The Mind Game of Basketball:1 on 1 with yourself – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Coach of the season 2023-2024 in Lithuanian LKL, while coaching Juventus Utena, Oliver Kostić was also the assistant coach of the Serbian National team for the last two International campaigns under Coach Pesić, being a part of their successes both in the last Olympics and the last World Championship.

After having coached for over several decades in some of the most recognized organizations in Europe, he is nowadays the actual Coach of Kuwait National Team.

Oliver Kostić and mental performance coach Nico Bourgade unveil how they ended up working together and what made that collaboration a very positive one.

Great tips for the people looking to set up a mental performance program within their organization.

From wine to submarines' anecdotes, it will always lead you back to basketball, and you will hear it all with the very unique Oliver Kostić. 

Dive in the head of the very unique Jonas Mačiulis, former Euroleague champion with Real Madrid, and Lithuanian National Team member, also a former player from Zalgiris, Milan, Panathinaikos, and AEK Athens.

Now a sports director at the Lithuanian club of Nevezis, listen to how his playing experience impacted his standards and how he focuses on details, the way to behave, and how to act like professionals both on and off the court.

Enjoy Jonas' anecdotes on how to manage egos and get the best out of players' performances, the importance of communication between players, and the role of experienced players.

Jonas will explain in details the importance of working with professionals who have experience in basketball, to both have credibility in their work and to create a bond between the player and the mental performance coach.

You will also benefit from advice for youth basketball players on the importance of becoming aware of who they really are and what will help them stand out from the competition. 

Do you want to learn more about working on your mental game? Visit Mental Performance Coach, Nico Bourgade's website www.themindgameofbasketball.com

If you want to spread the word to young basketball players, coaches, or parents, take a look at the mental guide, "1 on 1 with yourself" already published on 4 continents and used by some of the best programs and Federations in the world.

Eddie has been working for decades as a performance psychologist and is telling us all about his first year experience delivering mental health as well as mental performance services to the Grand Rapids Gold, aka Denver Nuggets' G-League team.

Eddie and Nico stressed the importance of mental health and its role leading to higher performance. You will find the foundations that Eddie has laid within the Grand Rapids Gold's organization, his objectives working with them in the future and his perspective from the inside of a G-League team.

Specific cases like free throw shooting, bringing intensity are also brought in as we hope you enjoy this episode...

(Dr. Eddie O’Connor is a professional speaker and both clinical and sport psychologist, specializing in removing barriers to peak performance. He is a Fellow and Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and member of the United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry. Dr. Eddie has worked with youth, high school, collegiate, national and international, Junior Olympic and professional athletes and coaches, as well as performing artists and musicians.)

Find out more about Dr Eddie O'Connor on his website: https://dreddieoconnor.com/

Eddie's resource for online mental training, "Success Stories Membership" at https://successstories.dreddieoconnor.com/register

Here is the link to find Nico's mental guide dedicated to hoopers all around the World willing to develop their mental game in an easy to read and understand manner: https://www.amazon.com/yourself-Mind-Game-Basketball-ebook/dp/B0B9T3N9WW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14TY1F3431ZEP&keywords=nico+bourgade&qid=1680036630&sprefix=nico+bourgad%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1

Alex reveals his guiding framework that sets apart peak performers:

1. optimizing your environment

2. building a foundation of good habits that keep you healthy

3. building your ability to self regulate

4. execute across the phases of performance: preparation, execution and debrief

Alex also develops why organizations should be considering their work with mental health and mental performance.

How cool is it to reach so many parts of the World???

In this episode Nico Bourgade reached out to Hui Tu, director of the Basketball International Youth Basketball League, in charge of the Beijing Falcons. He first explained how he started with the Falcons and went from 10 players to about 5000 players.

When you hear about Hui's strong values, you then understand his success. An open-minded Coach, willing to learn from several Basketball cultures around the globe but also with a foundation of being there to help the kids develop their game both on and off the court.

Hui also explained the way their coaches were communicating between each other as well as with players, and the importance they gave to understanding each other's roles.

Another cool episode with a humble and passionate person who has a lot to give...

If you're interested in going to China with your team, you can contact Hui Tu directly at this email address: hui.tu@beijingfalconsbasketball.com

Looking to buy a cool and useful mental guide for young ballers? Here is the link to Nico's book, available on Amazon in several languages: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ANico+Bourgade&s=relevancerank&text=Nico+Bourgade&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

You can also reach out to him directly if you want to start working on your mental game individually or as a team.

@: mentalperformancecoachnico@gmail.com

Coach Dan Hughes, two times WNBA Champion and two times WNBA Coach of the Year, also Assistant Coach with Ladies' Team USA shares his vision with Mental Performance Coach Nico Bourgade on how to be a successful Coach on the long run. 

From the importance of being a great communicator to letting his ego aside, from a young coach to a more experienced one, from understanding the roots of motivation to learning from his players, Coach Hughes gives great insights of why he is such a successful Coach.

A great reminder for all Coaches who want to build a successful program with the right foundations...

Andrius Liachovicius, sports psychologist who just spent the 2021-2022 season with the Zalgiris Kaunas squad in Euroleague and Lithuanian league, shares his experience of a day to day member of the staff.

You will learn the ins and outs of the job, the exact role and approach of a sport psychologist and how it can be useful to both players and organizations.

Nico Bourgade invites Jorge Franco Martin, a passionate Coach who has been sharing his knowledge with the Spanish Youth National Teams, the pro team of Estudiantes Madrid and now within the NBA association in Europe. Jorge shares his approach of the mental game according to his rich experiences. Learn what the mindset is about in NBA schools as well as in the professional world over in Spain. 

We hope that you manage to get value out of this show and that it helps you keep growing to reach your goals.

Mental Performance Coaches Brian Levenson and Nico Bourgade discuss the thoughts shared by many players and how to get the best out of them to enjoy peak performance. How to be both humble and arrogant, accept fear and be fearless, know when to be selfish and when to be selfless...

Listen to what Brian Levenson has to say about the mindset of athletes thanks to his experience dealing with NBA, NHL, and MLS players as well as many top level performers and leaders while explaining his approach of when to ask questions and when to provide tools.

Brian is the founder of www.strongskills.co , the author of 'Shift your mind', as well as the host of the podcast "Intentional Performers". Go check out his work where you will find great resources that will help you grow. 

Listen to  what Coach Erdem Can has to say about the evolution of the Mind Game in Basketball both in NBA and in Euroleague the last ten years.

Coach Can and Nico Bourgade discussed the importance as a Coach and a leader to understand and know every single person who is taking part in your staff. How Coach Can works himself on specific techniques to stay on top of his game but to also keep growing as a human on and off the court.

Learn his approach on the science of mental training and its effect on the body: lowering blood pressure and heart beat, relaxation, better focus.

A few advise: To stay mentally strong, practice practice practice, no matter what you do in life, you'll be more confident, more successful, and learn about yourself by finding the right help from the right people.

Coach Can's philosophy goes far beyond Basketball as he also discussed with Nico Bourgade about educating kids at school about the mental game and teaching them life lessons.

Enjoy, Take care of your game