Basketball is a game in which you can earn playing time based solely on your work ethic, especially at the college and high school levels and younger. While much of your success centers on your talent and ability level, you can make a real difference on your team and in the game if you have a strong work ethic. Learning from successful coaches and players is a way to develop your work ethic.
Step 1
Watch as much basketball as you can. In every basketball game, particularly at the high school and college levels, you can pick out the players that are working harder than everyone else on the floor, diving for loose balls and fighting for rebounds. These players may not be as skilled as the other players on the floor, but they often are rewarded with playing time based on their work ethic. Watching these players play and then emulating their hustle when you play can be especially beneficial for younger players looking to develop a strong work ethic.
Step 2
Read motivational books. Many of the best coaches and players in basketball have written books about what they believe to be keys to success, and nearly all of them deal with work ethic. If you read books by legendary college coaches such as UCLA's John Wooden, North Carolina's Dean Smith, Marquette's Al McGuire and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, you can gain insight into what these coaches believe makes successful basketball players, including the need for a strong work ethic.
Step 3
Play just as hard on defense as you do on offense. Your work ethic should start on the defensive end of the court, as quality defensive play often leads to easy points on the offensive end of the court. If you focus on developing your work ethic on defense, that work ethic will carry over to offense and likely rub off on your teammates, making your team more successful. Focus on working on one small aspect of basketball, such as boxing out to help secure the rebound, then build on that part of your game to develop a rounded, strong work ethic.
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