nba restart

Lebron James & Dawn Staley Give us Motivating Lessons on Rising, Winning & Shining at Work, Play and Round-the-Way

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There’s more to basketball, than basketball! That’s how Tracee Ellie Ross begins as the narrator of that new TV ad. It gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges that NBA players had to overcome this season. When the first player tested positive for Covid-19, the league decided to shutdown all games.

Then, a few months later, a careful restart was underway with the playoffs. The players would live in a ‘bubble’ on the grounds of the ABC Sports complex. In the case of the WNBA they also went through a similar process, but they’d restart games at another venue with similar restrictions.

Well, they made it through without a virus outbreak and crowned the champions. The Seattle Storm won their 4th trophy while the Los Angeles Lakers won their 17th. Their records say a lot about the ABCs of bringing your A-game, having a B-side to life-balance and proving your value to the C-suite execs.

Lebron James still has some playing days left in him, while former WNBA player Dawn Staley has since left the game and is now a college coach. They give us lessons in rising, winning and shining at work, play and round-the-way. It’s also what the TV ad tries to do without selling their next breakout shoe.

The importance of sports to biz and culture is well known. Whether at a restaurant, bar or hometown playground, folks talk about, study and emulate their fav player. It’s more than just what they do on the court that matters. They know that with preparation, passion and practice you can go the distance with:    

  • Work Ethic

Both James and Staley have played on Olympic teams. They made it there because of talent and work ethic. It’s the things you do that no one has to tell you that you have to do. You might do it for the love of the game. But there’s a need to improve, invest or capitalize on skills because work ethic demands it. 

  • Team Dream       

When pro players started going to the Olympics, they first became known as the “Dream Team.” They were among the best of the best in the game at any level. But what James has been able to do wherever he goes in the league is to have others commit to the team dream. That’s how they step-up their game.

  • Game Changer

When league play was put on hold, James wasn’t gung-ho about playing without fans during the restart. That was a game changer for the rest of the way. Sometimes being a game changer means being comfortable with starting over. That’s what James has done in his career with every team he’s been with.  

  • Street Cred

Staley grew up on the hard side of town. She was often with her brother and his friends at the playground. She wanted to play but wasn’t sure they’d let her. She brought her own ball, which upped her chances of getting picked. In time, her street cred wasn’t just from having the ball, but from “ballin” on the court.     

These days when it comes to sports, it feels like something’s in the water on the West Coast. The Seattle Storm wins the WNBA, the Lakers win the NBA and the NFL Seattle Seahawks are on a hot streak. These players show us that even in tough times, we gotta get up and rise each day to secure the bag.    

Tip: Get your hustle on, or at least bring your A-game so that your street cred as a game changer is in using work ethic to inspire team dream.

Talkback: What’s the off-season gonna be like for the players with social issues on their minds?

Tracks: Steel Pulse – Rize – https://youtu.be/m-bVaqDm7Hs

Ace Hood – Hustle Hard – https://youtu.be/r_dh16HQkqQ

Lebron James and Dak Prescott Wanna Bring on Their Comeback Tour, But Life’s Got Things on Hold

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It looks like Miami Vice is back! Not the TV show but the style though. The NBA restart’s in full swing and Lebron James stepped out looking like detective Tubbs as ‘The Don.’ Everybody knows he’s got game but dude’s ready to take his old Miami stomping ground by storm. One problem, Covid’s got him in the bubble.

Meantime, the NFL pre-season has been cancelled. The off-season drama and trade rumors have been low-key. Dak Prescott knows things aren’t the same as players opt-out from the upcoming season (if it happens). James and Prescott wanna bring on their comeback tour, but life’s got things on hold.

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Before the TV coverage play-by-play of a game, we’re used to seeing players roll-in with their fashion avenue looks. Sometimes it’s formal being ‘suit to boot’ dressed. Other times it’s informal with a sport shirt and knee-length shorts. These days that kind of runway arrival isn’t possible because of social distancing.

The sports season is a different kind of animal with challenges to deal with. For example, players can’t leave or return to the bubble without getting ‘Covid-cleared.’ So what have they been doing? It seems golfing, video gaming and ‘social justice explaining’ are high on the list of fillers and off-day activities.

But for the rest of us still trying to get through this new reality, what’s on the agenda while life’s got things on hold? These days our mental health is being tested. For some, building wealth is being re-forecasted. But those that are built tough will survive and have lasted. How we get there depends on having:

  1. Open Mind

At first, James wasn’t sold on playing without fans. Throughout his career he’s been hearing cheers and jeers to motivate him on the court. But now it’s a different ballgame. He’s had to approach things with an open mind. Sometimes that’s needed to put your dreams or career trajectory on the open road.

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  1. Inner Strength

Physical strength we understand when we exercise our muscles. But we appreciate inner strength when we’re bent and stretched emotionally. Sometimes that comes through loss whether it’s a family member or a missed opportunity. Prescott finds himself building inner strength after losing his brother recently.

  1. Game Flow

With the economic shutdown and sports cancellations that’s affected us all, we’ve had some extra time to reflect and recharge. Think of the ‘before and after’ picture for turning this around or taking it to the next level, like what happens after half-time. Teams that make a comeback find a way to get into ‘game flow.’

  1. Winning Spirit

As the old saying goes “winners never quit, and quitters never win.” Yes, winning isn’t everything. It’s the learning that happens along the way that’s turned into a winning spirit. It’s how James has been able to keep his performance at a high level by not just feeling the ‘high’ but finding new skill levels.

Folks say they’ve seen a change in Prescott’s off the field game, with a new cause around social justice. His gridiron game’s got room for turning inner strength into winning spirit and open mind into game flow. If a championship is in his future, he’ll know like James that the comeback tour starts with a person of one.

Tip: Whether after Covid-19, economic shutdown or social unrest, the comeback tour starts with a person of one before you get so fly.

Talkback: What’s it looking like for college football or NFL games?

Tracks: Baby Bash ft Frankie J – Suga Suga – https://youtu.be/6rgStv12dwA

Ledesi – High – https://youtu.be/MEiM2iokvFs