Brampton, Ontario’s own Anthony Bennett made history as the first Canadian to be chosen first overall in the NBA Draft. Now he’s blogging about his rookie season for Sportsnet. In this installment, he writes about the NBA grind and adjusting to life in Cleveland.
I’m learning that life on the road in the NBA is very busy and structured. There’s a lot to do, and getting as much rest as possible is important.
A typical day on the road starts by getting up early for morning shootaround, almost always after arriving late the night before. Then you get back to the hotel, have a nap and eat a pre-game meal a couple of hours before the game. After the game, it’s back on the plane and on to the next city.
It’s certainly different than when we used to travel in college. The NBA has a more rigorous travel schedule, and the planes are a lot more spacious.
Thus far my favourite away city is Atlanta, but that may change in the near future.
I have my own house in Cleveland now. My family visits me from time to time, so it feels a lot like home. Cleveland is a nice and quiet place, and that helps me to focus and get better everyday. I don’t do much on my free time; I’m a homebody and I like to stay in and just hang.
One month into my first season, I can really appreciate the professional approach you need to take toward your craft in the NBA.
My slow start can be attributed to me missing the whole summer due to my shoulder surgery and rehab. I didn’t have the right amount of time to get ready for the season, but I have been working really hard to get into great shape and get my rhythm back—eating right and getting in two workout sessions a day on days we don’t have games. I’ll surely get where I need to be.
I’ve been able to watch my teammate Andrew Bynum come back from his own injury struggles. Andrew is very laid back. He loves the game and works very hard to help the team win. He’s a good role model to learn from when it comes to overcoming adversity.
Reader Question:
What is your go-to pre-game music these days?
– Carla, Scarborough
I don’t have a specific song I’m currently listening to the most right now, but my pre-game go-to music has to be some Notorious B.I.G.