Flowing on the Hardwood

Understanding Peak Performance in Basketball

Abstract

Have you ever seen professional basketball players and wondered how they rise to the most difficult occasions during a game? It's not a coincidence that it happens; it's a mentality. During these times, the best athletes in the world have two different mindsets that they enter – the flow state and the gritty state. The case studies this paper will investigate include LeBron James’ 3-1 comeback in 2016, Anthony Edwards's 2024 playoff run, and Kobe’s Mamba Mentality. For these case studies, stats from their best and worst games are examined. Their mentality was analyzed in five categories - self-confidence, focusing in, enjoyment, gritty state, and biological concepts. Players' interviews are reviewed to understand their mentality and routines and the biological science behind these exceptional performances.

During LeBron's infamous 3-1 comeback, he went into each game thinking his team could win, trusting his training, and never underestimating his opponents. This was similar to Anthony Edwards. He made sure to learn from his previous games and to take naps so he was well-rested for the game. Kobe had a similar mentality; he attacked anyone standing before him on the court. He made sure that before the game, there were no distractions and trusted the work he put in. There are fundamental similarities between all three of these case studies; some common traits they possess are self-confidence, focus, enjoyment, and their ability to get into the gritty state when needed. In addition, the causes of these problems can be explained through research. Their repetitive signals or routines are helpful for the brain to flip the switch into game mode. There is a cause behind exceptional performances from basketball players, which can be used to help train future athletes to get into the right mindset to have extraordinary performances as well.