Zaza Pachulia #27 of the Golden State Warriors was a NBA player for 16 years, three times the ... [+] national average.
Getty ImagesAll the to-do lists, spreadsheets, coaches, and strategy sessions will not help you seamlessly deal with the inevitable–change. It happens when you least expect or want it. It upends your routines, hurls you out of your comfort zone, and brashly forces you to adapt. Change becomes your constant companion as you learn to navigate the turns and pivots of your professional and personal lives. Nobody knows this better than two-time NBA champion Zaza Pachulia.
Growing up in an athletic family who towered over his peers, six foot eleven Zaza Pachulia’s story begins in Tbilisi, Georgia. Zaza loved basketball with an unbridled passion and, like many young teens, dreamed of playing in the NBA. But between a dream and reality is thousands of miles, endless hard work, a dose of luck, and opportunity.
His home country had limited infrastructure for the game, so at the age of 14, shortly after losing his father, Zaza moved with his mother to Turkey so that he could play basketball. He faced learning a new language, culture, and religion. A determined teen, he exhaustively worked on honing his skills. Up before others and getting his practice in, he decided that no one would outwork him. Millions of teens aim for the NBA, but only 450 ever make it. Of those, only about 20 percent are international players. The odds were not in his favor, but he pressed on.
From dream to reality
Zaza’s vision was beginning to unfold as he received his first NBA contract at the tender age of nineteen. His agent dropped him off at the Orlando airport, wished him luck, turned on his heels, and left. Zaza stood at the airport alone and knew what lay ahead. Once again, he learned a new language, English (his fourth language, in addition to Georgian, Turkish, and Russian), culture, and the US tax code.
As shared in the book, The Success Factor, Zaza has the makings of a high achiever: intrinsic motivation, passion, and commitment, a dangerous combination for anyone who wants to try and succeed. It worked. Zaza spent 16 years and over 1,000 games playing for the NBA, three times the average of most players. “I ran a lot of miles on the court,” shared Zaza.
The longer he played, the more his approach varied. “The older you get, you focus on quality, not quantity,” said Zaza. He changed his workouts and routines. “It’s the small details that differentiate between good and outstanding,” said Zaza. From his first year in the NBA to the last, he always worked on perfecting his game and ensuring there was always an improvement.
Failure is data
Zaza’s path to those two NBA championships is paved with success and sprinkled with failure. Although no one likes to lose a championship, knowing that he did his best and put his best foot forward each time makes Zaza okay with failure. He’s not comfortable with it, who really is, but he understands its purpose. He understands that failure is data. Zaza would routinely watch movies of his games, not to see what he got right, but to learn from his mistakes. Every error he corrected improved his game, and he was a man on a mission. In adult learning, this is called reflection on action.
From the NBA to the Ivy League
While Zaza loved basketball to his core, he always had an eye for business and became a lifelong learner. While in the NBA, he simultaneously studied at some of the most prestigious institutions, including Harvard Business School, Stanford, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.
While he hung up his sneakers, Zaza did not leave the basketball world. Today he is a liaison for the business and basketball of the Golden State Warriors, where he melds his passion for the game with the business side, and a Golden State Warriors Ventures board member. He is a respected figure in the locker room and a mentor to the junior NBA players. While a fierce competitor on the court, he was the ultimate teammate off of it.
His impact on basketball goes far beyond the NBA. He developed a basketball academy for kids in his home country of Georgia, where he shares his love of the game with thousands of kids.
Zaza Pachulia’s journey from Georgia to the NBA is paved with hard work, focus, sheer determination, and the ability to adapt routinely. He never dwells on the problem; instead, he searches for a solution. His legacy and optimism continue to inspire generations of athletes worldwide.
