Playing basketball overseas can be an exciting and rewarding experience for any player. However, it can also be challenging, with players facing different cultures, languages, and playing styles. That’s why having a mentor while playing overseas basketball can be crucial for a player’s success. In this blog post, we’ll explore five reasons why having a mentor is important for players playing overseas.
1. Even the best basketball players in the world have mentors. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant had Phil Jackson, and LeBron James has Coach K. These coaches and mentors provided guidance, and motivation, and helped them reach their full potential. Having a mentor while playing overseas can have the same impact on a player’s career.
While many of you may have an agent, what a mentor does is different. And most agents also do not have the time to have many conversations with each of their athletes.
Having a connection with someone who has played overseas is extremely beneficial. Yes, you can talk to your uncle back home about some things, but unless your uncle played overseas and understands how things are run, he will hardly be able to help you through certain aspects of your career. Having a mentor that you trust will give you piece of mind that someone understands exactly what you are going through.
2. A mentor can provide players with another point of view, allowing them to see things from a different perspective. This can be especially important when players are facing challenges and need guidance on how to navigate them.
Especially in the first season overseas, rookies tend to have many ups and downs and inconsistent play. Sometimes the inconsistency stems from things off the court that a mentor can identify with. There will be many new impulses that players will have in their first season and these new impulses can affect how you play. Having a mentor to guide you and keep you accountable is invaluable.
With so many new things to learn and adapt to, a mentor can help flatten your learning curve so that you can focus better.
3. Having a mentor who is not affiliated with the player’s team can provide players with an unbiased opinion. This can be important when players need feedback on their performance, training, or even personal issues. Mentors can provide honest feedback and advice without any bias, helping players make informed decisions.
4. Having a mentor who is well-connected in the basketball world can provide players with networking opportunities. Mentors can introduce players to other coaches, players, and scouts, opening up new doors for career opportunities. This can be especially important for players who are looking to take their careers to the next level.
5. A mentor can provide players with guidance on both personal and professional growth. They can help players develop their skills, set career goals, and provide support when players face personal challenges. Mentors can help players become more well-rounded individuals, both on and off the court.
Whether you feel you need a mentor for short or long term, the feedback, information and guidance that a mentor can provide you can be a difference maker depending on your needs. Rookies especially need somone to use as a sounding board. Vets have different needs such as maintining the level that they are on. Both rookies and vets want to get to the next level of their careers and having a mentor while playing overseas basketball can be an intregal part of your success.
If you think having a mentor is something you may need, please do not hesitate to talk with me about it. We can have an initial consultation and build a mentorship plan based on my experience and your needs. Let’s talk…