And as the NBA playoffs ramp up, the spotlight on players’ performance will get even brighter — underscoring the importance of finding peace amid pressure.
NEW YORK — In the minutes before nearly every New York Knicks game this season, as the arena crescendos into a pulsing hive of activity — music blasting, players warming up, fans filing in, vendors hawking overpriced beer — Isaiah Hartenstein creates his own cocoon of calm.“When you’re present, that’s when you play your best,” he said.
In a sport that glorifies workaholism, in which success is often measured in pools of sweat, a player taking a moment to step back and focus on his breathing might seem odd. But for some, bringing mindfulness to the court might make the difference between a good game and a bad game. Jones, who split time this season between the Kings’ main roster and the Stockton Kings, the franchise’s G League affiliate, also turned to mindfulness to stay grounded while on the court — and to find calm amid shuffling between the two teams.Before every game this season, whether with Sacramento or Stockton, Jones would find a quiet room, sit in a chair and, for 10 minutes, inhale and exhale deeply.
Valencia devised a plan to make meditation more accessible for players from that generation who were glued to their phones. He arranged for the team to have free access to Headspace, which launched in 2012 and had yet to erupt in popularity.Jackson and the Knicks parted ways in June 2017, but Valencia continued to help players embrace mindfulness.
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