Laken James @lakenjames5 Twitter profile

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

1 month

you & me forever 💕

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Sometimes all an athlete needs is that one Coach that shows they believe in them Be that Coach

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

When you have a Coach that’s more dedicated to building a good culture than winning, they often do both ✊🏼

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

My favorite Coach always used to say, “There’s going to come a time when winter asks you what you did all summer” March is that time 🏀

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

I played D1 College Basketball for 5 years and never ran one suicide AND I was in the best shape of my life As a Coach, make your drills intense and purposeful. Incorporate the game into your conditioning drills. Trust me, there’s times I wished I was just running suicides

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

An elite teammate celebrates their teammate's success like it's their own There's no room for jealousy in a championship culture!

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

In college we had to MAKE 300 shots a day. Taking out days for road trips, game days, off days etc. Let's say on average 240 days a year. 240*300= 72,000 made shots a year 72,000*5 yrs= 360,000 made shots during my career I took 561 in game shots during my entire career...

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

My coach used to say, "my pg can never have a bad practice" I took pride and lived by this. It didn't mean that I could never make mistakes but it meant that I could never show up & not give my best I needed to give energy, be a great teammate, and set the tone every single day

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Research shows athletes can fail to reach their potential for many reasons.. Injuries, systematic failures, physical limitations BUT the most common reason seems to be the lack of mental strength to handle adversity Don’t let your mind stop you from reaching your full potential

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

AAU should be less about the results and more about developing your team and players Summer is about growth 🏀

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

The best teams have created a culture of belonging. Each player feels they have a role on the team and each role has a purpose. Make your players feel valued and appreciate no matter what their role is. You need everyone bought in to win championships

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

How you sub out of a game is equally as important as how you sub into a game. Body language speaks volumes. Run off the court. Give a strong high five to whoever is coming in for you and become the team's biggest cheerleader while you sit on the bench.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

An important lesson I try to teach athletes is that there will be some days you won't want to go to the gym. This feeling is normal. But being normal won't get you where you want to go. On these days go to the gym anyways. Chasing greatness is a grind but it's worth it.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Read it again.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Want to play more? Be coachable. Play defense. Be a great teammate.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Three keys to winning playoff games: - Believe in Your Preparation - Believe in Your Teammates - Believe in Yourself

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

You don’t have to score all the points to get noticed during the AAU season. Play HARD defense, be a good teammate, and be coachable. If I was a coach that’s what I’m looking for in my recruits 💪🏼🏀

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

HS Seniors 🏀: enjoy all the lil things these next couple weeks. For some this might be the last time you play the sport you love. For others you might go on to play but I promise there is nothing like HS You’re playing for your family, classmates n community & it’s just special

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Sports are awesome because there’s always a winner and a loser but the steps for the next day look the same The loser has to get to work and figure out how to get better and so does the winner Yesterdays results mean nothing, it’s always onto the next and how can we get better!

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

S/O to all the sport parents who just get IT. Correction is ok. Giving advice is ok. Challenging your athlete is ok. What's not okay is belittling, insulting, or associating your love for them based on how they play. Be their biggest fan. We often have enough critics out there.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

To everyone playing AAU bball this weekend with the college coaches in the stands.. don’t stress, just play your game! It’s okay to make mistakes. Coaches know mistakes happen but they are watching how you handle that mistake. So be coachable, play hard n be a good teammate 🏀

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Let’s stop “babying” our athletes the moment they face adversity No you can’t change teams No you can’t all get trophies No you can’t all play equal minutes Let’s normalize challenges being a part of the journey n help teach athletes how to better navigate thru these challenges

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Young girl at camp today… “why the heck is it called 3 MAN weave, I ain’t a man.” 😂 We took it upon ourselves to rename it. From now on it’s going to be called the 3 little lady weave 💁🏻‍♀️🏀

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Sports can provide some of the highest highs and some of the lowest lows It’s important that no matter which part of the rollercoaster you’re on, stay level headed and enjoy the ride cuz at some point your ride stops and you’re going to wish you were back on that rollercoaster

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

People think confidence comes from daily affirmations in the mirror… but what they fail to realize is confidence actually comes from putting in the work and gathering undeniable evidence that you are actually the person you think you are.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

A sign of a good coach is one who’s players continue playing after their four years or they turn into coaches IMO here’s why, this means you kept the love for the game in your players Can you teach the game and the grind without taking out the love for the game?

