r/MadeMeSmile Feb 20 '25

Small Success When hard work and dedication pays off ツ

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8.2k Upvotes

141 comments sorted by

828

u/extrastupidone Feb 20 '25

Dad leveling up his retirement package

270

u/Unlikely-Winter-4093 Feb 20 '25

Watch this kid grow to be like 5 foot 7.

48

u/startgonow Feb 20 '25

Like the kid that went viral for dribbling. Julian Newman I think. To be fair though this kids jumper looks pretty good. 

67

u/derpandderpette Feb 20 '25

Kids jumper is electric. So pure and so quick. Kids attitude is dog shit. Spend more time teaching your kids to be good sports rather than good athletes. The clip of him yelling in the defenders face after hitting the three made my blood boil. It’s youth sports not the NBA. That attitude is learned and reinforced.

1

u/GOD_OF_FROGS Feb 21 '25

With the yelling do you mean julian or the kid in the video since I can't find I clip of julian yelling in someone's face where he looks like its youth level and the kid in the video didn't yell in anyone's face (to be fair I didn't really dig to deep into the julian clips)

1

u/derpandderpette Feb 21 '25

Kid in the video.

1

u/GOD_OF_FROGS Feb 21 '25

He didn't yell in any ones face the defender was already turned around and like a solid meter away

-4

u/wiriux Feb 20 '25

Maybe there’s more to the story though. The defender could have been trash talking or fucking with his head.

22

u/derpandderpette Feb 20 '25

I coach my players to play through it and let your game talk. You can’t control the other team, but you can control yourself.

5

u/ChampionOfLoec Feb 20 '25

Boys get even, men go high.

-2

u/StatisticianLeast465 Feb 20 '25

People talk shit at every level of every game. It’s emotion and it’s part of the game

3

u/secretBuffetHero Feb 20 '25

I've been watching Julian Newman hate videos on youtube. The kid has a terrible attitude and it all comes from his dad

2

u/DirtyRoller Feb 20 '25

Or even worse, he ends up at like 6'. Just tall enough to feel tall, not nearly tall enough to make an impact in college or pro ball! All the hard work in the world won't matter, if you're not a generic freak specimen you won't make it to the big leagues.

2

u/soggyballsack Feb 21 '25

He could always go the Messi route and be given HGH to be taller.

5

u/MonkeyWrench888 Feb 20 '25

Plot twist, doesn’t grow past 5’5”

0

u/wiriux Feb 20 '25

He can still be the Messi of basketball.

1

u/neoncubicle Feb 20 '25

Wait and see how much these club sports cost

93

u/Hattrick_Swayze2 Feb 20 '25

Was really hoping they’d show the game footage finally and he’s just tossing air balls

698

u/felinefluffycloud Feb 20 '25

Fantastic. Video felt like a year

171

u/RealUglyMF Feb 20 '25

When it got to "one year ago" then went to 6 months, then three, then one! Too much

58

u/MrManballs Feb 20 '25

Took him six years to land a shot? I could’ve done it in four!

24

u/nottherealneal Feb 20 '25

I just started skipping to see if it had a joke punchline, why is it so long

11

u/felinefluffycloud Feb 20 '25

I asked myself. Is it worth it? Was it worth it? Is anything worth it? Is life a montage that takes too long? Is success just a demonstration of the futility of having fun? The pacing of this is an uncanny valley between practice and perfection. A saggy middle where the floor is uneven and the ball bounces askew. I award this video one bag of popcorn

3

u/yuribear Feb 20 '25

Happy cakeday 🎉👌🏽😉👍🏽

2

u/StupidAstronaut Feb 21 '25

“Three years from now working on the details…” “Five years from now working on the details…”

1

u/felinefluffycloud Feb 21 '25

Cue the Werner Herzog voiceover

2

u/Rizzkey_Rascal Feb 21 '25

Tik Tok, Reels & Shorts have killed everyone's attention spans.

