The Basics Abandonment Problem
Why Kobe Bryant spent 45 minutes at 3:30 a.m. doing drills a middle schooler could do.
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I was reading Alan Stein Jr.’s book Raise Your Game this week and came across a story I can’t stop thinking about.
In 2007, Nike flew Stein—a performance coach—to Los Angeles to work at the first-ever Kobe Bryant Skills Academy. At the time, Kobe was arguably the best basketball player on the planet.
Stein figured if he was going to be there anyway, he might as well impress Kobe by showing up early. So when his alarm went off at 3:00 a.m., he jumped up and grabbed a cab to the gym.
He arrived at 3:30 a.m. It was pitch black outside.
But the gym lights were already on. He could hear a ball bouncing. Sneakers squeaking.
He quietly walked in the side door. Kobe was drenched in sweat, going through an intense warm-up before his scheduled workout even started.
Stein grabbed a seat and just watched.
For 45 minutes, he sat there in disbelief.
The best basketball player on the planet was doing footwork drills. Basic pivot moves. Fundamental ball-handling. The kind of stuff Stein routinely taught middle school kids.
No behind-the-back passes. No fancy fadeaways. No highlight-reel moves.
Just the boring fundamentals. Executed with obsessive focus and maximum effort.
Later that day at camp, Stein finally asked the question:
“Kobe, I don’t get it. You’re the best player in the world. Why were you doing such basic drills?”
Kobe smiled: “Why do you think I’m the best player in the world? Because I never get bored with the basics.”
That line hit me hard.
I call this the Basics Abandonment Problem:
