The Love of the Game vs. The Love of Attention
In today’s world, there’s a growing divide between the love of the game and the love of attention the game brings. I’ve seen too many kids playing for “likes” or recognition on social media rather than for the pure joy of competing. Don’t get me wrong—many of them love basketball—but the love for social media often overshadows their passion for the game.
In the age of Instagram highlights, TikTok clips, and YouTube mixtapes, the allure of attention can cloud young athletes’ judgment. I’ve seen kids make decisions based on the potential graphic they’ll get posted rather than what’s truly in their best interests. And this can be a slippery slope, where the value of the game becomes diluted by a craving for external validation.
But here’s the thing: the pure love of basketball has to far exceed the love of attention the game brings. Those who really want to excel aren’t worried about the likes or the hype—they are focused on the grind, on being better every single day.
The players I admire most are the ones who show their dedication in ways that go unnoticed on social media. They’re the kids who will take the bus, ride a bike, or walk miles just to make it to practice or an early-morning workout. They don’t do it for the cameras—they do it because they can’t imagine missing a chance to get better. These kids have that constant paranoia—the feeling that no matter how hard they work, it might not be enough. It’s the paranoia that drives them to skip social events, to stay in the gym late at night, to put in that extra hour of shooting or conditioning.
This is what separates good players from great ones.
But in the social media era, it’s easy for athletes to get distracted. Social platforms can become a trap, creating a false sense of accomplishment with every like or comment. Real success, though, doesn’t come from the screen. It comes from what you do when no one’s watching, when there are no highlights to post, and no recognition to seek.
So to all the young athletes out there—find joy in the grind, fall in love with the journey, and let your passion for the game be stronger than your desire for attention. That’s where true greatness lies.
Pasha Bains
Founder, Drive Basketball