you’ll find yourself making progress every day. Even if you aren’t being rewarded in cash, things are going to make sense.
Find a field that will pay you for your talents
The fact that basketball pays well is what’s most important to those athletes. Yes, they love the game. But the whole production runs on money. Remember that your job is not necessarily to be so talented that you’re satisfied or considered great. It’s to be talented enough that you
Talent dictates how hard you should work
If you are top 1% generational talent, you should probably take large financial risks and embark on dramatic adventures. You should be undertaking big projects and doing stuff that you think allows you to take power in the ever-shifting global economic landscape. If you aren’t so smart, beautiful, athletic, or otherwise gifted, you should be looking for security in genuine connection (in my opinion). Your talent levels dictate how hard you should work, and at what. If you’re not talented, don’t even think about becoming a pro.
Having money is best
Having money is the best thing you can do. Look at the lives NBA players live. They may not all be excellent people, but they get to have experiences that regular people can only dream of having. If you can get money through honest work, you should always do it.
Genetics are a big deal
If you want to make sure that your kids have a great life, choose your spouse wisely. Whoever you have kids with should have genetics that are great. This might be a hard pill to swallow, but it’s true. Genetics matter. You need to be realistic.
Normies have no hope
This might sound like an edgelord take, but you have to experience, achieve, or see high performance of some kind to understand. If you’re in the top 1% at something, people in the top 20% have no hope of catching you. Forget about the average person. This is why if you have any talent at all, you need to thank God.
Work, pray, have fun
That’s the vibe the NBA gives me. It’s inspiring. The best of the best maximizing their gifts and talent. I think the league should inspire anyone who watches. Even the highlights should fill you with energy as far as I’m concerned.
The NBA makes some people feel down about life; and it makes other feel great. For others, it’s a mindless hobby. For myself, it’s a glimpse at the power of targeted self-improvement. It shows you want happens when you go all in on your talents. In that sense, I think the NBA is the greatest sports league.
Thanks for paying attention.
