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There’s a moment in this conversation that’s really stayed with me.
Alan said, “The best of the best never get bored with the basics.”
It was something Kobe Bryant told him back in 2007 — and it became one of the guiding principles behind his entire approach to performance and life.
And when you hear him talk about it, you realize it’s not a slogan. It’s a way of being.
It’s about how the greatest performers in the world — whether they’re in sport, business, or any craft — show up again and again for the small, often unseen things that nobody else values… but that make all the difference when the lights come on.
Alan Stein Jr. has lived that truth for decades.
He spent fifteen years courtside with basketball’s elite — names like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry — helping them train their minds, bodies, and habits to perform when it matters most.
Then he took everything he’d learned about discipline, confidence, and focus, and brought it into the corporate world — becoming one of the most sought-after keynote speakers, authors, and performance coaches on the planet.
His books Raise Your Game, Sustain Your Game, and his latest, Next Play, have become modern blueprints for building long-term excellence — on the court, in the boardroom, and in everyday life.
But what I love most about this conversation is how deeply human it is.
We go far beyond the surface-level talk of motivation or mindset.
Alan opens up about redefining success — moving from chasing external validation to living what he calls a “high-quality life.”
We unpack the difference between fun and enjoyment — how to keep joy alive even in high-pressure, high-stakes environments.
He shares the four rules he taught his own kids about sport — effort, coachability, teamwork, and fun — and how those same principles scale all the way to elite professional athletes.
We explore confidence — how it’s built through repetition, self-trust, and honest self-talk.
We dive into performance anxiety — how to reframe nerves as excitement.
And we touch on identity, flow, and mindfulness — with some incredible parallels to Stoic philosophy, Buddhism, and the principles we teach inside SportMind.
It’s rare to have a conversation that bridges the gap between Kobe’s gym and the everyday arena of life so naturally.
This one does that.
It’s packed with stories, tools, and truths you can apply immediately — whether you’re an athlete, a coach, a parent, or just someone trying to perform a little better under pressure.
This might be one of my favorite conversations we’ve ever had on the podcast — equal parts grounded and inspiring.
So wherever you are — out on a run, in the gym, or driving to training — take a deep breath, settle in, and enjoy this one.
Here’s my conversation with Alan Stein Jr.
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