The most important stat in Michael Jordan's "Flu Game" performance wasn't his near-40 ball. It wasn't the win either. One stat lives in the shadow of this surreal performance: the time he was in the game.
In game 5 of the '97 Finals, a (physically) sick Jordan dropped 38 points and got a crucial playoff W. But his 44 minutes are what makes this effort legend.
For starters, there are only 48 minutes in a regulation NBA game. The league leader in minutes per game this past season, Pascal Siakim, only averaged 37 minutes per game. Even when healthy, no one's in the game that long.
No doubt this is remarkable, but flu game minutes are sick; MJ was playing some of his best ball with an illness that would have many of us bedridden.
But all of us can't be Jordan, most of us shouldn't be Jordan, and none of us need to be Jordan. All of us can't perform well when we're less than 100%, most of us shouldn't try to, and none of us need to.
Minutes are worth measuring and game-planning around. Hoopers manage their playing time to play their best, and we should do the same in our relationships to maintain our emotional well-being and show up in the best way we can.
In hoop, "minutes played" refers to the time a player spends on the court during a game.
In our relationships, minutes refer to the time we spend with our people in person, in activity, and in communication.
Where minutes on the court deal in physical energy, minutes with your people deal in emotional energy.
Both types of minutes help measure contribution and involvement. Both should be tracked to manage fatigue, maximize performance, and strategize game planning. And both showcase a person's impact and effectiveness.
Sometimes, you push through fatigue to grab a game 5 in sports. With people, however, when you're tired, your head's clouded, or you're otherwise off your game, you should sit down, not continue to play.
When done correctly, managing your minutes can help you maintain connection, prevent burnout, and enhance your relationship satisfaction. It means fewer angry words between loved ones and more time spent on the same emotional page.
On the other hand, the dissenters are saying managing your minutes is rigid and overly calculating. But nobody said it has to be that way. Focus on your time with people; don't spend it all strategizing.
They also say it ruins genuine and spontaneous interactions. But genuineness falls to the level of intention and perception. We can always control our intention. We can never control perception, so don't even worry your pretty little head about it.
I haven't always tracked this, so I know y'all might not be either. Tracking brings awareness, and you need to be aware to make adjustments.
Let's look into how you can become more aware of your minutes.
We'll start with the fundamentals. You have to notice to become aware, and you have to be aware to make adjustments.
Take note of when you typically have high or low energy throughout the day. Understanding your energy patterns can help you identify the moments you feel up to engaging with others. Is it in the morning? Maybe after you eat?
A scouting report tells a story about your strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies.
To build one, become aware of the objects, behavior, and situations that drain or replenish your emotional energy. These triggers can be different for everyone. The scouting report for Jared says his energy level falls commensurate with the amount of sleep he's missed. For you, it might be a missed meal. Once you know your triggers, you've seen it! Avoid things that drain your energy, lean into things that give you energy, and plan your interactions around them.
In basketball, coaches and players use nonverbal signals to tell each other when to make a substitution. Nonverbal or a simple phrase, create a way to let your people know when you're not 100%. Just make sure you come back and be open to others needing a break too.
Pay attention to your emotional energy throughout the day, in different situations, and with different people. Tell your people when you need to come out of the game, figure out when you have the most emotional energy, and read your scouting report.
Stay tuned for deeper dives on tactically managing your minutes, Ben Simmons Syndrome, and developing your Special Stuff.
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