source
There is something I like about basketball that really strikes me as a good life lesson, and that is the prioritization of efficiency. A player more often than naught, is judged, and will be remembered by his/her career stats. The number of points scored, assists, steals and rebounds will all considered on a game by game basis to judge a players impact.

Unfortunately for many players, basketball, or the NBA to be precise is a fierce competition for minutes and rotation chances, meaning that players have to impress with the chance they are given, and fast. A failure to do so will quickly lead to a rapid decline in opportunities presented and is a significant step in the way out of the NBA.

Therefore, players need to learn to maximize their playing time in order to produce the best results and most encouraging stats that coaches and pundits can be encouraged by. Getting the best out of every opportunity means giving an efficient performance in such instances. While it seems easy on the surface, the road to efficiency is somewhat complex and certainly very demanding.

What it Takes

Before a player is considered NBA ready, or at least team ready, it would have been after a careful consideration of the best fit for such a player in terms of what can be brought into the team. This usually requires a lot of background work, watching hours of footage as well as countless hours of practice.

We saw a good example in flashes of the brief opportunities Philadelphia 76ers rookie Charles Bassey got when star center Joel Embiid was injured. Having been denied an opportunity for most of the season, he got his chance against the Denver Nuggets about a month ago and put on a strong performance. This, he attributed to studying the footages of Embiid and others in his position, and figuring out what works for him.

It is also important for every aspiring NBA player to play to their strengths and develop these areas before the door of opportunity comes knocking. It is better in my view to be known for being an excellent defensive player and not have the best offense, than to be pretty low bar or average and replaceable on all fronts.

Too Many Shots

Another costly mistake that can be made is succumbing to the pressure for instant impressions, especially for rookies. Eager to impress, players try and selfishly stand out as individuals rather than putting the team's overall play in focus, and this backfires. While it is certainly advisable to stand out, not being a team player can be one of the fastest ways to be sidelined to the doghouses of any teams roster.

Therefore it is important to pick shots and opportunities with fair consideration for how it impacts the whole team. No player who improves the fortunes of a team will go unnoticed. Efficiency is the name of the game as far as the NBA is concerned, and those stats simply do not lie.