Sideline Scoop—Meet the Coaches: Malik Hamilton, Basketball

A young Black man with locs, wearing a light blue polo, looks directly at the camera in a brightly lit room.

When you find something you’re truly passionate about, it will always pull you back no matter how hard you try to follow a different path. After Malik Hamilton’s collegiate and professional basketball runs, he thought that the next step in his life would be pursuing a 9-5 job. However, he quickly realized this was not his calling.

Learn about Coach Malik’s experience in basketball and how his own coaches inspired him to be the coach he is today.

Q: Tell me about your experience in basketball. How did it all start for you, what kind of training have you had, and what motivated you to start coaching others?

I started playing basketball when I was 6 years old and haven’t stopped since. I’ve played at the collegiate level and even played professionally in Israel for one season. After my season in Israel, I decided to return to the U.S. to pursue a 9-5 job, but I was not as fulfilled as when I was playing basketball. This inspired me to start coaching, and I now coach with Rising Sports Stars.

Q: What qualities does a player need to excel in basketball?

Basketball players need a strong work ethic, willpower, and dedication to get to where they aspire to be.

Q: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a coach?

Never give up and always have a “why.” My coach taught me that it is easier to focus on what you’re passionate about when you have a reason for doing it. For example, his “why” was his son. When his son watched him coach, he wanted him to see that he was a role model for the athletes. This has always stuck with me, so I always tell my athletes to think about their “why.”

Q: How would you describe your coaching style?

I like to alter my coaching style to each athlete that I coach in order to reciprocate their energy. There are more quiet athletes—like I was when I was younger—so I take a different approach when coaching them compared to the more outgoing athletes.

Q: What is your favorite part about coaching at J Sports Academy?

It’s fun to work with different athletes who play sports other than basketball. I like seeing how the skills they’ve learned in their other sports are transferable to basketball.

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