As a basketballer, do you face these problems?
- Do you train hard but don’t get the results?
- Does your mind let you down?
- Do your nerves overcome you?
- Do your competitors intimidate you?
- Does your anger stop you from winning?
- Do you lose because of little mistakes?
- Do your negative thoughts hurt you?
- Is your mindset a mess?
- Do you find it hard to bounce back?
- Do you find your results are not consistent?
- Are you a talented athlete but your negative mindset hurts you every day?
- Is your mindset like quicksand that drags you down?
- Does it stop you from winning and performing at your best?
Areas you can get help with to compete and dominate at the very highest levels of Basketball…
“At the elite level, its 80% mind and 20% body. At the top in any sport, the most successful athletes are not only physically talented, they have the mindset of a champion.”
- Positivity
- Motivation
- Best Self
- Focus & Concentration
- Nerves & Anxiety
- Team cohesion
- Peak Performance Planning
- Bounce back
- World class attitude
- Champions Body Language
- Mastering your reactions
- Consistency
- Cutting Edge Mindset
- ‘Mind Hacking’ techniques
- Mind Game plans
- Mindset skills, strategies and procedures
- Visualisation & visual assimilation
- Mindfulness
- Emotion management
- Deal with pressure
- Creating Positive team environments
- Competition & Game day Systems
- Goals, targets & trackers
- Sports Growth Mindset
- Self belief, Trust and Faith
- Confidence
- Champions systems, processes and SOPs
- Mindset simulation in training
- Reflection & Projection
The Key Mindset Challenges in Basketball
The Elite Sport
Mindset Coach
John Novak is widely known as Australia’s No. 1 Sports Mindset Specialist, with his athletes reaching National and International success at World Championships, Olympics and Major Championships.
His athletes include Grace Kim (Evian Championship Winner 2025) and Jake Weatherald (Australian Test Cricket, 2025–26 Ashes). John has published numerous Sports Mindset books and presented across TV, radio and podcasts.
John has worked at the highest levels of professional sport as Mindset Coach for Sydney FC (A-League 2021–2023) and Melbourne FC (AFL 2023). He was previously Head Mindset Coach at Manly Sea Eagles NRL (2019–2022), Canterbury Bulldogs NRL (2012–2017) and Sydney Roosters (2009). He also has been the mindset coach of the Sydney Kings (NBL) and NSW Waratahs (Super Rugby).
He has worked with hundreds of elite athletes and teams in 50+ different sports. His extensive experience in sports mindset is unparalleled.
What John’s Basketball Mindset Program Covers
1+1=3
What happens when you add an Elite Mindset Coach to an Elite Athlete or Team?
John proven and tested mindset program has a multiplication effect. He helps the athlete or team achieve results far greater than usually possible.
His program has guided athletes and teams to achieve results quicker. His strategies vastly improve your performance to achieve outstanding results.
John’s athletes become leaders going on to captain national teams in a variety of sports. The program is simple, clear and easily actioned. This is why his athletes enjoy the multiplication effect.
Every athlete or team John works with develops laser focus on what’s required and how to achieve their targets.
His athletes and teams get the results!
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How it works?
Even though every athlete requires a tailored mindset program, the formula to fast track success is the same.
Step 1
Initial Mindset Assessment
Step 2
Develop Specific Sports Mindset Targets
Step 3
Tailored Mindset Program with Detailed Action Plan
Step 4
Track and Celebrate Progress
Step 5
Review and Create Higher Tragets
While Working with John, his athletes achieved:
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a mindset coach help a basketball player?
A: A basketball mindset coach works on the mental skills that determine performance under pressure — free throw composure, shot confidence, defensive intensity, fourth-quarter resilience, and the ability to recover quickly from turnovers and errors. John Novak has worked with the Sydney Kings NBL program and individual players at professional and representative level. His basketball-specific Boomerang Effect program is built around the fast-paced, high-decision-volume demands of the game.
How do basketball players improve their free throw shooting under pressure?
A: Free throw shooting breaks down under pressure because of heightened self-consciousness and outcome anxiety. John Novak teaches players a pre-shot routine — a consistent physical and mental sequence that anchors automatic execution regardless of the game situation. The routine shifts focus from outcome (will this go in?) to process (my routine). Practised consistently in training, these routines make high-pressure free throws feel the same as practice free throws.
Has John Novak worked with NBL basketball players?
A: Yes. John Novak worked with the Sydney Kings NBL program and with Ben Madgen, Sydney Kings Captain and Australian representative basketballer. His work with basketball clubs mirrors his approach with NRL and A-League teams — individual player mindset development combined with team culture and cohesion programs that build the collective mental environment for consistent performance.
Can mindset coaching help with basketball consistency?
A: Inconsistency in basketball is almost always a mental performance issue — players have the physical skills but their output varies dramatically depending on confidence, pressure, or game situation. John Novak’s program specifically targets consistency: building the mental routines and self-management skills that produce the same level of performance regardless of opponent, crowd, game situation, or personal form. His athletes typically report significant improvements in performance consistency within 6–8 weeks.
Does John Novak offer online basketball mindset coaching?
A: Yes. John Novak provides online basketball mindset coaching to players worldwide via video call, including in the USA, Canada, Europe, and across Asia. All mindset coaching translates completely to online delivery — the strategies, tools, and programs are just as effective remotely. Given the global nature of basketball and the strong US market for mental performance coaching, many of John’s basketball clients are based internationally.
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