Shoot to make it

Last week, my buddy Scott sent me down a rabbit hole reading about the NBA in-season tournament along with Tyrese Haliburton and his crazy jump-shot mechanics. I also came across this basketball-related wisdom just after that, and it’s all stuck with me and bubbled up into my drawing today.

From James Clear’s excellent 3-2-1 newsletter:

“My dad and I love basketball. We used to play hoops in the front yard almost every day when I was growing up. He was also my coach for many years.

One thing that always stuck with me was him saying “shoot to make it.” I think there’s a lot of moments in basketball and in life where we are just “throwing a shot up” and hoping it goes in.

How I interpreted his mantra was to have intention. If you are going to take a shot, take a good one and take it to make it. I always come back to what he said when I’m evaluating decisions I’m making and actions I take.

Am I shooting to make it?”