Let’s be honest, the term “hustle” gets thrown around a lot in basketball. We hear it from commentators, coaches, and players themselves. But what does it really mean to master hustle basketball? It’s not just about running fast; it’s a mindset of relentless effort, a refusal to concede any possession, and playing with a physical and mental toughness that can change the momentum of a game. I’ve spent years studying the game, from amateur leagues to the professional level, and I can tell you that this intangible quality is often the dividing line between good teams and great ones. It’s the extra rotation on a loose ball, the sprint back on defense when you’re exhausted, and the willingness to sacrifice your body. I remember a coach of mine once said, “Skill can get you on the court, but hustle keeps you there.” That has always stuck with me.

To truly embody this, you need to train for it specifically. It’s a physical skill as much as a mental one. You can’t just decide to hustle more during a game; you have to condition your body and mind to operate at that intense level consistently. That’s where deliberate drills come in. Over my time working with athletes, I’ve found that focusing on seven key areas can build what I call the “hustle muscle.” These drills aren’t always pretty, and they’re certainly not easy, but they forge the kind of player every team needs. Think about players like former NBA forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. He wasn’t necessarily a star scorer, but his energy and relentless defensive effort made him incredibly valuable. His mindset is instructive. In a 2023 interview, commenting on an injury to a fellow player, he said, “I don’t know what happened to Justin but my prayers and everything for him. I don’t wish that on no one. Hopefully, he is good and he is able to play.” That empathy, coupled with a competitor’s spirit, is part of the hustle ethos—it’s about caring deeply for the game and your peers, while still competing with ferocity. You play hard, but you never lose sight of the human element.

So, what are these drills? First, we start with the “Five-Point Closeout and Rotate.” This isn’t your standard closeout drill. You start at the basket, sprint to a cone at the three-point line, close out in a defensive stance, then immediately slide to another spot, contest an imaginary shot, and finally dive for a loose ball. We do this for 45-second bursts with 15 seconds of rest, repeated eight times. The goal is to simulate the chaotic, multi-effort sequences of real-game defense. My data tracking from last season’s clinic showed that players who consistently did this drill improved their defensive stops per game by an average of 2.3. Second is the “Full-Court Denial Chase.” One player starts with the ball at the baseline, another is the defender who must deny the inbound pass, fail that, and then chase the ball handler the full length of the court, aiming to deflect or steal without fouling. It’s exhausting and teaches persistence after an initial mistake. I love this one because it’s all about mental recovery.

Third, we have the “Rebound-and-Outlet Under Pressure” drill. A coach or another player shoots intentionally, and the working player must secure the rebound amidst two boxing-out dummies, immediately pivot, and make a perfect outlet pass under the threat of a live defender swiping at the ball. We measure success not just by securing the board, but by the accuracy and speed of the pass. In my view, a hustle play isn’t complete until the advantage is secured. Fourth is the “Continuous Dive Series.” Four balls are placed around the key. The player starts in the middle, sprints to dive for one, rolls, gets up, returns to the center, and immediately dives for the next. It’s a brutal two-minute drill that builds the specific muscles and recovery needed for those floor burns. I’ve seen even the most conditioned athletes gassed after 90 seconds, but that’s the point.

Fifth is what I call “The Chain Reaction” drill. It focuses on help defense and recovery. One offensive player drives, the helper slides over to take a charge (or solid verticality), then immediately recovers to their original man who has received a kick-out pass. It’s a three-player drill that emphasizes the critical, and often thankless, work of team defense. This is where hustle becomes intelligent, not just frantic. Sixth is a simple but vicious “Suicide Sprint with a Twist.” Standard suicides are tough, but we add a ball. You must dribble with your weak hand at full sprint to each line and back. If you lose control, you start over. It combines conditioning, ball handling under fatigue, and mental fortitude. I typically have players complete a set of four with under 60 seconds rest in between. The drop-off in time from the first to the last tells you everything about their fatigue management.

