Galen Harkness • May 12, 2025
Hard Work Is Rewarded. Doesn’t Matter Who You Are.
A strong team culture doesn’t start with talent.
A strong team culture doesn’t start with talent.
It starts with trust.
When Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland said:
“Players are feeling they can contribute every night, that everyone has a role, and that hard work is rewarded. Doesn’t matter who you are.”
He wasn’t just describing a successful locker room.
He was describing the culture every coach should strive to create.
Why This Mindset Matters
1. It Builds Trust
Players know opportunity isn’t based on politics—it’s earned. That creates belief in the system.
2. It Drives Consistent Effort
When effort is noticed and rewarded, players show up, work hard, and grow.
3. It Elevates Everyone
Rewarding hustle over hype raises the standard. Effort becomes contagious.
4. It Keeps Coaches Honest
You have to coach with clarity and consistency. No favorites. No fluff. Just earned roles.
5. It Prepares Players for Life
Hard work matters beyond basketball. Teaching that lesson is part of your job.
A Challenge for Coaches
Ask yourself:
Do your players know what it takes to earn trust?
Do they believe effort will actually lead to opportunity?
Are you rewarding the right things?
If the answer is no, you still have time to change that.
Make your program one where hard work is the standard—regardless of status.
It will unlock your team’s potential.
Want More Players Who Work Hard and Get Better?
Whenever you're ready, here are 3 ways EYG Basketball can help:
1. Committed Skills Academy
Train up to 2x per week. Focused 90-minute workouts on ballhandling, shooting, finishing, and playmaking. Affordable, flexible, and consistent.
2. EYG Basketball Camps
Summer camps across Superior, Northglenn, and Longmont. Open to rec and competitive players. Check our homepage for dates and details.
3. Training Memberships
3-month minimum. For serious, coachable players who want to get out of their comfort zone and grow.
Coaches—we’re here to help your players improve so they can perform better for you.
Explore all options at eygbball.com
In basketball — and in life — emotions often beat teams more than their opponents do. The price of admission for championship-level performance isn’t talent, size, or even skill. It’s the ability to stay present. The Oklahoma City Thunder live by this. Their championship rings are engraved with “0–0 Mentality.” It’s more than a slogan. It’s a mindset: no matter what happened yesterday, and no matter what’s ahead — the score is always 0–0. That mentality keeps them grounded. Keeps them focused. Keeps them competing in the moment. Why the Present Matters When players start thinking about the future — “What if we win?” — or dwell on the past — “I missed my last shot” — they lose control of what they can actually influence: the next possession . You can see it in how OKC plays. They don’t play the score. They play possessions. They don’t chase stats. They chase standards. They train this discipline daily — one rep, one drill, one decision at a time. It’s not flashy. It’s not emotional. But it builds something powerful: consistency . The EYG Way At EYG, we teach this same principle. Whether it’s a 3rd grader learning to dribble or a high school player chasing a roster spot, the goal is the same — stay locked into the moment right in front of you. That means: Don’t rush the process. Don’t replay the mistake. Don’t drift into the “what ifs.” Just do the next thing well. The players who learn to focus on this rep, this drill, this shot, are the ones who grow faster, play freer, and perform better when it matters most. How to Train Presence Being present isn’t natural — it’s trained. Here’s how we build it into our workouts and mindset training: Reset after every rep . Miss or make, move on. Focus on controllables. Effort, attitude, and attention. Start every session at 0–0. Yesterday doesn’t count. End each session reflecting on what you did well — not just what went wrong. Over time, this mindset compounds. You start to control your emotions instead of being controlled by them. Final Thought When the game’s on the line, pressure doesn’t decide who wins — presence does. The players who can breathe, focus, and compete in the moment… are the ones who keep stacking success, one possession at a time. At EYG, that’s what we train for — to stay grounded, stay focused, and keep the score 0–0 . How EYG Basketball Can Help Our training programs are built around teaching focus, discipline, and game-ready confidence — not just drills. If your son or daughter wants to improve their skills and their mindset, explore our upcoming programs at eygbball.com. Every rep has a purpose. Every session builds belief. Every player learns to play — and live — with a 0–0 mentality.
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