Game Changer: The Professional Basketball Contest Dedicated to My Mentor
Robb Holman
Global Speaker & Best-Selling Author who inspires leaders to lead from the inside out.
I had received an invitation to the training camp for the Delaware Blue Bombers, a team in the Atlantic Basketball Association (ABA). My sister called and asked if I was overly nervous about this incredible opportunity.
I can still vividly recall my response: “I’ve been training my entire life for this moment!”
All the hours of practice, meticulous attention to detail, and relentless hard work I had poured into my basketball journey had prepared me for this precise moment.
I walked into that training camp with confidence and played some of the best basketball of my life. I made the team and signed my first professional basketball contract in the Atlantic Basketball Association (ABA).
My childhood dream had come true!
The first year was limited to the practice team and some spotty regular season minutes due to really good competition. But by the second year, I had proven myself and worked my way to starter and got considerable minutes. That’s when I started to invite family members and friends to my games.
I thought there was no better time than now to invite Abdul (my childhood coach and mentor).
I picked a day for him to come and watch. We both felt more and more excited as it got closer to the day of the game. It was going to be the first time he saw me play in a professional game.
“Good job, Greyhound!” Abdul shouted as I finished signing autographs and made my way through the crowd to where he was. Just so you know, he started calling me Greyhound when I was in my mid-teens after we’d been together for a while. He gave me that nickname because, like the dog, I was skinny and fast.
Although I don’t recall much more about our interactions before and after the game, what remains vivid is the impact of his presence. I find it remarkable that a man known for his loud voice and many words had so little to say on the biggest stage I’ve ever played on.
When I was around Abdul, something powerful took place. Abdul represented the result of all the hard work, self-discipline, and many sacrifices I had made up to that point. His strong belief in what I could do sparked a big change inside me. It wasn’t just a feeling of fitting in anymore; it was a strong belief that I had what it takes to make a real difference at the top level. It’s one thing to feel like you belong, and it’s another thing to know you can contribute at the highest level. I could feel how much he believed in me, and I fully embraced that feeling.
In a weird way, it felt like it was time for me to give what I had received from Abdul.
Thinking about it now, I understand that this is what a mentor does. Mentors do more than what’s expected. They support you no matter what, they are always there for you, and they believe in you even when you’re not sure of yourself. And if you’re willing to receive from them, there will be moments when you can give from a much deeper part of yourself than you could ever have thought possible!
Inviting Abdul to see my game was like giving him an important award, a way for me to say thanks for all his hard work helping me and many others. He also gave me some ideas to get better. After our games, I really looked forward to Abdul saying I did well, but I also listened closely when he talked about where I could im- prove. His advice was what really made me get better. He knew that no matter how good I played, there was always something more I could learn in order to be my best.
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Reflection
(**Excerpt from my latest book, "Lessons from Abdul: The Hidden Power of Receiving from Anyone, Anytime")
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To check out the trailer, go to:
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About Robb Holman
Robb Holman is a sought-after Global Keynote Speaker and Author of four transformational leadership books, Lead the Way, All In, Move the Needle, and his upcoming book, Lessons from Abdul. In recognition of his expertise, Robb was named one of the world's top 30 leadership speakers by Global Gurus for three consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024). His innovative Inside Out Leadership philosophy has gained significant recognition and has been featured in publications like Inc, Forbes, and Fast Company. You can visit Robb by going here.