gustavsteim
Guest
"The phrase 'Just Say No’ might sound simplistic; it didn’t work in the drug wars after all. But as the go-to phrase for NBA newcomers, it could and should resonate."
Hoops Hype posted a great article yesterday about the off-the-court pressure rookies face with managing their new found wealth. Noah is featured as a player who, despite the best warnings of the NBA’s transition program for rookies, is still learning the hard way.
"Joakim Noah is finishing up his second season in the NBA – and he still finds one of the hardest parts of his professional life to be saying one simple word: No." That is, saying no to all the "friends" and distant relatives who emerged once Noah got that first contract.
I'm a big fan of Noah and certainly happy with his new off-the-court regiment. He's showing great signs lately, and I keep imagining what a summer of conditioning and skills training (rather than, as Fred likes to say, "spending his summer with his face in a bong")could yield. But this article was a grave reminder that Noah, more than most young players even, is a prime candidate for letting off-the-court issues creep into his performance on the court.
Finally, I think it shows the NBA ought to rethink how they acclimate rookies. Clearly "just say no" isn't really working.
Read the full article here:
http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/may/2009/04/06/the-power-of-no/
Hoops Hype posted a great article yesterday about the off-the-court pressure rookies face with managing their new found wealth. Noah is featured as a player who, despite the best warnings of the NBA’s transition program for rookies, is still learning the hard way.
"Joakim Noah is finishing up his second season in the NBA – and he still finds one of the hardest parts of his professional life to be saying one simple word: No." That is, saying no to all the "friends" and distant relatives who emerged once Noah got that first contract.
I'm a big fan of Noah and certainly happy with his new off-the-court regiment. He's showing great signs lately, and I keep imagining what a summer of conditioning and skills training (rather than, as Fred likes to say, "spending his summer with his face in a bong")could yield. But this article was a grave reminder that Noah, more than most young players even, is a prime candidate for letting off-the-court issues creep into his performance on the court.
Finally, I think it shows the NBA ought to rethink how they acclimate rookies. Clearly "just say no" isn't really working.
Read the full article here:
http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/may/2009/04/06/the-power-of-no/