The video was less than 90 seconds

1

u/felinefluffycloud Feb 21 '25

yes. I also think the balance of content did something as well.

316

u/PacquiaoFreeHousing Feb 20 '25

And people will say it's because he was talented.

164

u/[deleted] Feb 20 '25

Talent can and often is wasted. This shows dedication.

35

u/Caring_Cactus Feb 20 '25

Exactly:

  • "Our culture has become hooked on the quick-fix, the life hack, efficiency. Everyone is on the hunt for that simple action algorithm that nets maximum profit with the least amount of effort. There’s no denying this attitude may get you some of the trappings of success, if you’re lucky, but it will not lead to a calloused mind or self-mastery. If you want to master the mind and remove your governor, you’ll have to become addicted to hard work. Because passion and obsession, even talent, are only useful tools if you have the work ethic to back them up." - David Goggins, Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds

2

u/Rubber_Knee Feb 21 '25

Dedication and focus is a talent

43

u/Gesha24 Feb 20 '25

He definitely is. Not everyone can put hours of dedicated practice - that is just as much of a talent as being able to play musical instruments or having an extremely good hand eye coordination. To become truly great one usually needs a combination of talents, the talent to put hours into practice and not go crazy is usually one of the most important ones.

7

u/bluesimplicity Feb 20 '25

I want to know if this is the boy's passion or if his parents are pushing this. I've seen parents put so much pressure on their kids. I hope this is the kid's desire.

12

u/made-of-questions Feb 20 '25

The book "Talent is overrated" discusses this and compiles multiple studies on the matter. The conclusion is in the title.

Or in more detail, natural talent doesn't have almost any impact on career success because it's rapidly overtaken by the benefits of "deliberate practice". It's just that the effect of just a few hundred or thousands of hours of practice looks like magic to someone that doesn't know what's involved.

The way in which talent matters most is that it's noticeable in the very beginning, so they receive more praise, which makes them want to practice more, which then it turns puts them in competitive contexts, which in turn requires more practice and so on. But nothing matters as much as clarity of purpose and obsessiveness on getting better.

2

u/HASHTAG_YOLOSWAG Feb 20 '25

hard work beats talent until talent works hard

6

u/CIueIess_Squirrel Feb 20 '25

Talent is a byproduct of effort tbh. Everyone who you think is talented has spent countless hours improving.

Sure, individuals may be gifted with a good physique, mind, or anything else that may be considered a gift, but it never amounts into talent without countless hours of effort

7

u/hulkmxl Feb 20 '25

"Sure, individuals may be gifted with a good physique, mind, or anything else that may be considered a gift".

You -just- described natural talent, it's better if you think of talent as a combination of your natural abilities, the limit/potential to wich you can raise them, and the work/practice you invest into cultivating such abilities and reaching your limits, which dictates that you will only be as talented as your max potential (often genetics).

In basketball, it can be as simple as, height, if this kid doesn't grow sufficiently to keep competing, that's gonna his limit. He will only get to be so talented.

2

u/Major-Community1312 Feb 20 '25

Yeah but it’s basketball of all the sports so I have watched kids start great then fall off fast. It’s not always about effort it’s in this case height that will take you far. I coached a 6’0” kid at 11 YO that will go places on height alone he’s 16 now and 6’9”. He’s ok not great just has height. So this kid in the video can spot up 3s all day long if that’s all he does he’s limited to maybe making HS.

1

u/psychoholic Feb 20 '25

Maybe he comes from a tall family and there is a pretty good chance he's going to be tall as well? While it is a big anomaly in the modern era for someone not the size of a midwest windmill to play in the NBA it isn't completely unheard of. If that kid can reliably drain 3s all day a coach would be foolish not to pack some big defenders around him and get him the ball.

1

u/Legitimate_Dog2275 Feb 20 '25

In today’s age, they’d be right. Hard work is so rare and underrated and misunderstood that it, in and of itself, is the true talent.

