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How to Play in the NBA Tournament: A Step-by-Step Guide for Aspiring Athletes
2025-11-17 09:00
Let me tell you something about chasing the NBA dream that most people won't admit - it's not just about how high you can jump or how fast you can run. I've been around basketball long enough to see countless talented players come and go, and the ones who make it share something beyond physical gifts. They understand that making it to the NBA tournament requires a complete package, much like what we saw in that recent UST game where despite hitting eight three-pointers in just the second half, they still couldn't secure the win because their defense collapsed. That game taught me more about professional basketball than any highlight reel ever could - you can have the most spectacular offense, but if you can't get defensive stops when it matters, you're not going anywhere meaningful in this sport.
The journey begins much earlier than most people realize. I remember working with this kid from Texas who could dunk like nobody's business but had zero understanding of defensive rotations. We spent six months drilling nothing but defensive fundamentals before I even let him attempt another flashy dunk in practice. That's the reality - scouts aren't just looking at your scoring average anymore. They're watching how you communicate on defense, whether you box out consistently, how you handle defensive switches. The NBA tournament style of play demands complete players, and I've seen too many prospects ruin their chances by focusing only on the glamorous aspects of the game. You need to develop what I call 'defensive endurance' - the ability to maintain defensive intensity even when your shots aren't falling, something UST clearly struggled with despite their impressive three-point shooting display.
Physical preparation is where most aspiring athletes either make or break their NBA dreams. I'm not talking about just hitting the weight room - I'm talking about sport-specific conditioning that prepares you for the unique demands of tournament basketball. The NBA season grinds through 82 games before you even reach the tournament, and then you're facing back-to-back games against the best competition in the world. I always tell young players to study how LeBron James maintains his body - it's not accidental that he's been dominant for nearly two decades. You need to develop what I call 'tournament legs' - the ability to maintain explosion and quickness deep into the fourth quarter of your third game in four nights. This requires meticulous attention to recovery, nutrition, and sleep patterns that most college players completely ignore. I've implemented specific hydration protocols with my athletes that involve consuming precisely 128 ounces of fluid daily, with electrolyte balance adjusted based on sweat rate testing - these are the details that separate NBA players from college stars.
Skill development needs to be approached with tournament basketball in mind. What good is having a beautiful jump shot if you can't create space against elite defenders when you're exhausted? I've designed what I call 'fatigue shooting drills' where players must complete defensive slides before catching and shooting, simulating tournament conditions. The three-point shooting revolution has changed everything - UST's eight three-pointers in one half shows how the game has evolved - but you need to develop what I call 'situational shooting.' Can you hit corner threes when trailing by two with 45 seconds left? Can you knock down free throws when your team is in the bonus and every point matters? These are the moments that define tournament success.
The mental aspect is where I see most talented players fail. Tournament basketball creates pressure that's completely different from regular season games. I've worked with players who averaged 25 points in college but completely froze during tournament games. You need to develop mental routines that help you perform under pressure. I teach what I call 'pressure inoculation' - gradually exposing players to high-stress situations in practice until tournament games feel familiar. The ability to maintain focus during scoring runs, whether for or against you, separates NBA-caliber players from the rest. UST's inability to get crucial defensive stops despite their offensive explosion demonstrates how mental lapses can undermine physical talent.
What many don't realize is that making the NBA tournament requires understanding team construction and roster fit. I've seen incredible players miss their chance because they didn't understand what specific teams needed. The modern NBA values specific role players who can excel in tournament settings - the 3-and-D wing, the switchable big, the playmaking guard who can defend multiple positions. You need to honestly assess which role you can fill at the NBA level and develop those skills relentlessly. I always tell players to study the careers of players like Robert Horry or Shane Battier - guys who built long careers by understanding exactly what winning teams needed in tournament settings.
The path to the NBA tournament requires navigating the complex world of basketball infrastructure. You need the right agent, the right trainer, the right nutritionist, and most importantly, the right mindset. I've seen players with second-round talent make it because they understood how to present themselves to teams, while lottery-level talents faded away due to poor representation. The business side of basketball can't be ignored - you need to treat your career like a business while maintaining your love for the game. It's a difficult balance that requires careful planning and mentorship from people who've been through the process before.
Ultimately, reaching the NBA tournament comes down to what I call the 'complete package' - physical gifts honed through intelligent training, basketball skills developed with purpose, mental toughness forged through adversity, and business acumen to navigate the professional landscape. The UST game example sticks with me because it demonstrates so perfectly how one-dimensional excellence isn't enough at the highest level. You can shoot the lights out like UST did with those eight second-half threes, but if you can't get stops when it matters, you're watching the tournament from home instead of competing in it. The players who understand this balance, who work on their weaknesses as hard as they showcase their strengths, are the ones who hear their name called on draft night and eventually compete for that championship trophy.
Heather Bolton Suber ’02
Leah Schnell ’01
Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93
Dr. Ralph Swearngin
Point University will induct four members into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a luncheon on Friday, October 24, during Homecoming weekend.
The class of 2025 includes Leah Schnell ’01, Heather Bolton Suber ’02, Dr. Ralph Swearngin and Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93. The Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in May 2024, when six inaugural members were inducted.
“We look forward to honoring the second Hall of Fame class during Homecoming,” said Jaunelle White, vice president of intercollegiate athletics and chief student development officer. “It’s always a great feeling to have our alumni back on campus mingling with our current student-athletes and coaches. These individuals were elite during their time at Atlanta Christian College and deserve to be recognized.”
Schnell attended Atlanta Christian College from 1998 to 2001, where she earned a degree in business while competing in both basketball and volleyball. On the basketball court, she earned First Team All-Conference, Scholar Athlete, and First Team All-American honors for three consecutive years. Schnell also held the title of all-time leading scorer from 1998-2001. She now thrives as a commercial construction project manager at Barnsley Construction Group and as an entrepreneur.
Suber, from Havana, Florida, attended ACC from 1998 to 2002. A dedicated two-sport athlete, she earned numerous accolades, including First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention and First Team All-American. One of her most memorable achievements came when she made eleven three-pointers in a single game. Suber graduated with a degree in early childhood education and went on to earn a master’s degree in education and a specialist degree in instructional technology. For over 23 years, she has served as an educator.
Swearngin has had a distinguished career in education, athletics and ministry spanning several decades, including 20 years at ACC in roles such as professor, dean of students, athletics director and coach. He held national leadership positions with the NCCAA, served as a trustee of Point University for over 10 years, and worked extensively in ministry and education in California, earning degrees from Whittier College and Georgia State University. His athletic involvement includes 23 years as a high school football official in California and Georgia, 22 years with the Georgia High School Association — retiring as executive director in 2014 — and service on national football and softball rules committees. Honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions and the Atlanta Falcons Lifetime Achievement Award, Swearngin has authored two books and remains active in retirement through preaching and leading Bible studies, alongside his wife of 58 years, Evelyn.
Wiggins grew up in Roswell, Georgia, where she began playing basketball at the age of ten. After two years at Florida State University, she transferred to ACC in 1990. While at ACC, Wiggins was named to the All-American team in both 1991 and 1992. In her final year, she led her team in scoring, helping them finish second in the nation, and was named national MVP in 1992. She earned a bachelor of science in elementary education in 1993 and later received a master’s degree in technology and media sciences from Georgia Southern University in 2009. For the past 33 years, Wiggins has worked as a dedicated educator. In 1997, she married Todd Wiggins. Together, they have two children, Preston, 26, and Logan, 22.