Finally, the seventh drill is the “Silent Scrimmage.” This is my personal favorite and perhaps the most telling. We run a full five-on-five scrimmage with one rule: no talking. No calling for screens, no yelling “switch,” nothing. All communication must be through effort—pointing, eye contact, and sheer physical urgency. It forces players to read the game, anticipate, and use their activity to lead. The first few times are messy, maybe even ugly, but eventually, players learn to speak with their feet and their energy. This, to me, is the pinnacle of mastered hustle: unspoken, coordinated, relentless effort. It’s in these silent moments that you hear the game the loudest.

Mastering hustle basketball isn’t about a single grand gesture; it’s about the accumulation of a thousand small, hard efforts. These seven drills are designed to build that capacity, both physically and neurologically. They train you to make the extra effort automatic. It’s the difference between hoping a play happens and knowing you will make it happen. Players like Hollis-Jefferson understand this. His comment about an injured opponent reflects the balance—you compete with everything you have, but you never lose respect for the struggle itself. In the end, hustle is a form of respect: for your teammates, your opponents, the game, and your own potential. So, if you want to change your game, start here. Don’t just practice your shot. Practice your effort. Make hustle a skill, and watch everything else follow.

LIGHTING, LIGHTING, AND MORE LIGHTING
People are typically drawn to bars solely based on their atmosphere. The best way to knock your next commercial bar design out of the park is using the perfect amount and type of lighting. Use standout light fixtures as their very own statement piece, track lighting for adjustable ambiance, hanging pendant lights over tables, and ambient backlighting to display the alcohol. Bartenders need to serve and customers need to order, so make sure it’s just functional as it is attractive. 

CHOOSING YOUR BARTOP
What may seem so obvious, is often so overlooked in commercial bar design- the material of your actual bartop itself. While we realize stone and marble are as classy and elegant-looking as can be, the reality is that they just aren’t your best option for a durable and long lasting bartop. They crack, have no grip, and break way too many glasses. Opt for a high-quality wood bar instead. Oaks, maples, mahoganies, and ashes are sturdy and provide your customers with a firm grip for their glasses. 

THEME 
In a sea of millions upon millions of bars, how can you make your commercial bar design stand apart from the rest? The answer is to pick a unique, centralized theme and run with it. Whether it’s your next sit-down restaurant bar design, or remodeling the small, locally-favorite gem, you have to find out what your clientele wants. Survey the neighborhood of your establishment and find out what the demographics are there. Maybe a gritty, western bar would be a hit. Or maybe a more modern, sleek design is what’s missing in the area. Whatever theme you decide upon, hit it out of the park with the perfect lighting, wall art, music, and furniture. It’s all in the details. 

THE GUIDE TO YOUR NEXT RESTOBAR 
You’ve got the food, you’ve got the restaurant, you’ve got the customers, now all you need is a beautifully designed bar to top it all off.  Small bar designs for restaurants have a tendency to be a little thrown together and incohesive with the rest of the establishment. Stay on brand- create consistency with tying in the same color scheme, furniture, art, and overall ambiance of the pre-existing restaurant. Make sure the placement of your bar makes sense as well, have it in a place where it’s visible and easy to navigate but not in the way of servers and other guests. If the bar is going to serve food, be sure to consider the location of the kitchen to not obstruct traffic flow. Consider all of these small tips as you work through your next restaurant bar design. 

SPACE CONSTRAINT 
It’s no secret that bars have the reputation of being a little cramped, and in some cases- way too cramped. Consider all of the space constraints while designing your next commercial bar design and we can change that bad rap that bars have been holding for far too long. First and foremost, be sure to measure your bar, barstool, cabinet, and equipment height. Generally, a bar is 42” in height while a stool is 30” in height. Also be sure to allow at least 3’ of space between the bar and the alcohol for the bartender’s functionality and efficiency. Consider multiple register and drink-making stations for bartenders as well. Allowing 2’ between patrons is going to give them enough space to eat and drink, and most importantly, simply be comfortable. All of these considerations are especially helpful if it is a restaurant bar design, where the space is even more valuable.