NURTURING KILLER INSTINCT
December 29, 2008 by Andy Socrates
Developing a killer instinct like Michael Jordan’s famed cutthroat mindset may be as simple as repetition and nurturing a fearless attitude.
Having a killer instinct means more than just taking the last shot, or being clutch at the right moments. It means knowing when to take over, sensing a tipping point in momentum, and knowing when to break your opponent’s spirit. It’s a mindset that can be trained and turned into a habit. It comes from training and preparation. It’s also a trait that enables a player to will a team to victory without fear of the consequences. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not something that some people are born with, but actually something that is nurtured and developed. It’s a matter of repetition.
Jordan and Kobe Bryant are the greatest assassins to ever play the game. Jordan has hit 25 game-winning shots in his illustrious 15-year career and has six NBA championship rings. Bryant has hit 21 game-winning shots in his current 13-year career and has three NBA championship rings. They each have the killer instinct that enables them to will their teams to victory.
But Jordan and Bryant weren’t born with this trait. The two are workaholics, and dedicate hours each day to work on their game. Their work ethic is stuff of legend. Combined with their natural physical talents and mental strength, the effort creates a supreme confidence that breeds a killer instinct. Being in such a state means always being in a state of supreme confidence no matter what the situation. The player is in a higher mental state of focus where he understands what spots to choose on the court to efficiently attack the defense. It an offensive mindset in which the player senses the balance of the game and is able to shift the momentum with key baskets.
Take Game 6 of the 1998-99 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. Jordan sensed the game on tilt, with victory only an earshot away. During the last minute of the fourth quarter with the Bulls down by three, Jordan scored a quick basket to put them within one point and then made a crucial steal on Karl Malone on the next play. To cap off the victory, he hit the final shot of the game over Bryon Russell. This last quarter encapsulated Jordan’s career as an assassin with a killer instinct.
Having killer instinct does not mean that you will always lead the team to victory. During Bryant’s early formative years, there was a key game in the 1996-97 playoffs against the Jazz where his was facing elimination, he shot several air balls from the three point line at crucial points near the end of the game. The game represented the fearlessness that the 18-year-old player had and the supreme confidence he had in his game. Any other player would cower after shooting a couple of airballs, much less would they be able to mentally cope with a disappointing loss due to their lack of strong play. Although the Los Angeles Lakers lost that game and the series, what followed in the upcoming seasons showed the world that Kobe was here to stay. Most players might never be able to recover, but Bryant brushed off the game like it didn’t hurt his confidence and came back an even stronger player.
That’s a rarity. When Nick Anderson, of the Orlando Magic, missed four straight free throws in the final seconds of the 1994-95 NBA Finals against the Houston Rockets, he was a changed man. The Rockets went on to sweep the Magic in four games. The missed free throws put such a mental strain on his psyche that his percentage as a free throw shooter declined dramatically in future years and he was never able to be a high caliber player anymore. During the 1996-97 season, Nick Anderson’s confidence dramatically waned as he shot 40.4% from the free throw line.
Developing this trait will require you to be somewhat selfish and may end up offending some of your teammates, but remember this is something that is gained through repetition, and eventually, habit. First, during key junctures of a game, such as the last minute, you must demand the ball. You must always want the ball in key situations. Always. When you get the ball, your mindset must be confident with the thought of “I’m going to make this shot.” Whether or not you actually make the shot matters little as much as your mental and physical actions. You must want the ball and you must physically make it known to your teammates that you want the ball. In order to develop the killer instinct, you must incorporate this mindset for key moments each and every game.
To help you remember this, you might want to create a visual wallpaper for your computer that you can see daily or use some other daily reminder. At the end of games, we all know the ball is going to the hands of Jordan or Kobe. Their killer instinct has wired their teams to give the ball to them no matter what. Over time, this will become a habit and you will find it easier to demand the ball and be in a comfort zone during a time when most other people are nervous and shy away from taking the shot.
This is the key difference between players like Jordan who demand the ball at end of games and Robert Horry who is known to have made big shots but never demanded the ball. Jordan has killer instinct, while Horry is just a supremely confident player. Players with killer instinct are more consistent over the course of a whole game, rather than just being able to come through with key baskets at the end of games.
Through experience you will develop the skill to understand the key junctures of when you should and shouldn’t have the ball. However, until then you must continue to demand the ball during the most important part of the game. Keep practicing and you’ll eventually start hitting those buzzer beaters.
NURTURING KILLER INSTINCT…
Developing a killer instinct like Michael Jordan ’s famed cutthroat mindset may be as simple as repetition and nurturing a fearless attitude. Having a killer instinct means more than just taking the last shot, or being clutch at the right moments……