Gustavo Torres

Steve Kerr on the changing nature of basketball… Fewer play calls. More flow. More concepts. More decisions made at speed. As the game continues to evolve, players are being asked to operate with greater freedom, responsibility and awareness. Rather than relying on constant instructions from the sidelines, they must understand the principles of the game, recognise what is unfolding in front of them and make effective decisions in real time. I think there’s something fascinating here from a sport psychology perspective. As basketball gets faster, players have less time to consciously organise themselves, think through every option or wait for direction from the bench. They have to perceive, decide and act…in the flow of the game. This means responding to the information available in the moment rather than trying to control every situation through pre-planned instructions. That places enormous demands on a player’s mindset. Their attention has to be exceptional. They must constantly scan, search and pick up information, reading teammates, opponents, spaces, movements and opportunities. They need to stay connected to what is happening NOW while also anticipating what might happen NEXT. The ability to remain fully engaged with the present moment, without becoming distracted by previous actions or future possibilities, becomes increasingly important as the speed and complexity of the game increases. Their intensity also has to be optimal. They need to be alert, alive and engaged, mentally and physically ready to respond to a game that refuses to slow down. Too little intensity can lead to passivity, delayed reactions and a lack of involvement. Too much intensity can create tension, rushed decisions and a loss of control. The challenge is to find the level of activation that allows the player to remain responsive, composed and ready to act. Their intent has to be high as well. They must be purposeful, positive and proactive, rather than waiting for the perfect moment or hesitating through fear of making mistakes. They need to execute with conviction and commit to their decisions, even when the outcome is uncertain. In a fast-moving environment, hesitation can close an opportunity before the player has had time to fully recognise it. Attention. Intensity. Intent. These are three mental skills that, in my opinion, become increasingly important as sport becomes faster, more fluid and less scripted. They help players remain connected to the game, respond effectively to changing circumstances and act with clarity when there is no time for lengthy conscious analysis. But there’s another fascinating layer to Kerr’s observation. Players need shared understanding, shared principles and shared ways of seeing the game. They need to recognise opportunities together, anticipate each other’s movements and coordinate their actions without constantly relying on verbal instructions. The most effective teams develop a collective awareness that allows players to respond to the same situation in complementary ways, even when the exact solution has not been rehearsed. This is where coaching becomes particularly interesting. The challenge isn’t simply to teach players what to do. It is to develop players who can recognise when to do it, why to do it and how to adapt when the picture changes. Players need to understand the principles behind their actions so they can apply them intelligently in situations that are never exactly the same. The goal is not to remove uncertainty from the game, but to help players become more comfortable and capable within it. Training must reflect this. There should be less dependence on rehearsed solutions and more exposure to realistic, variable and demanding situations that help players learn to perceive and act together. Players need opportunities to make decisions under pressure, respond to changing information and experience the consequences of their choices. They need to develop not only technical execution, but also the awareness and adaptability required to use those skills effectively in context. And underpinning all of this? A High Performance Mindset (HPM). Because when the game accelerates, the mind cannot afford to become disconnected, distracted or consumed by doubt. It has to remain connected to the game, connected to the task and connected to the next action. Players must be able to acknowledge what has happened, learn from it quickly and then return their attention to what the game is asking of them now. The future of basketball may involve fewer instructions from the sidelines, but it will demand more from the minds of the players on the court. Players will need to be more perceptive, more adaptable and more willing to take responsibility for their decisions. They will need to understand the game deeply enough to operate with freedom while remaining connected to the collective principles of the team. The faster the game, the more important the mindset. ********************************** My new book, Compete, helps players to execute with high attention, optimal intensity, and high intent