Obi Toppin: Stop Overthinking and Just Shoot the Ball, Bro!

There is something familiar when I watch New York Knicks‘ rookie Obi Toppin play basketball.

I shudder to think about my first year of classroom teaching. At 22, I had spent the majority of my life inside a classroom. I knew what it meant to be a student and having watched my mom and multiple aunts, I had some idea of what it meant to be a teacher, but none of those instincts were visible.

All hesitation. All fear.

I see that same hesitation–that same fear–in Obi Toppin’s game. Some are going as far as uttering the words “Obi Toppin” and “Bust” in the same sentence already.

It’s present every time he jumps into the air before throwing a pass-off target. It’s there every time he wildly misfires from the corner. It’s there every time he gets glued to the floor on a defensive rotation.

I got over mine and Obi Toppin will get over his too.

Obi Toppin needs to get out of his own head and play basketball!

There was a lesson I learned and, forever the teacher, want to try to impart to Obi. Someone told me that kids are super forgiving. If you make a mistake, just come back and try to correct it tomorrow.

The kids will appreciate you showing up every day.

Knicks fans are the same with you, Obi. Your tears on draft night melted every frozen Knicks fan’s heart.

In a short time, you’ve already endeared yourself to us. Once a Knick, Always a Knick as the saying goes.

But you gotta get out of your head, man. You know how to play basketball, Obi Toppin. Stop worrying about what mistakes you’ll make and just go out and ball.

One errant pass won’t be the end of your career. One bad shot won’t be the end of your career. One missed defensive rotation won’t be the end of your career.

Never being able to get out of your head will, though.

If you leave your feet to attempt a shot, then let it rip, man.

Just go out there and play. Make mistakes and make them big. Mistakes are not your enemy. Fear and hesitation are.