A Crucial Question Every Basketball Parent Needs to Ask

This might be the most important articles you’ll read when it comes to your child’s basketball journey — so I hope you’ll stick with me for just a few minutes.

Let’s get right to it:

What does your child really want from basketball?

Is it to spend time with friends?

Or is it to get better?

Because in 99% of cases…you can’t have both.

Here’s why:

Let’s talk about the “play with friends” path.
This is what I see far too often...

A player — let’s call him Timmy — signs up for an AAU team because all his friends are on it.

Seems like a great idea, right?

But here’s what’s really happening:

• They rarely practice.

• The coach is someone’s dad — well-intentioned, but in over his head.

• Playing time is inconsistent, and favoritism creeps in.

• Timmy gets 3 shots a game, touches the ball 10 times at best.

• Meanwhile, his parents are spending weekends (and money) traveling to Sportika, Spooky Nook, Atlantic City — paying for gas, parking, and even entry just to watch.

But the most important part?

Timmy isn’t getting better.

He’s also playing on a travel team with — you guessed it — the same group of friends.
It’s fun...but there’s zero real development.

Now here’s the “get better” path:

Timmy could choose to spend time in a structured skill development program…

Where he’d be:

• Getting 10x more reps than in games or team practices

• Coached by someone who actually studies the game and knows how to teach it

• Surrounded by other hungry, committed athletes who want to improve

• Developing real confidence, real skill, and a real edge

• Supported with accountability, mindset tools, and structured progression

But the problem?

There’s no time.
Because that time is already filled with two teams that aren’t helping him grow.

So what happens?

Timmy stays stuck.
Year after year.
Behind the same kids who are developing.

The friendships? They’re still there.

But the potential?
It’s slowly slipping away.

So I’ll leave you with this powerful question to ask your athlete:

👉 Do you want to play with your friends... or do you want to get better?

Because they’re not the same thing.
And one of them leads to real growth.

PS: If you're looking for help CLICK HERE

– Coach Nick Aldiero