Remember that a proper warm-up awakens your muscles, links your mind and body, and prepares you to perform as you construct your own pregame routine. Steph urges you to be innovative in your pregame prep and to use his tactics as a reference point.
Irrespective of the stakes, consider each game identically. Steph’s pregame routine is the same whether he’s playing in preseason or Game 7 of the NBA Finals. He doesn’t get stressed out or excessively enthusiastic about a massive tournament because of his consistency. A good pregame routine should enable you to perform effectively in any scenario, even if you’re preparing for a high school warm-up game or the Olympic basketball championships.
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Get enough sleep the night prior to a game. Steph emphasizes the need of making sacrifices in order to be completely aware and engaged in gameplay. To perform at its best, your system needs at least 8 hours of sleep the night before the game. Plan ahead of time to complete all of your schoolwork, job, or other commitments, and decline offers to any late-night leisure activities to ensure you get adequate sleep.
The day before a game, eat well and stay hydrated. Basketball players require a diet that gives them enough stamina to perform at their best. The night prior and the day of the event usually consists of high-carb, low-fat diets. Although it might be difficult to avoid bad meals, Steph feels that you cannot compromise any aspect of your preparation process if you want to achieve.
Create a stretching regimen that works for you. Steph understands the importance of a good stretching regimen when it comes to getting your body ready for a basketball game. Stretching is most efficient when your muscles are already flexible; warm up by casually running around the gym or doing some fundamental basketball exercises before stretching. While there is no one-size-fits-all stretching exercise, try to put together one that addresses your hamstrings, legs, hips, pelvis, lower back, and shoulders.
Create a warm-up routine that works for you. Steph begins his ball-handling fundamentals with a two-ball dribble sequence before practicing jump shots or layups, understanding that he’ll be handling the ball much more than shooting it. He goes on to some form of shooting exercises after approximately 15 to 20 minutes of ball-handling practice. Even if you’re just warming up, shot and dribble at game pace to accurately replicate your actual skill. Some players think that repeating the same practice before each game becomes tiresome, yet repetition is a vital element of basketball training in order to develop muscle memory.
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Consider how the game will play out. Take time as you prep for your next competition to imagine how the game will play out before it starts. Imagine yourself in high-pressure scenarios, such as a buzzer-beater, and depending on your techniques and practice to get your squad through them. A mental basketball strength is conquering your impulses and being in charge of your own head.
