How the NBA game has slowed down for the second-year guard – Deseret News

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When basketball players talk about the game slowing down, they don't mean it literally. The speed of the game does not change. It's more about how they can mentally process what's happening in front of and around them.

I just go out and play basketball – bad game or not. I just walk out with a clear head, so I think that's really the most important thing. I’m just starting to play basketball again.”

— Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George

With that in mind, Utah Jazz second-year guard Keyonte George is starting to see the game slow down. He has improved the way he watches film and is able to pick up different things when watching his own clips versus clips from the opposing team. With more targeted film sessions, he is better prepared to defend and no longer feels as rushed when he's on the court.

“It helped me a lot knowing the pick-and-roll defense before the game. Just knowing what to expect out there definitely gave me a sense of security,” George said. “But just keep working at it and keep trusting in the work.”

Additionally, as he continues to develop his ball handling, footwork and passing, he's starting to feel like there are moves that are becoming more second nature, meaning he doesn't have to think through every action he takes, which allows him to do so , to process more of things that are happening around him in a particular piece.

It's also nice to return to a team that has many of the same players on the roster. Familiarity and chemistry also provide the opportunity to be more aware of everything else that is happening.

But there's a part of slowing down the game that's also just about acceptance.

“In your rookie year you have all the nerves, trying to be perfect somehow – you don’t want to screw it up and you see everything that’s said about you on social media,” George said. “This year I’m just going out there to play ball and not worry about what’s said or what people think. I just go out and play basketball – bad game or not. I just walk out with a clear head, so I think that's really the most important thing. I’m just starting to play basketball again.”

The emotional component of trying to prove you belong is often overlooked in a young basketball player's professional career, but it is an incredibly important part of the transition.

Of course, saying you're letting go and playing with a clear head and actually achieving that are two very different things. But at least for now, George feels like it's possible for him to take a step forward in that regard in his second year.

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