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In this episode of "The Mind Body Marathon," host Dr. Leo Kormanik discusses the journey of J.R. Bremer, a former NBA player, alongside current college hooper Isaac Cherry. J.R.'s path to the NBA began in middle school, where a coach's skeptical remark about his future fueled his determination. He gradually honed his skills, rising from a short freshman player to a pivotal role as point guard in high school, eventually leading his team to a state championship. He went on to St. Bonaventure, where he faced challenges like an injury but improved his performance each year, culminating in a standout senior season that caught the attention of potential NBA scouts. J.R. reflects on the pressure of transitioning from high school to college basketball, emphasizing the rigorous training and mental adjustments required at each level, highlighting the importance of hard work, self-belief, and the pivotal role of mentorship in his journey.
In this discussion, J.R. Bremer highlights the significance of work ethic in sports, reflecting on his journey as an underdog who overcame skepticism from his coach in middle school to achieve success, including a retired jersey. Bremer emphasizes that a solid work ethic is essential for athletes who often face competition from naturally gifted players who may lack the same diligence. As a coach, he stresses the importance of building individual relationships with players to understand their needs and tailor coaching styles accordingly. Transitioning from college to professional basketball, he notes the shift from a highly structured environment to a more autonomous one, where finding balance becomes crucial. Bremer shares fond memories with teammates, especially Antoine Walker, who supported him in his rookie days, and offers insight into the dynamic atmosphere created by talented players like LeBron James. Ultimately, he argues that having experienced mentors, or "old heads," is particularly valuable in professional settings where self-direction is more common than in college contexts.
In the NBA, the presence of experienced veterans, referred to as "old heads," is crucial for guiding rookies through the complexities of professional play, as they possess extensive knowledge of the league's nuances. This contrasts with the college basketball environment, where players may be newer to the system despite having been there for a few years. Bremer reflects on the current state of basketball, noting how the overwhelming focus on the three-point shot is influencing youth development negatively, leading to a lack of foundational skills and basketball IQ. He argues that international players often excel due to their early exposure to professional competition, whereas domestic youth basketball is suffering from a lack of structured development, exacerbated by issues like the transfer portal, which fosters a sense of entitlement and diminishes the desire to work through challenges. He believes that a strong work ethic is essential for success, and the current trend of transferring freely contributes to a diminished accountability among young players. Ultimately, Bremer highlights the need for a more balanced approach to basketball training to promote growth and development.
The conversation highlights the contrasting nature of training and competition in running versus basketball, emphasizing how running offers a more objective measure of performance, such as mileage, while basketball's intangibles make it harder to gauge effort and commitment. It discusses the importance of a strong work ethic and the foundational training that less naturally gifted athletes often undertake, which can lead them to excel, even at higher levels like the Olympics. The dialogue also touches on the significance of nutrition, mental health support, and specialized training for basketball players to build durability and endurance, as seen through personal experiences of sharing training regimes and mental health resources in the NBA. Ultimately, the message stresses the necessity of building strong relationships with athletes, emphasizing their holistic development, resilience, and the power of a positive mindset in achieving success.
The conversation reflects on the importance of giving one's all in sports and life, emphasizing a personal commitment to hard work and self-improvement while minimizing the influence of outside opinions, particularly from social media. The speaker shares their experience of taking a break from social media to enhance their focus and mental health, leading to personal growth and improved performance over time. They highlight the detrimental effects of social media comparisons and stress the value of recognizing and building on positive aspects of performance, even amidst setbacks. The dialogue also touches on the significance of coaching youth basketball with a focus on team development rather than individual “hero ball,” aiming to prepare players for high school level competition by instilling fundamental skills and concepts. Overall, the key takeaway revolves around the balance between personal expression in sports and adhering to a team-oriented approach that fosters collective success.
The speaker emphasizes the pursuit of perfection in sports while acknowledging that perfection is unattainable, promoting a mindset where players strive for their best. They advocate for a structured approach to defense, while allowing for more freedom and creativity on offense to ensure players can express themselves and grow within their roles. This balance is crucial, as players must understand their individual strengths and how to fit into the team dynamic. The speaker reflects on personal experiences and frustrations with overly rigid systems that stifle offensive play, highlighting the importance of being adaptable and recognizing contributions beyond scoring, such as rebounding and overall impact in games. They express a preference for coaching over playing, valuing the opportunity to mentor young athletes by drawing from their own varied experiences in sports.
The speaker, passionate about coaching youth, views it as their calling and enjoys still playing basketball, preparing for a celebrity game while participating in summer pick-up games. They favor LeBron James over Michael Jordan in the "who's better" debate, citing LeBron's longevity and ability to still perform at a high level. The speaker highlights the importance of nutrition in athletes’ performance and rising injury rates, contrasting today's youth activity levels with their own childhood experiences of playing outside. They own F-Forty-five, a gym in downtown Cleveland focused on creating a supportive community through group training for all fitness levels. Ultimately, they advise listeners to stay focused on their goals and persevere through challenges, as success often comes from resilience.
You can order the Dr. Leo Kormanik's book Faster Without Fail on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4eEsB7M.
Be sure to also check out Dr. Leo's Running Rehab YouTube page at www.YouTube.com/@RunningRehab.
