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The importance of the mental side of sports
The importance of the mental side of sports
The importance of the mental side of sports
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Synopsis: My topic for this research paper is based on the basketball all-star Kobe Bryant, and how his brain has been conditioned to become one of the toughest minds the world has ever seen. I’ve chosen this topic to gain insight into how athletes minds work during games, and along with their personal lives. To educate myself so I may be able to use this not just in sports, but in everyday life to deal with problems.
How are world class athletes like Kobe Bryant capable of harnessing this immense power over their minds? Unlocking the secret weapons deep within the human brain, that have propelled them to the top, and continue to maintain elite status. Only few athletes have ever accomplished this, my athlete, Kobe Bryant, is considered
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Once you’ve reached this goal you shouldn’t be surprised, because that’s what you set for yourself. That’s exactly what Kobe accomplished, thousands and thousands and thousands of hours in the gym pushing for his one goal. When he became one of the best players the NBA has ever seen, collected a total of 5 rings, earned an MVP and 2 finals MVP’s, and solidified himself as a legend of the game. Kobe wasn’t surprised, he wasn’t shocked that millions of fans around the world know his name. Bryant wasn’t phased because he set those goals, and accomplishing them was the point of making them in the first place. I am going to go back to the beginning, to try and uncover how Kobe Bryant came to be a legend in his own mind and minds of …show more content…
Through his first year of play he struggled with the Lakers, not averaging very many minutes slowed him down in the first year with the team. But as his second season approached the NBA scene saw a spike in Kobe’s ability to play the game. In this season and at the age of 19, he became the youngest player in league history to be voted as a starter for the NBA All-Star game. Then came Shaquille O’Neal, the power duo would go on to win three consecutive NBA championships from 2000-2002. After Shaq left, Kobe became the cornerstone and face of the Lakers, in 2006, he scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, and in 2008, he was named league MVP and took his team to the finals. Kobe also participated in both 2008 and 2012 olympic basketball teams, taking home gold medals for the nation each
He was drafted 3rd overall in 1984. (“Michael Jordan Fast Facts”). Jordan averaged .515% field goal .845% free throw 2 offensive rebound 4.5 defensive rebounds 5.9 assists .8 blocks 2.4steals 28.2 points.(“Michael Jordan Stats”). Jordan and the Bulls made the playoffs Jordan’s first year as a pro. He also got rookie of the year and went to the all-star game. Then his second season was cut short by an injury (Biography.com Editors). After his second year in 1986-87 Jordan was the second player to ever score more the 3000 points in a season. The year after that he was named the Most Valuable Player of the year. He got it 4 years in 1991, 1992, 1996 and, 1998. By the late 1980s the Chicago bulls were becoming more popular team because of Michael Jordan. In 1990 the Chicago bulls and Jordan won their first National basketball association championship by defeating the Lakers. While Jordan was dominating the NBA during 1980s and 1990s he started getting endorsements by Nike (Biography.com
The NBA is well known for the number of amazing professional athletes it has had over the years. Some of the most gifted and talented individuals come through the NBA and one of the better-known superstars is none other than Kobe Bryant. For years people have wondered what makes Bryant so successful. The main contributors that lead to Kobe Bryant’s success is his hard work and dedication, his mindset, his natural ability’s and talent, and the people that have helped him throughout his life. Kobe Bryant was very successful in the NBA because of the amount of hard work he has put in, the people in his life, his relentless determination and his god given natural abilities.
He also scored a career-high 48 points in a game against the Utah Jazz (ibid). Paul was named the most improved player in 2013, and has been voted into 3 All-Star games (ibid). In this year’s All-star game, he broke the record for most three pointers with nine, and scored 41 points, tying him for second in points in a single All-star game (ibid). His highlight reel dunks also allowed him to take part in the 2012 and 2014 Slam Dunk Contest (Wikipedia).
Why does age difference should be a barrier for athletes who are younger, but can play same as or even better than older basketball players? Basketball is all about winning and if you can use a younger player to your advantage, I don't see a reason on why not doing it. In an article, College basketball's so-called one-and-done rule needs revisiting, Dylan Hernandez quotes Kobe Bryant, " It didn't make any sense." Kobe doesn't say anything more about this because I think it kind of speaks for itself. Kobe Bryant, did not go to college he went to NBA right out of high school and now look were he is at now. I'm not saying that all one and done players are going to be NBA stars, but at least we can give them a
Wilt Chamberlain was the first NBA player to score more than 30,000 cumulative points over his career, and the first and only player to score 100 points in a single game. "They say nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds." Without Wilt Chamberlain the world would have missed one of the greatest basketball players in the history of
After winning his third consecutive NBA championship, at the pinnacle of his career, Michael Jordan, on October 6, 1993, announced his retirement from the NBA. The entire sports world was in complete shock. Jordan stated, that he had accomplished everything he wanted, winning three straight world championships, he had no more to prove in the game of basketball. Jordan stated that he simply “lost his desire to play the game” leading him to retirement, when most least expected it. Although, it was not all smooth sailing for Michael, he had to persevere through various challenges throughout his career.
