Galen Harkness • May 5, 2025
How to Get Lucky in Basketball
Every player wants to be the one who gets the break.
Every player wants to be the one who gets the break.
More playing time.
More points.
More attention from coaches.
More wins.
And when it happens, people say, “That kid got lucky.”
But here’s the truth no one talks about:
Luck is rarely random.
Most of the time, it’s math.
What Looks Like Luck...
…is really just a byproduct of effort.
The player who “got lucky” and made the team?
They were in the gym three days a week for months.
The girl who “got lucky” and hit the game-winner?
She practiced that same shot hundreds of times alone in the gym.
The kid who “got lucky” and got noticed by a scout?
He showed up early, stayed late, and played hard every game.
The players who look lucky are usually just the ones who put in more reps.
Luck = Opportunities × Reps
The more you train, the more games you play, the more people you meet…
…the more chances you create to be in the right place at the right time.
If you want to get luckier in basketball, you don’t need to hope.
You need to take more shots—on and off the court.
5 Ways to Create Your Own Basketball Luck
1. Train More
Put in consistent, focused work.
Ball-handling. Shooting. Footwork. Finishing.
Do it for months. Do it when no one is watching.
Reps compound.
2. Play More
Pickup. Open gym. 1v1. 3v3.
Every possession teaches you something.
Playing more = learning faster.
3. Watch More Film
Study yourself. Study pros.
Steal footwork. Learn how great players read the game.
Film is a cheat code. Use it.
4. Meet More People
Coaches. Trainers. Mentors.
Your next opportunity might come from someone who sees you working hard.
Character creates connection.
5. Help More Teammates
Set screens. Make the extra pass. Talk on defense.
Be the player that makes others better.
Coaches never forget those players.
The Compound Effect of Showing Up
Every time you show up…
…while others skip workouts,
…while others quit early,
…while others wait to be noticed…
You increase your chances.
You’re stacking the math in your favor.
Effort. Reps. Patience. That’s the formula.
The Bottom Line
Most “lucky” players just took more shots.
They trained more.
They played more.
They showed up longer.
They failed more.
And because of that, opportunities found them.
So train. Compete. Connect. Serve.
Not once. Not for a week. But over and over again.
Because luck?
It’s just a matter of showing up more often than everyone else.
Start stacking your reps.
Start creating your own luck.
Start today.
Whenever you are ready, there a 3 ways EYG Basketball can help you:
1. Committed Skills Academy:
This program is the most affordable, flexible, and valueable for players to join. Players can train up to 2 times per week for extra work on their ballhandling, shooting, finishing, and playmaking. These 90 minute workouts are focused on helping players improve and elevate their individual skills.
2. EYG Basketball Camps: EYG offers basketball camps all summer long at the Blue Sport Stable, Northglenn Recreation center, and Ward Hardwood Hoops Facility in Longmont. Check out the home page with a full listing of Summer 2025 camps and academies. For recreational to competitive basketball players.
3. Training Memberships. These require a minimum of 3 month commitment and are for hardworking, dedicated, and serious basketball players wanting to put in extra work. These will challenge and push basketball players to get out of their comfort zone to reach new heights as a player. Players are wanting to put in extra work. They are wanting to be coached. They are good players, yet humble enough to know they need to keep getting better.
Few actually decide to do what it takes. Every Gym Has This Two types of players. You’ve seen it. You might even know which one you are. Side 1 — The Complainers They talk about: The refs Their playing time Missed shots Bad courts Coaches There’s always something. And to be fair… some of it is real. But none of it helps them get better. Side 2 — The Workers They’re different. They: Stay after Get extra shots Ask questions Listen to coaching Fix mistakes They don’t ignore problems. They attack them. Same Gym. Same Situation. Different results. That’s the part most players miss. You don’t need a better team. You don’t need a better coach. You don’t need perfect conditions. You need a better response. What This Looks Like Bad call? Complain… or sprint back. Missed shots? Blame it… or fix your feet and get reps tomorrow. Not playing much? Get frustrated… or earn trust in practice. Slippery court? Make excuses… or adjust and play stronger. Here’s The Truth Your future as a player is decided early. Not by talent. By how you respond. The Players Who Improve They walk into the gym already decided: “I’m going to figure this out.” So when things go wrong… They don’t look around. They go to work. The Players Who Stay The Same They walk in thinking: “This isn’t fair.” And every bad call… Every missed shot… Every tough moment… Just proves them right. That’s The Difference Same gym. Same opportunities. Different mindset. Different outcome. What We See At EYG The players who improve the most aren’t always the most talented. They’re the ones who: Take coaching Stay consistent Work when it’s hard Show up ready They pick the right side. Over and over again. The Question Next practice. Next game. Next workout. Which side are you on? Because that decision shows up in your results.
Every player compares. They compare stats. They compare teams. They compare offers. They compare playing time. They compare skill level. And most of the time… They compare at the worst possible moment. A player sees someone score 25. Another makes varsity early. Someone gets attention online. Someone gets recruited first. Suddenly it feels like you are behind. But here is the truth most players don’t want to hear. They are not ahead. They are just further along their path. Basketball development is not a race. It is a long process that compounds over time. Some players grow early. Some players grow later. Some players get opportunities early. Some players earn them through years of work. The scoreboard you see right now is only a snapshot. It does not predict who you will become. What actually determines your future is much simpler. Work. Skill is not given. Confidence is not given. Game performance is not given. They are built. Through training. Through repetition. Through failure. Through consistency. Through time. Too many players spend their energy watching others. The best players spend their energy building themselves. You cannot control another player’s timeline. You cannot control another player’s opportunity. But you can control: How often you train. How focused you are when you train. How you respond to mistakes. How consistent you stay. How long you are willing to commit to improvement. Most players want results. Few players are willing to live in the process long enough to earn them. Comparison steals joy. But more importantly, comparison steals focus. And when focus disappears, development stops. The players who improve the most are not always the most talented. They are the most consistent. They show up when others don’t. They work when others watch. They stay patient when others quit. So instead of asking: “Why are they ahead?” Ask: “What am I willing to do to improve?” Then go to work. If you are a player who is ready to train with purpose, EYG Basketball provides structured, focused training designed to help you improve the skills that matter most in real games. Learn more at: 👉 www.eygbball.com
Youth basketball players develop at different speeds. Learn why comparison slows growth and how focusing on your own development leads to long-term success.