Many professional athletes don’t realize just how blessed they really are. However, for elite NBA guards Austin Reaves and Duncan Robinson, there is a strong awareness and appreciation for the lifestyle they currently lead. In a chat on “The Young Man and the Three,” the pair discussed being grateful for their jobs, earning millions to play a game they love.
“One thing I tell myself all the time is that 99.5% of anybody in the world would trade positions with us right now,” said Reaves. “If you asked a question like ‘Would you switch lives?’ I guarantee you they would say yes. We live the best life you could live. Obviously, people love other sports, and they’re doing what they love, but we’re in a really, really good place.”
It’s the dream of many kids to join the ranks of the greatest in their favorite sport, but so few actually get to realize this dream. Out of 8.2 billion people worldwide, only a few hundred can say they’re in the NBA, and Duncan Robinson agrees that players are too quick to take it for granted.
“For whatever reason, as NBA players, we’re all living our dreams, but generally speaking, it’s a league of misery where everyone is like ‘I don’t have this opportunity or I should be having this or that and it’s like if you just take a moment to take a step back and be like ‘Man this is a child’s game that I get to play and get this opportunity and make money,” said Robinson. “I think about the fact that I’ve had a basketball season every single winter since I was eight years old. That, to me, is remarkable. Not to lose sight of that because it’s kind of easy to if you get into this default mode, and it can be a dangerous solace to be.”
Despite the years of grinding it takes to get into the league, players can often lose sight of where it all started. For players like Robinson and Reaves, they started playing at an early age, and being able to get paid for something they’ve loved since childhood is a precious gift. For guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo, who grew up impoverished in Greece, the NBA helped him get out of a tough situation and save his family from the struggles of poverty.
Still, despite how good these players have it, many of them lose sight of the bigger picture. Whether it’s not getting their desired role, a distaste for their team’s home city, or a hunger for higher pay, some players would rather feign misery than take a humble approach to their situation.
It’s nice to know that there are still some players who are aware of their fortunes, and it says a lot about their mentality as athletes. For Reaves and Robinson, this appreciative approach will no doubt serve them well in their careers and will help them keep a level head when things aren’t going their way.
As the starting shooting guard for the Lakers next season, Austin Reaves, in particular, will be facing a lot of pressure to perform after his breakout season in 2024-25 (20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game on 46.0% shooting), but he’s just grateful to have the opportunity to live out his childhood dream. The same can be said for Duncan Robinson, who is heading into his eighth NBA season.