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Sometimes the hardest thing about playing a team sport is embracing your role We all have different roles and some are more glorified than others but without every single player embracing their role, it will be very difficult to become a championship team

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

If I could have a conversation with my past self or my future self, I’d pick my past self & here’s a letter of all the things I would tell her💜🏀 “Greatness isn’t suppose to blend in, it’s supposed to shine, so might as well shine bright!”

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Why giving high-fives matter: - Celebrates togetherness - Displays positive feedback - Increases energy - Provides encouragement - Improves overall Team Culture - Builds trust within teammates 🙌🏼

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

My absolute favorite quote is, “The Only Person You Should Compare Yourself to is The Person that You Were Yesterday.” Once you stop comparing yourself to the others around you, you will be able to discover your best self

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

D1, D2, D3, JUCO, NAIA etc.. It doesn’t matter. Go to a program that truly wants you, values your strengths and wants to improve your weakness. You only get 4 years, pick a program that is fitting for YOU and not for the status that may or may not come with it

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

On the days you don’t feel like it but you do it anyways, those are the days you’re truly separating yourself 🏀💪🏼

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

The only 2 things your athlete needs post-game: A hug + “I’m proud of you” There is plenty of time to discuss details of the game later but I promise you immediately after the game isn’t the time. Your athlete should know their performance doesn’t dictate your love for them

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Failure is a part of the process. Stop trying to avoid it. You're going to miss shots. You're going to turn the ball over. You're opponent is going to score on you. But that doesn't make you a bad player. Instead, be willing to learn and grow from your mistakes.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

If you are an athlete and you aren't watching film you are missing out on a GREAT opportinuty to grow your game.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

If you want to be great... practice GREAT

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Game Plan for the week: Monday: Get better Tuesday: Get better Wednesday: Get better Thursday: Get better Friday: Get better Saturday: Get better Sunday: Get better Your goal this week is to get a little bit better everyday. Little gains will add up to big results

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

My 2016-17 season at UW-Green Bay we were ALL from Wisconsin We had the highest team cumulative GPA in the NCAA w/ 3.819 We held our opponents to the lowest PPG in the NCAA at 51.5 8/14 of us continued to play professionally A team of local underdogs who bought into a culture

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

The most overlooked quality in an athlete during the recruiting process is the effects they will have on the team's culture. That’s great if they can shoot the 3 but will this athlete change your culture for the better or the worse? Culture first ☝🏼

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

1 year

Mental toughness is showing up for your teammates when it’s their moment to shine.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

When I was young a coach told me "if you want to be great you have to put in the work when others aren't" In college (almost) every Sunday night I went to the gym by myself to work on my game. It was typically an off day but for me it was an opportunity to gain a small advantage

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

In the grand scheme of things our athletic journeys are short lived. Take advantage of every moment you get to play your sport. Fall in love with the grind and appreciate every second you get to compete cuz when it's over you will want to look back and know you gave it your all.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Confidence comes from preparation and not performance. Read that again. Many of us want to get minutes in a game in order to gain confidence but in reality, you build confidence during your preparation and then you can showcase it during the game Stop waiting, start preparing

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

In sports, there is an unwritten rule that you must hold yourself accountable before you have permission to hold others accountable.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

The greatest athletes train like they are the underdog but perform like they are a champion. It's this underdog mentality that keeps them hungry and always striving for more.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire 🔥 Year 4 starts today 🏀🇩🇪

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

There's nothing scarier than a team that truly has one shared goal: winning When all players and coaches buy into the team's goal and the team's success, anything is possible.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

If you want to become a better ball handler, you practice dribbling. If you want to become a better shooter, you practice shooting. If you want to become more positive, you practice gratitude. Sports require practice on both the physical AND mental side. Don't limit yourself.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

