Former NBA player and current Bulls' assistant coach Adrian Griffin shares his "LIFE Lessons" with the NRP Knights.Griffin hails from Wichita, Kansas and graduated from Seton Hall University where he was named Second Team All-Big East. He was cut 10 times by NBA teams and spent three years in basketball's minor leagues before finally making an NBA roster. Over the course of a 9-year NBA career, Griffin played with Dallas, Boston, Houston, and Chicago. His teams made 5 playoff appearances including two appearances in the Western Conference Finals and one NBA Championship Series appearance with the Dallas Mavericks. Griifin retired in 2008 and is currently pursuing a career in coaching. Immediately upon retirement, Griffin was hired by the Milwaukee Bucks. After two years on the Bucks' bench, he was lured to Chicago by NBA Coach-of-the-Year Tom Thibodeau and now begins his second season on the Bulls' bench. His story is one of perseverance, courage, and an untiring work ethic. Griffin is married and the father of four children.
Griffin describes the lessons he learned as an athlete:
L = Listening (Pay attention to those who try to help you improve; then, do what they tell you. He observed that many players were stubborn and wouldn'r listen; especially, when they were in basketball's minor leagues. He felt that listening closely to mentors helped him prepare for opportunities that later came his way. He beleives preparation is the key to success; it's what you put into it that makes the difference in success and failure.)
I = Imagination (Dream big and be willing to take some risks. Don't back down from competition; this requires courage. He had to guard Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant -- he knew that he had to accept that challenge and couldn't back down. Had he backed down from them, he never would've made it in the NBA, let alone lasted 9 seasons.)
F = Fundamentals (Doing the basics requires dedication and discipline. He took pride in doing the right thing over and over again. He thanked his parents for making him do the right things when he was growing up. He beleives it helped him set a pattern for life. One of the most important fundamentals he learned is hard work -- he's always amazed by what hard work can get you. He always went the "extra mile" by being the first in the gym and the last to leave.)
E = Education (The best players think the game. Learn how to use your mind. He always prepared for life after basketball because he knew that no matter how good a player might be, life moves on. He went back to college for graduate work while playing in the NBA and earned his Master's degree.)
L = Listening (Pay attention to those who try to help you improve; then, do what they tell you. He observed that many players were stubborn and wouldn'r listen; especially, when they were in basketball's minor leagues. He felt that listening closely to mentors helped him prepare for opportunities that later came his way. He beleives preparation is the key to success; it's what you put into it that makes the difference in success and failure.)
I = Imagination (Dream big and be willing to take some risks. Don't back down from competition; this requires courage. He had to guard Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant -- he knew that he had to accept that challenge and couldn't back down. Had he backed down from them, he never would've made it in the NBA, let alone lasted 9 seasons.)
F = Fundamentals (Doing the basics requires dedication and discipline. He took pride in doing the right thing over and over again. He thanked his parents for making him do the right things when he was growing up. He beleives it helped him set a pattern for life. One of the most important fundamentals he learned is hard work -- he's always amazed by what hard work can get you. He always went the "extra mile" by being the first in the gym and the last to leave.)
E = Education (The best players think the game. Learn how to use your mind. He always prepared for life after basketball because he knew that no matter how good a player might be, life moves on. He went back to college for graduate work while playing in the NBA and earned his Master's degree.)
