I GOT TRADED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO
The reality of being traded has always loomed over me, and has, at one point or another, loomed over every NBA player’s head during their career.
And even if the trade never happened, the news, nerves, and “what if’s” run through your head at all times. With one phone call, my entire life could change at the drop of a hat, and it could happen at any moment.
On January 7th (my wife’s birthday), I was about to play in Philadelphia against the Sixers. Same routine, same pregame treatment, and same pregame coffee too. But on that night, I got the phone call.
I had played for the same team for the last 4.5 years. Same city, same people, same building, same routines. I was definitely comfortable, and I loved the people in DC. I had gotten used to what life was like in DC and what my everyday routines consisted of while playing for the Wizards.
All the familiarity and comfort that I was accustomed to enjoying was pulled out from under my feet in an instant, and I barely had time to breathe. After the game, I was taken back to our house in Washington and the moving process began right away: phone calls from new coaches and teammates, introductions to new playbooks and potential neighborhoods to live in, and lots and lots of packing.
Life was a whirlwind. Trying to get on the same page with Jenn on what we were going to do, while making sure I had everything ready to go to make the trip to Atlanta made for an exhausting 24 hours. I felt like I was trying to drink out of a firehose.
At times it felt overwhelming, at times I was sad, and at times I couldn’t believe how excited I was. Every single emotion that I could possibly feel was smacking me in the face in real time.
And throughout it all, I really wanted to blame others and point fingers. And there were times where I most definitely did. But before I could dwell on it too long, I was on a plane to Atlanta, and playing in a game for a brand new team 2 days after that.
Three weeks later, I am now certainly at peace. And most of that change came down to this coffee company! If we want to live a certain way at The Bitter Truth, I better be able
to apply it when the chips are down and life feels the most chaotic. Life is not always easy, and I cannot go through my entire life living in a state of comfort, no matter how uncomfortable this change can be.
So while I still feel like I am drinking out of that same firehouse, I have been able to practice what we preach. Life is uncomfortable, bad days can (and will) come, and the most important decision we have is the next one. And while the last 3 weeks have not been easy, having that mindset has made it easier than it could have been.
So, in summary:
- Getting traded in the NBA is wild, especially mid-season
- My wife is a rockstar. She is steady as they come, and has been a trooper throughout this massive change we have undergone
- Atlanta is super cool, I am going to really like it here
- Stressful days come, that doesn’t mean you have a stressful life
- You better practice what you preach.
Cheers,
Corey Kispert
