*Inspired by and modified from "The Daily Stoic"
Professional sports, teams and individuals, embrace stoicism as a high performance strategy. Stoic philosophy comes from a Greek word ‘stoa’ or porch. Stoics were the “porch guys.”
As Coach Bob Knight said, "the mental is to the physical four to one," competitive advantage flows from mental edges.
Two famous Stoic practitioners stood at opposite ends of the spectrum - the Emperor Marcus Aurelius and the former slave Epictetus.
Stoicism encourages virtue - courage, wisdom, justice, and moderation.
Basketball: Basketball virtue manifests in different ways including "competitive character."
“Control what you can control.” Professionals control attitudes, choices, and effort. They don’t control what happens to them, but how they respond.
Basketball: When players enter the league, they commit to career development or sometimes to "The Life." It's hard to excel as a pro while burning the candle at both ends.
“Aspire to virtue.” Marcus Aurelius had overwhelming responsibilities as emperor. He chose to focus on good character, good intentions, and good actions.”
Basketball: Virtue shows up in work ethic, humility, and temperance.
“Self-control is a choice.”
Basketball: In a physical sport, a narrow gap exists between stimulus (contact) and response (retaliation).
Develop the fortress within. The Stoics called this the "inner citadel." He who is tested has the privilege of learning resilience.
Basketball: The basketball inner citadel is the metaphorical place where a player finds peace.
“The good of the many matters.” Marcus Aurelius shared the analogy of bees. What is good for the hive is good for the bees.
Basketball: Stoic philosophy puts the team first.
Set our standard. “Is this what the person I’d like to be would do?” Every day provides choices.
Basketball: Our choices and our habits define our destiny.
A personal philosophy helps people with identity and performance, who we are and what we do.
Lagniappe: (via ChatGPT Plus)
NBA Players & Coaches with Stoic Leanings
CJ McCollum
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Context: The NBA guard CJ McCollum embraced Stoic philosophy after a teammate gifted him Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle Is the Way.
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Impact: The book helped him find balance between his personal life and professional demands.
Brad Stevens (Coach, formerly Butler & Boston Celtics Executive)
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Approach: Known for his quiet composure on the sideline, Stevens models Stoic presence—he stays calm, focuses on what he can control (“the next play”), avoids emotional outbursts, and reinforces the “do your job” mentality of steady excellence.
Phil Jackson (Coach of Bulls & Lakers)
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Though not explicitly Stoic, Jackson is known as the “Zen Master” for his integration of Eastern philosophy. His calm, meditative approach and psychological insight share substantial overlap with Stoic values of inner control, mental discipline, and composure.
Broader Professional Sports & Stoicism
NFL Coaches & Executives
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Bill Belichick, Michael Lombardi, and the New England Patriots staff circulated The Obstacle Is the Way during their 2014 Super Bowl run. Similarly, John Schneider and Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks passed the book around their locker room the following season.
Other Sports Figures
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LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have been associated with Stoic practices, such as visualizing outcomes (including negative ones) and focusing on process over results.
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Kawhi Leonard is often described as having a naturally stoic disposition: calm, measured, and unflappable under pressure.
Olympic Gold Medalist Speed Skater: Mark Tuitert
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Tuitert credits Marcus Aurelius’ core Stoic principle—“what stands in the way becomes the way”—for transforming his approach after burnout and multiple crises. He went on to win gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics by focusing on what he could control and letting go of outcomes.
Greg Harden (Peak Performance Coach)
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Though not Stoic in name, Harden’s mantra—“control the controllables”—echoes core Stoic teaching. He coached elite performers like Tom Brady, Michael Phelps, Desmond Howard, and NBA draft pick Nik Stauskas, helping them manage pressure and focus on internal resilience.
