How to Use Adversity to Your Advantage with NBA All-Star Steve Francis
#045 Meet Steve Francis
Steve Francis is a three-time NBA All-Star. During his career, he played for the Houston Rockets, the Orlando Magic, and the New York Knicks. He was so dominant on the court that he earned the nickname “Franchise.” He’s known for his speed, fancy ball-handling skills, and extreme dunks.
Steve’s rise to NBA stardom wasn’t an easy one, however. He overcame much adversity in his childhood.
Unlike some NBA players who had plenty of money and parental support as youths, Steve grew up in poverty. For a while, he even resorted to selling drugs. But he was determined to change his life around, and he’s happy to share the strategies that helped him turn the adversity he experienced into an advantage.
Some of the things Steve and I talk about:
- How Steve was able to play college basketball even though he didn’t graduate from high school
- How Steve progressed from selling drugs as a youth to making it in the NBA as an adult
- The obstacles experienced while growing up in poverty
- How being prepared for games helped Steve succeed in the NBA
- How to use criticism to become better
- Why you should practice with people who are better than you (and why that’s so hard to do)
- The importance of a pre-game routine
- How to decide when to push yourself harder and when to slow down
- How Steve has handled some of the negative publicity he’s received over the years
- How Steve has handled retirement from the NBA
- What he’s doing to raise mentally strong kids
Quotes:
“I try to evolve and do some of the things that I couldn’t do while I was traveling and see some things that I have always wanted to experience. That keeps me stable.”
“Take a look in the mirror and just ask yourself, ‘Are you giving yourself your all? Are you really?’”
“I was always small. So I would have to play that much harder to play with the better players… bigger, older, smarter, wiser guys.”
Links and Resources:
The Steve Francis Foundation – http://www.stevefrancisfoundation.com/
Follow Steve on Instagram – @Steve_Franchise3
Follow Steve on Twitter – @SteveFranchise3