In the moments that matter, elite athletes feel pressure that few of us can imagine. Dealing with stress hormones and adrenaline, keeping cool and in control, and performing to their highest capability under intense pressure are characteristics that separate the good from the great.

Pro basketball offers plenty of high-stakes moments where players need to control their emotions, and many have asked if it is possible to train for such situations. From nail-biting games to high-stakes seasons, NBA players are constantly navigating the mental and physical demands of their sport. Their ability to perform under pressure offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to thrive in challenging situations.

Be Prepared

The old adage is true: You get out what you put in. While it's impossible to fully replicate the high-stakes scenario on the court, putting in the hours to practice and perfect your game is crucial to success in those high-pressure moments. NBA players spend countless hours honing their skills, studying opponents, and practicing scenarios they might face during games.

Stephen Curry is a good example of a player who trains harder than most. As one of the NBA's greatest shooters his precision on the court stems from countless hours of practice and preparation, including legendary pregame shooting drills where he throws shots from all around the court. By training, or even over-training, he ensures that all his actions feel natural, leaving him able to focus on absorbing the pressure when the game begins. Practice reduces uncertainty, and builds resilience.

Learn From Mistakes

Even for the very best, failure is inevitable. In the NBA, even great players miss crucial shots and lose matches, seeing championships blow away in the wake of a failed play. There is a famous quote from Michael Jordan, one of the all-time greats, "I've failed over and over and over in my life. And that is why I succeed."

This unique perspective helps us to understand that failure is something to be learned from, and if we can approach high-pressure situations as learning opportunities rather than threats, the fear factor will be reduced and we'll be able to perform like proper ballers, to use a little basketball slang.

Stay Present

In high-pressure situations, it's easy to let distractions or anxieties build and cloud judgment and poise. One of the greatest challenges of performing under pressure is staying present. NBA players are masters at compartmentalizing, focusing on the moment rather than dwelling on past mistakes or what the future holds. And when a game is long and grueling, it's important to learn to break it down into manageable steps and concentrate fully on each one.

The master of this mentality was the late, great Kobe Bryant, who developed his "Mamba Mentality," a mindset rooted in intense focus with a refusal to allow fear into the equation when it came to dictating his actions on the court. Bryant often spoke about treating each play as a separate challenge, allowing him to recover quickly from errors and maintain a competitive edge.

Control

NBA players often face situations where there are factors beyond their control, but elite players among them know that they must focus on what is within their power. Preparation, effort, and teamwork are essential and can overcome other variables such as bad refereeing or hostile crowds.

This can reduce stress and improve performance. By focusing on controllable aspects like preparation, attitude, and execution, you can channel your energy into productive actions rather than wasting it on factors you can't influence.

Resilience

The NBA season is a long and tough one and is often filled with injuries, as well as see-saw results that see a winless run turn into a winning streak. Not to mention the fact that, as elite athletes, NBA players are under constant media scrutiny.

The best players, however, will reveal unshakeable resilience, determined to keep pushing themselves and their teams in the face of near-constant adversity. This is a question of both physical and mental toughness, both valuable attributes in overcoming the highest pressure.

Pressure often brings setbacks, but the ability to bounce back and persist is what ultimately leads to success, whether it's on the court or off it.

Intense pressure is something we feel from time to time, and we can learn to deal with it from the best in the business. The NBA is a high-stakes world, and the players have to be ready to cope under duress at all times.