There's no question that Michael Jordan is the greatest player to ever play the game. He has single-handedly redefined basketball. No player in NBA history has achieved so much in any amount of time. He is a five-time league MVP, a ten-time scoring champion, a six-time Finals MVP, and houses six NBA championships. This time Michael Jordan left the game of basketball on his own terms. His comeback was to scratch an itch, and to teach the younger players how the game is played. He finished his career with 32,292 points, and a career average 30.12 ppg, the best in NBA history. Jordan has now officially passed the torch to the younger stars.
Additionally, Bryant joined the all-star team in just his second season in the league, therefore becoming the single youngest player to be part of the all-star team of all time (“Bryant, Kobe” 1) at just 19 years old (Kobe at 30--Oh, how the years go by 2). Surprisingly, these achievements would not be the only ones he would acquire. By 2003, Bryant had already captured 3 NBA titles for himself (“Bryant, Kobe” 1), winning three titles in a row from 2000 to 2002 (Kobe at 30-- 2), and these would surely not be his last.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Due to the mark Michael Jordan has left on the world as the “G.O.A.T.”, it will be very difficult for any player to surpass his legacy. Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and LeBron James all have similarities of Michael Jordan but, out of all three players James is the closest. LeBron has the most similarities and the potential to surpass Michael Jordan’s legacy with his personality, stats and he popularity on and off the court. Even though James has the potential to surpass his legacy, there is still a very long journey ahead of James if he ever wants to be considered the “G.O.A.T.”.
First, we will celebrate LeBron James’s accomplishments in the NBA. There are over 400 players in the NBA. These players are on the battlefield, fighting day after day because they all know only one can become the Most Valuable Player. LeBron James rose above all, claiming the MVP award, not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 times. Not only is LeBron James an MVP, but he is also a 13-time All-Star player. LeBron James garnered enough votes from the fans, the players, and the media to become an All-Star like a presidential candidate getting enough votes from the voters to become the President.
In his first season with the Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan averaged 28 points a game and voted to the All-Star game, because of all the attention Jordan received his teammates refused to pass him the ball. Instead of letting the freeze-out during the All-Star game deter him he went on to win Rookie of the Year. The following season he would break his foot causing him to miss the rest of the regular season. He would return for the playoffs where in the second game of the series against the Boston Celtics he set the record for most points in a playoff game with 63; however the Celtics would win the series and would later on lose to the Los Angeles Lakers.
He had a rough start with the Suns, having to sit out several weeks with a fractured collarbone. But when he was finally back in playing form, he rallied, helping the team to playoffs for five seasons in a row.
“The odds of a high school basketball player making it to the “next level” to play college basketball (DI, II, or III) is slim. In fact, only 3.4% of high school players go on to play college basketball. Taking it even further, only 1.2% of college basketball players go on to get drafted in the NBA” (Winters, 2016). There are two types of players in the game. There are the kids who play basketball because they are athletic, and all they are seeking to gain is the recognition and awards. They want to be known. Those players are self-centered, they do not play for the team, and generally don’t play because they love the game. These are the types of players who don’t usually go on to play at the next level. On the other hand, there are the players that absolutely dedicate their life to the game of basketball just because they love the game. That is what coaches are looking for in a player, and that is the kind of player I am striving to be.
When someone says the name Michael Jordan, the first thing that comes to mind is basketball, The Chicago Bulls and Nike shoes. Through the years, Michael Jordan has proved time and time again that he is the greatest basketball player ever, and by performing in this rapidly expanding sporting field, he has gained tremendous popularity throughout the world. People of all ages and from all nationalities have gathered to watch him play. A journalist states 'even your Aunt Matilda might not know nothing about basketball, liked watching him play' (Jonathon 1999:58). Jordan has become more than just an entertainer. He is a hero and a role model amongst basketball spectators. Johnson claims that 'he is the most famous American in the world' (ibid.). Perhaps he was born to be the best.
Once I became focused on just one sport I started to strive to become like those aforementioned players. Soon though I realized that only a select and lucky few will ever become as great as them and get a chance to play in the NBA. But I never lost my drive to become the best player that I could become. I tried to achieve this by spending all my free hours in the gym working on all aspects of my game.