Larry Bird
Larry Bird said, „I’ve got a theory that if you give 100% all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.“
His work ethic was legendary.
5 Epic Larry Bird stories with his principles for work ethic and practice…
1. Practice Harder than Everyone – It all changed for Larry when a coach told him, „Larry, no matter how much you work at it, there’s always someone out there who’s working just a little harder. If you take 150 practice shots, he’s taking 200.“
Larry said that comment drove his work ethic and desire to get better. He never wanted anyone to work harder than him.
2. Practice Harder than You Play – When you train hard, it becomes easier to compete because you have tested your mind, body, and skills.
Larry Bird’s practice habits were legendary. He would wake up and shoot baskets first thing in the morning and then go for a run before practice. He would practice with the team and then he would shoot more shots, lift weights, and then run again. Coaches would bring their teams early to the Celtics arena to see him working out pre-game. One team even saw him running stadiums pregame.
3. Practice with Purpose – You have to spend time being intentional and practicing what matters.
Larry Bird would start each morning with 500 jump shots and he had to make 99 free throws in a row or he would start again. He would want to get up as many shots as he possibly could, but he kept shooting until the ball sounded right. There was no end timeline, the goal was excellence in everything he did.
4. Practice to Perform – The goal is a mindset of excellence. When you practice to perform, you’re confident enough to overcome that feeling of pressure.
Bird said, „I never felt pressure…Because going into those games you never knew what was going to happen. I always had enough confidence in my game, and I put in the time and the hard work.“
His former teammate Bill Walton said, „He wore that body out with the jumpers and the run and the movement and concentration and the focus, discipline and sacrifice. He had it all.“
5. Practice the Fundamentals – Look at the fundamentals in your discipline and start with mastering those because creativity and innovation all stem from it.
In high school, Larry Bird didn’t play against the best competition, but he excelled in high school and college because he practiced the fundamentals. He practiced dribbling, passing, shooting, and positioning. Bird said, „You’ve got to have them down before you can even think about playing.“
„You can make all the excuses you want, but if you’re not mentally tough and you’re not prepared to play every night, you’re not going to win.“ – Larry Bird
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