When only 64 new players are drafted in the NBA every year, you need to work hard to make basketball your career. It’s certainly not easy, but you can make it more likely. It can be a challenge to make it to the big leagues, and there are always going to be more people that don’t quite make it than those that do. If you’d like to improve your chances of becoming a player in the NBA, then you’re going to need a plan. You need to know what to expect from your basketball career and take the right steps that bring you closer and closer to your ambitions.

Here’s what you need to know about how to improve your chances of stepping onto the courts at the biggest games in the world.

1. Start Young

The earlier that you decide to pursue a basketball career, the better. If you (or your children) are interested in basketball as a viable future career, then you should start by attending as many basketball camps as possible. The younger you start, the more practice you’ll get, and that’s going to be a major theme of your basketballing life. Look at options like the Five Star Basketball Camp for a taster of what your basketball career is going to entail

2. Know the Game

The more that you know the game, the better you’ll play. Of course, physical fitness is vital, but coaches are also going to want to see that you have a strategic knowledge of the game as well. Just as you are going to have to continuously work on your playing skills and your fitness levels, never stop learning about how best to play the game.

Also read: 6 Tips To Improve Shooting Accuracy In Basketball

3. High School Games

It’s in high school that you need to shine. If you are on the basketball team, then you’ll stand a much better chance of taking it to the next level because that’s where the college scouts are going to be looking. You’re going to need to stand out at those matches too, but that means being a team player as much as it means being good at taking shots. Remember, coaches and scouts, want to know that you are teachable and aren’t going to be a disruption in the dressing room or on the court.

4. Get a Basketball Scholarship

Ideally, you want to be spotted by a scout as you play, but that doesn’t always happen. If your games don’t attract scouts, then you need to get proactive. Talk to your coach about their thoughts on your skills, and start looking at scholarship options. The best thing about basketball scholarships is that they not only make it easier to afford college, but they also allow you to play at a higher level. That’s where the pros will always head, so make sure that college is something that you prioritize (that’s going to mean working on your grades).

Also read: Asphalt Basketball Court & the Benefits of Using It

5. Get Fitter

You can never be too fit if you’re planning to be a professional athlete. Although less skilled players can outperform more talented team members just through stamina alone, it’s better to focus on building both skills and fitness levels. Vary your workouts so that you get a better all-round level of fitness, and remember to work on your jumps.

If you’ve decided that you want to become a pro basketball player, then you’ve got your work cut out for you. With high levels of competition and only a slim opportunity for success, you have to make the most of your ambitions. Follow the advice of pros, never stop learning, and you might be holding the Larry O’Brien trophy before you know it.

All images source: Pexels

India has won its first T20I series against New Zealand during the 3rd T20I held at Seddon Park. Both the teams had a tie; they both finished exactly 179 with Rohit Sharma who took 65 runs and Kane Williamson who took 95 runs. They both were the top scorers for respective teams. After Williamson’s knock out from the game, it kept the New Zealand team to be away from win just by two runs but Mohammed Shami conceded only one run in the last four deliveries to Tie the match.

Williamson helped Kiwis to accumulate 17 runs off Jasprit Bumrah’s over. Rohit Sharma took the responsibility for the Indian team, by hitting back to back sixes on the last 2 balls when India needed only 10 runs to win the match.

Some of the important highlights of the game

via: KrookNews

This was the first time India was involved in Super Over. In 2007 WT20, India was part of a tied T20I against Pakistan. No player from the Indian team playing XI was featured in the T20I tie before this match. On the other hand, New Zealand’s Tim Southee and Ross Taylor got featured in 6 tied matches and Martin Guptill in 5 tied T20Is matches. Hamish Bennet was the only player from the New Zealand XI to not appear in the Tied T20I match.

Well, that was an embarrassing feat for Southee

In the super over, Tim Southee has conceded 20 runs which were the second most than any other player in a T20I super over.

In 2008, Daniel Vettori conceded 25 runs against West Indies in 2008 which was the first Super Over in Men’s T20Is.

A record of 50 runs from Rohit Sharma

In this match, Rohit Sharma was the only one to score the highest runs. He surpassed Suresh Raina’s 61 runs in the 2009 Christchurch T20I.

During the match, Rohit reached his fifty in 23 balls. KL Rahul has scored a 23-ball fifty during the first T20I of this series in Auckland.

 Williamson’s 95 runs are the highest ever score in Men’s cricket

Williamson’s knock out from the game after making 95 runs is the highest ever T20I score by a New Zealand captain in Men’s cricket. Previously, the highest (74) was made by Brendon McCullum in the 2013 T20I against England in Hamilton.

Williamson’s (95) is now the 2nd highest score for New Zealand in a T20I game. Martin Guptill scored 101 against South Africa in the 2012 East London T20I where he completed a century on the last ball.

Kohli surpasses Dhoni

Virat Kohli‘s 1126 run as a captain in T20I has surpassed MS Dhoni’s 1112 runs. Kohli is the third-highest to score as captain in Men’s T20Is cricket.

Featured image source: Hindustan Times

As India is preparing itself to face New Zealand for the first time after facing the defeat in the World Cup 2019 semi-finals. Many people are expecting from team India to take revenge from them this time. But Indian skipper, Virat Kohli insisted his team to not think about taking revenge from them in the upcoming series that will start from Friday with the first T20I at the Eden Park. Virat Said, these men are so nice to take revenge which means he is not at all interested in taking any kind of revenge.

Why everyone is expecting from the Indian team to take revenge from New Zealand?

Everyone is expecting from team India to take revenge from them as they dumped India out of the 2019 World Cup with a thrilling win the semi-final in Manchester last July.

Kohli says they are too nice to take revenge

via: Twitter

While addressing the reporters when they were asking about taking revenge from them, he gave a soft reply, “Not really. Even if you want to think of revenge these guys are so nice that you can’t get into that zone,”.

He further added, “It’s all about being competitive on the field. They are one side that has set the right example for teams to carry themselves on the international stage. We were actually happy for them when they qualified for World Cup finals. When you have lost you have to look at the larger picture. So nothing about revenge,”.

The Indian skipper said this time game is important than thinking about revenge

via: The Cricket Lounge

He said, this is the year of the World Cup and every T20 is important. So, we can’t lose our focus. The Indian skipper has also made it clear that K.L. Rahul will continue to bat at No. 5 in ODIs while in T20Is; he will bat at the top. I know there will be a lot of talk about what happens to other players but for us, it’s about what the team requires and the best balance of the side,” he added.

Instead of taking revenge, he is focusing on playing well with his team to win. He said that we are not going to take them for granted. We will do our best.