Basketball is 90% Mental, 10% Physical

Basketball is often said to be 90% mental and 10% physical, yet most training programs emphasize the 10%. At Be Like David Basketball (BLD), we focus on the 90%—the mental side of the game—because we believe mastery begins with understanding, not just repetition.

We Teach the 90.

BLD is a study-based program, where the bulk of our teaching takes place in online lessons. These lessons educate students on the mental aspects of skills and maneuvers, helping them develop a deeper understanding of what, why, and how each element of the game works.

Most basketball training today is overloaded with drills, but drills alone do not teach players the game. Players who engage in mindless repetition without understanding why they are doing something struggle to apply those skills in real games. At BLD, we train players from the inside out, ensuring they grasp the logic behind every movement.

Coach Robert, the founder of BLD, has spent nearly 30 years dissecting basketball at every level—including professional and overseas competition. He has seen how dogmatic, repetitive training dominates youth basketball, leaving players without a true understanding of the game. His mission is to change this narrative by developing thinkers on the court—players who analyze, problem-solve, and act with purpose.

Skills Solve Problems, Maneuvers Serve a Purpose

At BLD, we redefine what it means to be skilled or play with purpose.

Skills are not just the ability to make a left-handed layup. A skill is knowledge that allows a player to solve a problem. If a player struggles to attack a defender, has trouble with shooting consistency, or finds themselves lost on the court, those are problems—and skills solve them.
Maneuvers are not random or accidental. They serve a specific purpose on the court. A well-timed crossover, a precise jab step, or a calculated hesitation move—these are not lucky actions but intentional maneuvers designed to create an advantage.

When skills and maneuvers are taught in this way, players gain clarity and confidence. They no longer rely on trial and error but instead develop a repeatable, reliable system for success.

The Davidian Method

To teach the mental side of the game, Coach Robert developed the Davidian Method, a structured, interactive learning approach based on three key tenets:

Learn – Identify a problem or purpose on the court.
Study – Acquire the skills or maneuvers needed to address the problem or fulfill the purpose.
Apply – Recognize the right time and situation to use the learned skill or maneuver.

This cycle ensures that every lesson leads to practical, lasting improvement. Instead of mindless repetition, players develop a clear, focused mentality on the court—allowing them to play with intention rather than react in confusion.

There are three types of Davidian lessons: skill, maneuver, & tool. A skill type is a lesson that solves a problem. Maneuver lessons serve a purpose. Tool lessons do both. By creating this structure students will be aware of what they are addressing in every lesson and its implications on the court.

Why This Approach?

Most players struggle not because they lack talent but because they lack understanding. They forget moves, repeat the same mistakes, and feel overwhelmed in games. This is due to drill-based coaching. Drills are not skills because they don't teach a player to recognize problems or a purpose on the court. When you see a player perform an over-drilled maneuver in the wrong context of a game the issue with drills becomes apparent. The truth is, basketball is the same game every time. Elite players recognize patterns, anticipate situations, and use their mental edge to control the game.

Since the same problems or purposes reappear each game they can be studied and mastered. There is nothing new under the sun in basketball. That is why this method of teaching works because once a player masters a particular skill or maneuver they will recognize when its application is necessary. That is why skills are not opinions and maneuvers are not accidents. They address ever recurring situations and moments on the court! The game of basketball is finite in this way. There is an end to mastery of it. At BLD, we strive to take students to this expected end.

Coach Robert took the saying “Basketball is 90% mental” literally, devoting his career to proving that the game is a mental pursuit, where physical prowess is secondary to decision-making, strategy, and understanding. Like chess or martial arts.

Do We Offer In-Person Tutelage?

Yes—but not right away.

Before stepping onto the court with Coach Robert, players must first become students by embracing the three tenets of the Davidian Method. They must seek the lesson in which they are struggling and book a session (5) days out, devoting some time to studying it. Then meet with Coach Robert in a spar session to fine tune your understanding and ability with the lesson. When you are ready and Coach believes you have mastered the skill or maneuver taught in the lesson submit a Davidian Worksheet.

Focusing on the 90% is the goal of Be Like David Basketball.

Shalom.