So thrilled to announce that I have been accepted into the @EdinburghUni where I will be starting my PhD in Sport, Physical Education and Health Science. Can’t wait to continue to learn about the mental side of sports! 📚🧠

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Two simple rules to implement that can help build culture: 1. All players must high-five each teammate when entering practice 2. All players must high-five each teammate when you leave practice This is a simple way to get your athletes to acknowledge and connect with everyone

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Heading back to Germany and couldn’t be more excited 💪🏼🇩🇪

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Thanks @BallisPsych for the 💎 today! Showing people you care is the most valuable tool you can use. Always show care for others, your work and yourself🤞🏼

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

If you stop the moment things get hard you will never know what if feels like to beat hard. Hard isn't the end, hard is the start of something great. You deserve to experience greatness. Don't let hard stop you from getting there.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

1 year

They say, Life's a dance, and if that’s the truth.. I only wanna dance with you 💗💍

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Even the most confident athletes can lose their confidence when they feel doubted or mistreated. My two messages for today: 1. Always be an elite teammate 2. Always believe in yourself

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Four tips to increase mental strength: - Practice Gratitude - Embrace mistakes as learning opportunities - Get out of your comfort zone - Practice positive self talk Don't wait for a strong mindset, create one!

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

If you’re missing shots pick up your energy and defensive presence. Scoring the basketball isn’t the only way to remain on the court 💪🏼

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

All ceilings are removed when an athlete starts to believe in themself. Be the reason they believe anything is possible✨

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Five player enforced rules that I believe attested to my college bball team's culture and success 1. Everyone communicated on the court 2. You don't sub out of a drill until it was done correctly 3. A turnover = 5 push ups 4. Make 300 shots a day 5. Optional is never optional

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Sometimes sharing pieces of our journey is the most powerful tool we can provide. The journey isn’t always easy but let me tell you.. it’s always worth it ✨ Check it out and share 🏀✍🏼

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

1 year

Hoopers PLEASE remember that your skills are not the only thing coaches are looking for this summer. Be a great teammates, dive for loose balls, lock someone up, be coachable. There are a lot of talented basketball players but separate yourself by doing the little things!

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

8 years

She took a few charges but also scored her 1000th point in the championship game today 🙌🏼 P.S that's the tourney MVP cheering behind her😈

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Be gritty.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

The 4C's that make up Mental Toughness: 1) Control 2) Commitment 3) Challenge 4) Confidence None more important than the other. Next time you go to work on your game, save some time to work on the 4C's Mental toughness CAN be trained, stop excluding it.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Playoffs are the time where you need to believe. Believe in your coaches. Believe in your teammates. Believe in your preparation. Understand what made you successful all season long and believe in yourself.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

The point is, be prepared for your moment because you never know what shot could be the shot that could brings your team to victory.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Top five things I’d tell my younger self: -Don’t be afraid to stand out -Your sacrifices are worth it -Your dreams aren’t too big -Strong is beautiful -I’m so proud of you HS is filled with challenges, esp. for an athlete with big goals but don’t let it stop you from dreaming!

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Don’t confusing going to the gym w/ going to the gym to get better There’s a huge difference. When you go to the gym, go with a purpose. What are you going to work on? What do you need to improve on? Going is half the battle, the other half comes from your effort and intentions

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

When I was young I dreamed of playing HS varsity bball When I was playing on varsity I dreamed of playing college bball When I was playing in college I dreamed of playing professional bball Now as a professional I dream of helping other young hoopers chase their dreams 🏀

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

You’ll be surprised how good an offense looks when all players are dedicated to: Cutting hard Setting good screens Moving with purpose Communicating actions Keeping proper spacing You don’t have to have an elaborate offense to score as long as all players are bought in 🏀

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Born and raised an underdog.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

I LOVE every second of this video This is accountability This is passion This is culture This is women leading women

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Fear of failure can be what holds athletes back from reaching their full potential. Be the coach that uses mistakes as a learning opportunity. Be the teammate that picks someone up after a mistake. Build a culture that accepts mistakes. If we never fail, we will never grow.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Continue to trust the process. New challenges will arise, you will fail and you will be tested mentally This is the time of year where we have to buckle down n continue trusting the process. We can’t recreate the wheel we have to trust that all our work n preparation is enough

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

1 year

Reminder: AAU is still for growth. All basketball players have different goals and dreams but please no matter what those are, play for a club that cares about your development!

