Bouncing on the beach

From a whole you can choose a diminutive piece and then you are going to find a new universe again. Because the closer we get to something, the more new things we will find. If we look closely at matter, we will find that what we thought was, for example, a simple tiny sand particle is composed of different atoms that constitute a whole new universe.

People usually think, why don't we find life on other planets? It is the same as saying, if we are on a beach and there is no wind, why does a sand particle over there not touch that particle of sand over here?

Learning basketball begins with a bounce

To learn to play basketball, we have first of all to bounce the ball, like the children in the picture, and try to score a basket. Then we have to play with other children.

Kids bouncing balls. Part of a painting by Pepe Rey

Controlling the body in basketball is quite difficult at the beginning. You will not have that problem if you have been playing since you were very little, but if you are a grown person and start then, you will find that it is difficult to move your body without looking like a clumsy parrot. Then you start to progress quite easily, because you did not know anything. And afterwards you start to find a certain level from which you will improve little by little. 

Practice and growth as a player

The main reason why one does not progress is that one does not practise, but if you have the possibility, there is going to be a moment in your life when you are going to explode. This moment usually comes when you start to become a man. Suddenly you have extreme energy and your chest will expand, and then you will see that you go for all the rebounds, defend and score baskets like fritters (or hot cakes), as we say in Spain. I think that being a very good player when you are very young is not necessarily better than if you do not stand out until you are older. In fact, it can be counterproductive. It is better to stay dormant until you explode, as was the case with Pau Gasol.

More on basketball practice

For my thoughts on repetition in training, see Nuts Like Brains. For moves I later practised with Rías Baixas, see Llull’s and Dončić’s moves.