Dr. Ruth Gotian, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ruthgotian/2023/05/22/agility-in-basketball-an-interview-with-2x-nba-champion-zaza-pachulia/
By: Dr. Ruth Gotian, Contributor
Title: Agility In Basketball: An Interview With 2x NBA Champion Zaza Pachulia
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/ruthgotian/2023/05/22/agility-in-basketball-an-interview-with-2x-nba-champion-zaza-pachulia/
Published Date: 05-22-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored the first basket in the NBA?
Ossie Schectman (American professional basketball player) was the one who scored the first basket for the Basketball Association of America (BAA), later becoming the National Basketball Association (NBA). On November 1, 1946, the Toronto Huskies defeated the New York Knickerbockers to score the basket. Schectman's historic debut basket opened the BAA's first season.
How long is a player allowed to stay on waivers
If an NBA player is let go by their team during the season, they are on the waiver. Waived players can be claimed by another team within 48 hours. If more teams claim the player during that time, priority goes the team with poorest record.
What is the NBA salary cap
The NBA salary limit is a cap that restricts the total salary for each team. The league determines this limit each year. It's designed to prevent teams from signing multiple high priced players, creating unfair advantages and ensuring parity among teams. The cap must be kept below the teams' level in order to trade or sign free agents. They can go above it if certain exceptions are made, such as offering Bird rights to players or signing them a contract with a portion taken out of the salary cap and the rest as a bonus. The league salary cap is an integral part and helps to maintain a balanced team roster.
Statistics
- Between 2012 and 2019, the league lost 40 to 45 percent of its viewership. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- The opening game of the 2020 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat brought in only 7.41 million viewers to ABC, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
nba.com
basketball-reference.com
- Thomas Bryant Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
- Dennis Schroder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
bleacherreport.com
- Which NBA Teams Will Participate in the Victor Wembanyama-Tankathon?
- News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
si.com
- NBA Free Agency Preview: Biggest Questions And Rumors
- Free From Quarantine: The NBA Bubble Is A Unique Experience
How To
Is there a better way to be drafted into the NBA than the traditional route?
There are two ways to become a NBA player: high school or college.
NCAA schools are available to college students, such as Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of Kentucky. These schools offer training and education for four years. Players develop ball handling, shooting, and rebounding skills during this period. They learn how to run an offense and defense. They also learn how to be a professional athlete mentally.
Prep schools are open to high school athletes from outside their home states. These schools offer personalized attention and focus on talent development. These schools focus on teaching academics and character development as well as sportsmanship.
Both types must pass the same physical exams before they are allowed into the draft. The test involves running 40 meters, jumping over a 5'6", standing on one foot, and throwing a football through tires.
The NBA invites players who have passed these tests to join in on workouts with other teams. The players are judged on their height, speed, weight, wingspan, or size.
Also, teams look at the player's previous experience. AAU Basketball players are likely to be given preferential treatment.
Players considered too small to play professionally are sometimes called "one-and-done" prospects. The second round of the draft usually chooses these players.
Some players decide to skip college to play in the NBA. These players are known to be "prospects". Prospects don't have to wait to declare themselves eligible to draft.
They can apply for an exemption to enter the draft early. Prospects who do so will be able compete with other prospects in the pre-draft process.
Prospects can improve their chances of getting selected by participating in summer leagues. Summer league games are played in July or August.
These events allow scouts to see players in action without worrying about injury risks.
June marks the start of the NBA Draft. This is when all top prospects are evaluated by the 30 NBA teams. Each team receives a set number of picks in each round.
For example, the first pick in the first round is the 15th overall selection. The 60th pick in the third round is the 20th selection.
Teams make trades after the draft to complete their rosters. Some teams even hold mini-camp tryouts inviting potential draftees to train with them.
It's exciting to draft day! What happens next?
You can start waiting to hear your name called once the draft starts. Every NBA team has to select players from the pool.
When a team has selected a player, it sends him his contract, which details his salary and playing time as well as benefits. He is now a member.
He also gets a jersey with the name of his choice on the back, and a new uniform with his nickname.
Finally, he signs that contract. That means he officially joins the NBA.
