Over eight years as a pro, one thing has stood out: most players don’t improve.
They show up. They practice. They grind.
Yet each season, they return the same player.
I nearly became one of them.
The Wake-Up Call
In college, my numbers dropped every year. My minutes shrank. I told myself it was my teammates, coaches, or bad luck.
Then, in my first NBL season, I sat on the bench again.
That offseason, I started one-on-one workouts with Joey Wright. One day, during a brutal finishing drill, Joey pulled me aside.
“What are your goals?” he asked.
“I want to be the best Aussie in the NBL.”
Joey didn’t hesitate:
“You’re living a delusional life. Your actions don’t match your goals. To be the best in Australia, you have to work the hardest in Australia.”
That was my wake-up call.
Why Hard Work Fails
Most players think they’re improving because they go hard in practice.
But here’s the truth: team practices aren’t built for personal growth.
They prepare the group, not the individual. You walk away tired, but you haven’t stacked enough meaningful reps to actually improve your skills.
That’s why so many players plateau.
The Shift
Joey helped me flip the script.
We redesigned my training to maximise game-like reps:
Tight spaces
A defender in front of me
Restrictions that forced creativity under pressure
For eight years now, I’ve played one-on-one with constraints almost daily.
By the time I hit the court, I’ve already made those same moves thousands of times against defenders.
The game feels like home.
Brazil’s Secret
This principle also shows up outside basketball.
In Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell explains why Brazil became a soccer powerhouse.
The reason? Futsal.
Smaller courts. Fewer players. A heavier ball.
Kids grow up with constant touches and thousands more reps than traditional soccer players. By the time they’re twelve, they’re sharper, faster, and more skilled.
It’s not talent — it’s reps.
Two Lessons
Effort isn’t enough. Without alignment, you’re just doing the average. It takes honest feedback to see the truth.
Reps change everything. The more game-like reps you stack, the more natural performance becomes.
Your Move
This week, ask a mentor or friend for real feedback.
Then design your own “futsal” — a way to multiply meaningful reps in whatever you’re chasing.
Don’t settle for looking busy. Do the work that actually makes you better.