One of the most obvious qualities of basketball players who achieve great and long lasting success is their unbridled passion for the game. Magic Johnson had it. Larry Bird had it. Michael Jordan had it and Kevin Durrant definitely seems to have it. Those guys didn't play for the money or for the fame and even though they had a burning desire to win championships, they didn't really play for those either. They played simply because they love the game.

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How Passionate are You?-hoopskills.com
How Passionate Are You?
-by Coach Dave Stricklin
http://www.hoopskills.com
One of the most obvious qualities of players
who achieve great and long lasting success is
their unbridled passion for the game. Magic
Johnson had it. Larry Bird had it. Michael Jordan
had it and Kevin Durrant definitely seems to
have it.
Those guys didn't play for the money or for the
fame and even though they had a burning
desire to win championships, they didn't really
play for those either. They played simply
because they love the game.
If they weren't playing in some of the greatest
arenas in the country they would have played in
a park or open gym somewhere. Jordan even
had it written into his Bulls contract that he
could play pickup games anytime and anywhere he wanted, even in the middle of
the ongoing season.
You don't have to be a professional athlete to demonstrate that same level of love
and passion for the game.
In fact, I'm convinced that the most passionate basketball players aren't in the
NBA. In a 2001 Sporting News article called "Passion Play: Athletes Describe Their
Love for Playing Sports," Marshall University's Shawn Finney had this to say:
"When I was a junior in high school, I was out mowing the grass and the
lawnmower blade broke off and hit my leg. I went running towards the house and
my dad comes out and my mom's in a little bit of a panic. They scoop me up and
rush me to the hospital and all I'm saying is "I'm not going to get to play basketball.

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How Passionate are You?-hoopskills.com
I'm not going to get to play basketball." My mom says, "You'll get to play
basketball. You'll get to play basketball." And I tell her, "Yeah, but not tonight."
Why is passion so important? Because without it, you won't be able to keep the
main thing the main thing. Instead of asking "Who's got next?" you're going to ask,
"What do I get if I play?" If you are playing solely because you want a trophy, or
new gear, or recognition then you probably don't have the passion it takes to be
great.
How do you measure passion? Author John Maxwell, in his book Put Your Dream
to the Test, has a Passion Scale to help readers gauge their level of passion in any
particular area.
10. My passion is so hot that it sets other people on fire
9. I can't imagine my life without my dream.
8. I willingly sacrifice other important things for it.
7. I am fired up by it and preoccupied by it.
6. I enjoy it as one of my many interests.
5. I can take it or leave it.
4. I prefer not to think about it.
3. I go out of my way to avoid it.
2. I've put it on a list of least favorite things.
1. I would rather have a root canal without anesthesia.
As a coach, it's fairly easy to measure the passion that my team members may or
may not have. I know that come Saturday night everyone wants to play well, to be
somewhat of a star.
The gym is packed with family and friends. The local newspaper and radio
reporters are there, the band is playing, and the atmosphere is electric. It's easy to
be passionate about the game in those circumstances.
But the truly passionate players are the "stars" on Monday when the gym is empty
and quiet, and lonely and they are still playing or working out. No band, no
reporters, no fans - no problem!

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How Passionate are You?-hoopskills.com
Those are the guys that are truly passionate about the game. The interesting thing
though is that after nearly 30 years of coaching I have noticed that the "stars" on
Monday usually end up being the "stars" on Saturday!
Of course, there are those who play (and coach) without unbridled passion but I
will never understand why.