49 episodes
In this episode of "The Mind Body Marathon," host Dr. Leo Kormanik discusses the journey of J.R. Bremer, a former NBA player, alongside current college hooper Isaac Cherry. J.R.'s path to the NBA began in middle school, where a coach's skeptical remark about his future fueled his determination. He gradually honed his skills, rising from a short freshman player to a pivotal role as point guard in high school, eventually leading his team to a state championship. He went on to St. Bonaventure, where he faced challenges like an injury but improved his performance each year, culminating in a standout senior season that caught the attention of potential NBA scouts. J.R. reflects on the pressure of transitioning from high school to college basketball, emphasizing the rigorous training and mental adjustments required at each level, highlighting the importance of hard work, self-belief, and the pivotal role of mentorship in his journey.
In this discussion, J.R. Bremer highlights the significance of work ethic in sports, reflecting on his journey as an underdog who overcame skepticism from his coach in middle school to achieve success, including a retired jersey. Bremer emphasizes that a solid work ethic is essential for athletes who often face competition from naturally gifted players who may lack the same diligence. As a coach, he stresses the importance of building individual relationships with players to understand their needs and tailor coaching styles accordingly. Transitioning from college to professional basketball, he notes the shift from a highly structured environment to a more autonomous one, where finding balance becomes crucial. Bremer shares fond memories with teammates, especially Antoine Walker, who supported him in his rookie days, and offers insight into the dynamic atmosphere created by talented players like LeBron James. Ultimately, he argues that having experienced mentors, or "old heads," is particularly valuable in professional settings where self-direction is more common than in college contexts.
In the NBA, the presence of experienced veterans, referred to as "old heads," is crucial for guiding rookies through the complexities of professional play, as they possess extensive knowledge of the league's nuances. This contrasts with the college basketball environment, where players may be newer to the system despite having been there for a few years. Bremer reflects on the current state of basketball, noting how the overwhelming focus on the three-point shot is influencing youth development negatively, leading to a lack of foundational skills and basketball IQ. He argues that international players often excel due to their early exposure to professional competition, whereas domestic youth basketball is suffering from a lack of structured development, exacerbated by issues like the transfer portal, which fosters a sense of entitlement and diminishes the desire to work through challenges. He believes that a strong work ethic is essential for success, and the current trend of transferring freely contributes to a diminished accountability among young players. Ultimately, Bremer highlights the need for a more balanced approach to basketball training to promote growth and development.
The conversation highlights the contrasting nature of training and competition in running versus basketball, emphasizing how running offers a more objective measure of performance, such as mileage, while basketball's intangibles make it harder to gauge effort and commitment. It discusses the importance of a strong work ethic and the foundational training that less naturally gifted athletes often undertake, which can lead them to excel, even at higher levels like the Olympics. The dialogue also touches on the significance of nutrition, mental health support, and specialized training for basketball players to build durability and endurance, as seen through personal experiences of sharing training regimes and mental health resources in the NBA. Ultimately, the message stresses the necessity of building strong relationships with athletes, emphasizing their holistic development, resilience, and the power of a positive mindset in achieving success.
The conversation reflects on the importance of giving one's all in sports and life, emphasizing a personal commitment to hard work and self-improvement while minimizing the influence of outside opinions, particularly from social media. The speaker shares their experience of taking a break from social media to enhance their focus and mental health, leading to personal growth and improved performance over time. They highlight the detrimental effects of social media comparisons and stress the value of recognizing and building on positive aspects of performance, even amidst setbacks. The dialogue also touches on the significance of coaching youth basketball with a focus on team development rather than individual “hero ball,” aiming to prepare players for high school level competition by instilling fundamental skills and concepts. Overall, the key takeaway revolves around the balance between personal expression in sports and adhering to a team-oriented approach that fosters collective success.
The speaker emphasizes the pursuit of perfection in sports while acknowledging that perfection is unattainable, promoting a mindset where players strive for their best. They advocate for a structured approach to defense, while allowing for more freedom and creativity on offense to ensure players can express themselves and grow within their roles. This balance is crucial, as players must understand their individual strengths and how to fit into the team dynamic. The speaker reflects on personal experiences and frustrations with overly rigid systems that stifle offensive play, highlighting the importance of being adaptable and recognizing contributions beyond scoring, such as rebounding and overall impact in games. They express a preference for coaching over playing, valuing the opportunity to mentor young athletes by drawing from their own varied experiences in sports.
The speaker, passionate about coaching youth, views it as their calling and enjoys still playing basketball, preparing for a celebrity game while participating in summer pick-up games. They favor LeBron James over Michael Jordan in the "who's better" debate, citing LeBron's longevity and ability to still perform at a high level. The speaker highlights the importance of nutrition in athletes’ performance and rising injury rates, contrasting today's youth activity levels with their own childhood experiences of playing outside. They own F-Forty-five, a gym in downtown Cleveland focused on creating a supportive community through group training for all fitness levels. Ultimately, they advise listeners to stay focused on their goals and persevere through challenges, as success often comes from resilience.
You can order the Dr. Leo Kormanik's book Faster Without Fail on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4eEsB7M.
Be sure to also check out Dr. Leo's Running Rehab YouTube page at www.YouTube.com/@RunningRehab.
49 episodes
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