The LA Clippers’ Patrick Beverley gave great life advice on the JJ Redick Podcast.
LA Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley recently appeared on an episode of the JJ Redick Podcast where he gave some great advice using insight from his experience and own goal-setting process.
The Clippers’ starting guard is known as much for his outspoken demeanor as he is for his tenacious defense. He is not one to mince words, recently even going as far as throwing shade at none other than LeBron James. His competitive nature certainly helps him on the court and follows him off the court as well. Any interview or podcast appearance with Beverley is a must-listen, and his recent appearance on Redick’s show does not disappoint.
Staying mentally prepared in the bubble.
Early in the interview, Beverley talks about the importance of staying mentally sharp, especially now that the NBA is playing from the Orlando bubble. He gives some insight into his mental preparation saying he uses meditation, journaling, and reading to keep his focus and stay sharp.
Beverley also uses post-it notes as daily reminders of his goals and to stay focused on the course in front of him. He also uses mindfulness to make sure his thoughts are guiding him in the right direction as he notes that thoughts lead to words, words lead to actions, and actions create a lifestyle.
This outlook and practice will certainly give Beverley an advantage in the unique situation in Orlando. The longer the players are confined to the bubble, the more days will begin to feel the same, and mental fatigue can start to take over and wear on a player. For any team looking to make a deep run in the playoffs, as the LA Clippers surely are, staying mentally focused and sharp will give them an upper-hand as the summer weeks pass by and the season drags on longer than any players are used to.
Setting and achieving goals.
Beverley also gives a master class in setting and achieving personal and professional goals. He notes that before he made the NBA, and he was playing overseas, he was singularly focused on making the league.
Once he was called to the NBA, his goals began to grown and evolve, never settling for just making it. He progressed to wanting to make an All-NBA Defensive team, to wanting to be named First Team All-Defense, to having his eye on winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Beverley stresses that to set and achieve goals it is important to not be afraid of failure. He talks about having to go through every emotion, feel them, process them, and learn from them. Failure is just part of the journey and accepting that and being cool with it will only lead to progress. When you fail, you can try something new, analyze that, and question your own performance to keep moving towards your goals.
Incremental progress.
Not only do Beverley’s goals progress as he gets more experience, but he talks about continuing to add tools to his belt to help him achieve his goals. He knew that he had to work on his craft to make the NBA, but once he had the basketball skills he started adding more mental preparation for his mind, workouts for his body, and finally nourishment. Slowly adding these pieces over time allows him to master one area and move on to improvement in others rather than trying to do everything all at once and becoming overwhelmed.
Beverley’s methods are tried and true and are certainly working for him. He has the accomplishments and the reputation to prove he knows what he’s talking about. Having a player with that sort of mindset is something every NBA team could use, especially in the special circumstances surrounding this season. The LA Clippers certainly benefit from having Beverley as part of their team, and anyone who’d like to set their mind on achieving goals could benefit as well from listening to his great advice.