Mental Buckets

Season Finale Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon is more than a professional athlete. He was a heralded recruit out of the Bay Area, a star at University of Arizona, and the 4th overall pick in the NBA draft. Through a diligent work ethic, mindfulness, and a strong support system he is leaving a remarkable legacy. A steady self-awareness coupled with an eagerness to always get better allows Gordon to continuously push himself in workouts and as an activist. He runs a non-profit, takes on different roles on the court, and started a media company, demonstrating to the next generation everyone's potential is unlimited.

People hear the name Kelsey Plum and they think leading scorer in women's college basketball history. They think number one pick in the WNBA. It was her unwavering dedication to basketball that propelled Plum to achieve her dream. Plum's stature as one of the best college basketball players ever forced her to overcome massive expectations, immense pressure, and media scrutiny. Playing in 40-minute long games will never define Plum; rather it will be the strength needed to wake up each and everyday and strive to get better, even when battling an injury.

NBA veteran Chasson Randle has the unique ability to confront his challenges one-by-one, and stay calm and collected regardless of where his basketball journey takes him. That winding path has taken him from the Illinois state championship in high school to Stanford, the Golden State Warriors, and even a Euro League Championship in Madrid. Despite his many achievements such as being Stanford's all-time leading scorer, he went undrafted. Ultimately, it is a positive mindset and ability to stay true to himself that continues to carry Randle, inside the game of basketball, as well and outside, such as with his new business venture. 

It’s hard to find an athlete who is candid about his previous life experiences, the positive and negative, quite like Ky Bowman. On the surface, his ability to amplify the Warriors roster with his energy and commitment to being great at even the small things makes him seem like a success story. But many don’t know the adversity that shaped Bowman. He suffered the passing of his father at age 7, overcame communication and speech therapy issues, and had to truly earn his spot at Boston College after almost deciding to play college football.   It’s thanks to his strong communication skills, positive attitude and ability to go the extra mile that propelled Bowman to the next level.

Five-star recruit out of high school. Number one pick in the NBA Draft. Too quiet to lead. These are all labels that Anthony Bennett has worn through the years. After listening to this episode of Mental Buckets, it will become clear that Bennett is a fighter. He's overcome injury, ignored the doubters, and continuously worked to sustain a pro career in the NBA, the G-League, and internationally. Learn more about the fire that continues to drive Bennett towards basketball success, and the veteran players who've supported him, regardless of what challenges he's faced with. 

Justin Anderson has been a cornerstone of talented teams, such as the Sweet 16 reaching Virginia Cavaliers in the mid-2010s, and is now playing with the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Bubble after exploding in the G-League with an average of 20.6 points per game this past season. Nevertheless, Anderson knows that teamwork and grit alone aren't a recipe for success in basketball and life. He's the first to admit that a strong support system and a little bit of luck were essential in making him the player and person he is today. Without cousin, mentor and former NFL player Jermon Bushrod, Anderson wouldn't have seen a path for himself out of King George County. Hear how he overcame the odds and made his dreams a reality on this episode of Mental Buckets.

In this week’s episode of Mental Buckets, Timberwolves power forward Omari Spellman opens up about challenges he faced throughout his basketball career and the mentorship that helped him overcome those obstacles. Spellman redshirts his first year at Villanova, but he is given the structure and tools he needs to thrive. He also credits NBA veterans like Steph Curry and allay Draymond Green for showing him the importance of a team-first mentality when leading.

Becoming a head coach in the NBA G-League less than 10 years after graduating college is no easy feat. Because of his diligence and deep passion for the game of basketball, as well as his ability to connect with players on and off the court, Texas Legends head coach, George Galanopoulos, achieved just this. In our newest podcast, Galanopoulos explains his coaching journey that included unlikely stops in Bakersfield and Uganda, as well as familiar faces such as Derrick Rose. Make no mistake about it, through it all, Galanopoulos, also known as "Coach G," never wavered in his goal of becoming an NBA head coach. 

Grant Williams' winding journey through basketball has taken him from Charlotte to Knoxville and most recently to Boston. But his path to the pros was certainly not straight and narrow. Williams talks about the decisions he made to prioritize a career in basketball, as well as those he almost made such as going to Yale for college or pursuing an MBA in Finance at Tennessee.    Through it all, Williams has stayed ardently self-aware of the skills he brings to the table, and how to become a sponge depending on the team he's playing with. As a member of the Celtics, Williams explains how he's made the most of his opportunity with the team and learned from veterans such as Marcus Smart, Gordon Hayward, and Kemba Walker.

Ivan Rabb excelled for the Westchester Knicks in the NBA G-League last season. He finished the year with an average of 16.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, and earned the Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award for his efforts on the basketball court, as well as away from it.    But that's just Rabb on the surface. This Mental Buckets episode addresses his real basketball journey, complete with his initial struggles at Cal as well as in the NBA. Rabb's road to success required diligence in sticking to a routine, and thoughtfulness in each activity peppered throughout his day. Hear more on this episode of Mental Buckets.

Sabrina Ionescu is college basketball's all-time leader in triple-doubles. She spearheaded an Oregon victory against the USA Women's National Team, was named the Naismith Player of the Year and wooed by shoe companies such as Nike, Under Armour, and Puma before becoming the #1 pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft. But that's just what appears on the surface. Ionescu has had to sacrifice a normal high school and college experience in order to become great. Her laser-sharp focus to play basketball professionally and genuine love for the game are tales that will be passed down for many generations of basketball players to come. 

In this week's Mental Buckets podcast, we hear from Dallas Mavericks' Director of Mental Skills, Don Kalkstein. He talks about his path into sports psychology, experiences for both the Texas Rangers and the Mavericks, and how he gets athletes to buy into the mental side of training. 

Juan Toscano-Anderson is a man of many titles. Though he's now the small forward for the Golden State Warriors, Toscano-Anderson is also proudly Mexican-American, and half black. He's a homegrown activist in the Bay Area and one of the most versatile players in the game.  But that doesn't mean his path to the NBA was easy. In this podcast, Toscano-Anderson gets candid about his struggles, from failing to make an AAU team in Oakland, to nearly transferring from Marquette, and then struggling overseas, he details how he stayed strong through it all.

Seth Curry has had to prove himself at every step of his journey. Under-recruited out of high school, he led all freshmen nationwide in scoring, but still wasn't getting the national recognition needed to play pro. Once at Duke, he had to sit out a year, and then became the second-leading scorer for the Blue Devils. He was still under-the-radar, and went undrafted.  Nevertheless, Curry put his head down, worked and thrived in the G-League with the Erie Bay Hawks leading to explosive stint with the Mavericks and Trail Blazers before returning back to Dallas. He is now second in the NBA in three-point percentage, and has solidified himself as a prolific scorer, but how did he get there? How did he create his own identity, separate from Steph, and succeed in the most unique circumstances? You'll have to listen to find out.

At Unlimited Potential Basketball, mindfulness is a key element to maximizing one's full potential on and off the court. In this podcast, co-hosts, Packie Turner, a developmental coach in the Bay Area, and Mike Franco, Mental Skills Trainer for the Dallas Mavericks, will highlight athletes' stories of mental toughness throughout their careers. Hope you enjoy!