It’s not what you’ve got, it’s what you use that makes a difference. –Zig Ziglar
I was lucky enough to coach along-side former NBA player, Earl Boykins, for a couple of years. I played in college and coached at the scholarship level for a long-time, but those years I spent with Earl were the longest I had ever spent with a professional athlete on a day-to-day basis. Even in his early 40s, he was a specimen of strength, speed and health, and he was still twice the player of any teenager we saw play those years. Here’s some stats to give you an idea of how good he was as a professional player:
- 13 Seasons in the NBA
- 5791 Career Points
- He shot 87% from the FT Line and 35% from the 3-Point Line
- 6 Seasons Averaging at Least 10 points per game
- 5 Times voted in the Top 7 in the League for 6th Man of the Year
- Average 18.1 points per game in his 4-year college career at NCAA Division I Eastern Michigan
- Was 2nd in the country (All NCAA D1) in scoring his senior season averaging 25.7 points per game
That would be considered a great career for your average basketball player.
However, the story only begins with the above stats. What I haven’t told you yet was Earl was:
- Only 5’5” and weighed 135 lbs (He would tell you that he’s really 5’7”)
- He could easily bench press over 300 lbs
- Check-out the Youtube Video of 6’11” Hall of Famer, Tim Duncan and others, trying to guard him: Early Boykins Highlights
I wanted to talk about Earl this week because I talk to so many kids each week who either have been blessed with amazing size, strength and skill and don’t put the effort into maximizing their gifts or with kids with every disadvantage in the world (like Earl) who choose to give up on their dreams instead of working harder than anyone else to prove the world wrong.
It really doesn’t matter what you were born with. It all comes down to what you decide to do with it.
In this week’s Significant Coaching Podcast, I had the pleasure of talking with 4-Time NWAC Coach of the Year, Kanyon Anderson. He talked about how important it was for him to see the kids he recruits not give up when obstacles or bad luck gets in their way. He thought it was essential for kids to see an obstacle in front of them and say to themselves, “If I want to be great, I have to make sure I am winning all the sprints in practice and not every once in a while. I need to watch what other great players are doing and ask, ‘Am I working as hard as them, and can I perform at the level they are performing?’”
That point really resonated with me, and I believe that idea transcends gender, age, race, size, etc.
I, of course, immediately thought of Earl.
As you look around today thinking that you deserve playing time or a college coach’s offer, I encourage you to ask yourself “Why should I start for my team or get recruited to a college when so many other student-athletes are doing more to get better than I am?” You may find that you are at the beginning of a significant journey if you can accept the truth to that answer.
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