Over a decade ago, I had the pleasure of heading up to Gonzaga University for a basketball charity event put on by a friend of mine, a former player I’d worked with earlier. It was a great opportunity to reconnect, help out, and be around the game.

What I didn’t realize was that this trip would leave one of the most powerful impressions I’ve ever had about what elite focus really looks like.

At the event was Kyle Korver, one of the best shooters to ever enter the NBA. His name alone carries weight, over 2,400 career threes, one of the purest releases you’ll ever see, and a reputation for work ethic that even pros admired from afar.

One morning, someone asked if I wanted to help out with Kyle’s workout.
I didn’t even hesitate, of course I did.

So, the next morning, before most people were even awake, I walked into the gym at Gonzaga. It was just Kyle, a Gonzaga trainer, a coach, and me. No cameras. No crowd. No music. Just a ball, a hoop, and an empty gym.

And what I witnessed over the next 90 minutes was unforgettable.

The Standard of Elite

From the first rep, you could feel it, the intensity.
Every shot. Every movement. Every drill. There wasn’t a single wasted moment.

Kyle went full speed on every rep.
There was no “warming up” or easing into the workout, it was all gas from the start.

He didn’t talk, he didn’t joke, and he didn’t need any hype. He just locked in.

What stood out even more was what happened when he missed.

No frustration.
No hand in the air.
No reaction at all.

He simply grabbed the next pass and went right into his next shot. It was like the miss never existed.

His ability to stay emotionally neutral, to stay locked in the moment, was something I had never seen at that level.

Even during rest breaks, he’d sit quietly, sipping water, eyes down, like he was mentally rehearsing the next set of drills. The focus never left. Not once.

The Lesson

After the workout, I had the chance to talk with Kyle for a few minutes.
I asked him about his approach, how he stayed so calm, so consistent, so dialed in.

He smiled and said something that stuck with me ever since:

Think about that.

No memory.

Every shot, every play, good or bad, it’s gone.
He doesn’t carry it into the next possession, the next drill, or the next game.

That’s the difference between performing and thinking about performing.

The Mental Game

What Kyle taught me that day is what I now teach athletes, coaches, and even business professionals:

Elite performance is about mastering your mind in the moment.

It’s not about perfection, it’s about presence.

When you make a mistake, your body wants to react. You feel that frustration rising.
But elite performers like Kyle train themselves to respond, not react.

They know the only thing that matters is the next rep.

And here’s the truth:
You can’t have confidence if you’re still replaying what went wrong.
You can’t be your best self if your attention is stuck in the past.

That’s why mental performance isn’t optional, it’s the separator.

Final Thought

That morning in the Gonzaga gym wasn’t about shooting mechanics or technique; it was about seeing what championship focus really looks like.

Kyle Korver wasn’t just training his body that day; he was sharpening his mind, one rep at a time.

So, the next time you step into a game, a meeting, or any high-pressure moment, remember this simple phrase:

Let go of the last play.
Focus on the one in front of you.
That’s where greatness lives.

Coach Dave

www.coachdave.me