It was just another day at the gym, nothing special. But as I shot hoops, a familiar frustration lingered from my last game. That’s when Coach Nickleberry strolled onto the court, chatting me up as he snagged rebounds.



“Nice moves, but what’s your plan when they shut you down? Ever thought about your angles?” His question caught me off guard. Angles and basketball? That was a new one.
I tried brushing it off with an overconfident response, then quickly laughed it off. Truth was, I’d never really considered the importance of court angles in my game. That’s when Coach took me through a game-changing revelation.
He guided me to the right wing and asked, “What do you see?” Of course, I said “the basket.” Coach nodded. “Exactly. Our aim is to reach that basket in the smartest way possible.” He then broke down three different attacking angles depending on the defense. Retreat, re-evaluate, attack from another angle if needed.

“But how do I know which angle to go for first?” I asked. “Trust your instincts, your first read,” he said. “Learn from every decision because you won’t always nail it on the first try. Oh, and there are five key spots on the court, each offering a different angle and its own challenges.”
At the time, I didn’t realize this lesson was about more than just basketball. It was about navigating life and learning from your mistakes – the angles that shape your unique journey.
Back then,Looking back now, I see moments where I made the wrong call, had to step back and reassess. Life doesn’t hand you instant results. So to anyone reading this, be patient with yourself. Embrace the lessons from your missteps – they’re what make you who you are.
To coaches and players, I encourage you to look beyond the scoreboard and focus on developing adaptability, resilience, and the ability to read the court/life’s angles. Mastering the fundamentals is important, but true growth comes from learning to adjust your approach when your first plan gets shut down. Trust your instincts, stay flexible, and have the courage to try new angles. That’s where the real game-changing moments happen – on and off the court.