Why Do You Actually Play?

Before we get into strategies, drills, and mental exercises, I want to ask you one simple question.

Why do you play basketball?

Not the answer that you would give to your coach, not the answer that you would give to your grandparents. But the real answer, something deeper than “for fun”.

I recently asked a youth camp this question, and most of the answers were “for fun”, “I don’t know”, “because my mom wants me to”. While none of these answers are wrong, most of them are just surface-level answers.

Is it the love of competition? The feeling of a perfect pass finding a teammate for a bucket? The camaraderie of a locker room full of teammates that has gone through the highs and lows of a season together? Is it the hope of a scholarship? Proving someone wrong?

All of these are valid answers. But here’s what I have found after years of coaching: most players have never actually sat down and taken a deep dive into their “why”.

When your shot goes cold.

When you get benched.

When your coach publicly calls you out.

When you are grinding through a tough season with little to show for it.

In those moments, the only thing that keeps you going is a clear, genuine reason for playing the game.

I call this your “Basketball Why”.

Here is one of the exercises I use with my players.

The 5 Whys

Start with “I play basketball because…”

Then, with each answer you give, ask “Why?” again (think back to when you were a little kid and kept asking your parents questions until you got the answer you wanted). Continue the process until you hit something emotional, something personal, something real.

Here’s an example:

Why do you play basketball? Remember…there is no right answer, just honest ones.

I play basketball because it’s fun…Why is it fun?

Because I like playing with and against my friends…Why do you like playing with your friends?

Because we are always challenging each other to get better and it’s more fun than playing by myself…Why is being challenged important to you?

Because my teammates/friends make me want to keep trying to get better and coming back for games and practices…Why does improving matter to you?

Because being a good teammate means showing up and not letting each other down…Why is that important to you?

Because being part of a team means everyone depends on each other. When I do my part and do my best, I’m helping the team achieve our goal.

There it is. That’s the kind of “why” that gets someone in the gym at 6 am and keeps them late at night when others have gone home. Notice how the first answer had nothing to do with teamwork, commitment, or getting better.

It was simply “because it’s fun”.

But when asked “why?”, the answer became that much more meaningful.

When you know your real reason, basketball stops being something you “just do” and becomes that much more meaningful.

This week I want you to try this exercise. Grab your notebook, journal, or a piece of paper. Write down your first answer without giving it much thought. Then ask yourself “why” five times. Dive deep. You may surprise yourself.

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