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

If you want to win 2023, you gotta win the month. If you want to win the month, you gotta win the week. If you want to win the week, you gotta win the day. And if you want to win the day… Win the morning. Get after it today.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

There’s always been a fine line between a confident athlete and a cocky athlete but the problem is, female athletes have an even finer line. Any action of confidence gets marked as cocky. Let the girls show emotion or confidence without writing it off as arrogance ✊🏼

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Confidence comes from within so stop caring about what others think of you and start caring about what you think of yourself.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

1 year

We > Me

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

To be a great Coach isn’t to just believe in your athletes but to provide the tools and environment so that your athletes can believe in themselves There is no amount of belief that can be as powerful as the belief in oneself

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Aren't the most athletic? Can't jump the highest? Can't run the fastest? No problem. Be the hardest worker. Be the most dedicated. Do all the little things. Master the fundamentals. Hard to beat someone who is obsessed with the grind.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

You don't have to be the tallest, strongest, or fastest but you can always be in the best shape and having the strongest mindset. Find your advantage.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

I think there is a misconception of what defines success as a youth coach. Wins ≠ success Developing a love for the game=success Athletes blossom at different rates, don’t miss out on a future star because you were only focused on wins. Success today vs. success tomorrow

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

In basketball we are given a (+/-) on our performance. How did our presence on the court impact the team? Did your team extend the lead or lose the lead? I believe we also have a Leadership (+/-) When you lead your team, does your team extend their potential or lose it?

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

The 7 Key Characteristics of an Elite Teammate Hard Working Confident Selfless Good Energy Coachable Encouraging Trustworthy There’s no days off when it comes to being an elite teammate just like there’s no days off to become an elite player. If u want it, u have to work for it

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Today will be the first time playing in front of a crowd in almost two years Extra thankful for #GameDay today🏀

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

The best people to surround yourself with: - Someone who’s grateful - Someone who’s motivated - Someone who’s optimistic - Someone who’s inspiring You become who you surround yourself with, choose wisely

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Today I decided to Google the significance of a 27th birthday, the result you might wonder… you move from mid-twenties to your late-twenties. Great. So I guess cheers to my late-twenties and another year of this beautiful life 🎉💃🏻

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Just because you’re appointed as a Captain on your team doesn’t mean everyone has to respect you. You have to earn that. Be the hardest worker, be approachable and show them you care about them as both an athlete and a person. Then you can earned that respect.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Never forget the ones that were with you at the start of your journey.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

My first professional team had a rule of giving everyone a high five when you walked into practice and when you left practice. I liked this because you then acknowledged everyone. It was a simple sign of unity and togetherness.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

You can hold your athletes accountable without devaluing them. It’s important to know the difference. It could be the difference between holding them back or allowing them to grow and shine.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

Maybe it’s just me but I feel like the coaches who see their players as people first and athletes second often win a lot of games.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

Any athlete you see succeeding these days has earned it! The last two years we’ve all been fighting through a pandemic. There were times with no gyms, no games, no practices. It was a time that the dedicated athletes separated themselves from the “when it’s convenient” athlete.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

This is what it’s all about 💙🏀

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

2 years

My goal is to change the way we look at the talent development process. Mental skills and physical skills have to be developed side by side. Hard to reach excellence without both.

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

3 years

First thing I talk to my female athletes about is how to show positive/confident body language Stand tall Smile Shoulders back Head held high First impressions are key and when you see a young lady walking into a gym like this, you know she means business 😎

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Laken James

@lakenjames5

1 year

Leadership in sports isn't about being the loudest voice in the room; it's about being the most impactful. Lead with actions, not just words 🌟

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Laken James

@lakenjames5