1

u/bes6684 Feb 20 '25

It’s passion. This is what parents sometimes fail to understand: if a kid doesn’t love something, they will not be driven to put in the time. If they are genuinely in love with a sport, art, hobby, you can’t keep them away from it. Don’t push them into things they are ambivalent about. Help them find something they love.

330

u/BabyFishmouthTalk Feb 20 '25

That's great👏...presuming he did it for himself. 🤔

62

u/TheRiteGuy Feb 20 '25

For every Michael Jackson, there's a Joe Jackson off camera waiting with a belt.

-14

u/[deleted] Feb 20 '25

[deleted]

122

u/BabyFishmouthTalk Feb 20 '25

Okay, first things first...just relax. Settle down and breathe. It's just a comment section. You're okay.

I said, "for himself," not through. And we all see (and I've witnessed firsthand) the extremes some parents will go to in order to live their success through their children, especially in sports.

So yes, I hope he did it for himself and not, say, his dad.

21

u/heywhadayamean Feb 20 '25

Mom: How many ball players grow up afraid of losing their fathers’ love every time they come up to the plate?

Dad: All of them!

—Searching for Bobby Fischer

-1

u/JulietteLovesRoses Feb 20 '25

You are a vibe terrorist hiding behind condescension lol

-1

u/TheGrowBoxGuy Feb 20 '25

Lmao what a tool you are

-10

u/hereforthestaples Feb 20 '25

His parents definitely paid for it.

80

u/krazylegs36 Feb 20 '25

Does he put in the effort on D, though?

21

u/TheAnswerToYang Feb 20 '25

I hate seeing kids do shit that I as an adult couldn't do. But I also love seeing kids do shit that I as an adult couldn't do.

36

u/NorthernBreed8576 Feb 20 '25

Thought he was going to grow up end up being 5’4

32

u/RemarkableRepeat3428 Feb 20 '25

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard

5

u/MookieMookdogg Feb 20 '25

boring ass game all they do is shoot 3s

2

u/this_app_is_trashh Feb 21 '25

ayo they like 10 lmfao

4

u/Odddjob Feb 20 '25

But can he dribble?

10

u/bigbluenation20 Feb 20 '25

I referee kids basketball around his age. He’s talented for sure. I don’t think I have seen a kid have this good of form at his age.

16

u/Adventurous-Tap2562 Feb 20 '25

Now let's work on class and professionalism. Taunting over a single made shot is classless.

3

u/toxo209 Feb 20 '25 edited Feb 20 '25

Forreals. Why is no one bringing that up. It's great that he puts all the work in but taunting especially at such a young age.

20

u/zombiesunlimited Feb 20 '25

Looks like he didn’t use the technique he was practicing, but amazing nonetheless.

6

u/LightBringer81 Feb 20 '25

Let's hope the kids' growth doesn't stop at 5'6" or so 🤦🏻‍♂️

3

u/Mabama1450 Feb 20 '25

Hope his knee can take it.

3

u/daafresh Feb 20 '25

Their is no height requirement for the NBA. There is a skill requirement tho. If youre good enough at something. You can make it. Especially if you’re a great shooter. I can tell you now, his form is perfect and release is so fast at his age. He already has the foundation to be one of the greatest shooters. I mean damn, in all my adolescence years playing ball not 1 coach taught me these tools and I was a good shooter. The irony is as good as my shot was I could never take it to the next level without a random guys advice one day. I was shooting on his property with no permission and he probably came out to kick me off his property but he had seen me draining shots and gave me the best advice ever. He said you have a great shot but you need to shoot quicker. I was about 15 at the time. He helped me get some fundamentals on the process and I implemented it to my game ended up going to college and became a street legend in my hood. Lakewood Park, Brandon Florida 33510 G Biz. Im rooting for the Kid. To me that is something special. Never forget, Great shooting nullifies great defense.

3

u/stenzey Feb 20 '25

Probably pick a sport where the requirement isn’t to be 6’4

7

u/CUTiger14 Feb 20 '25

"You can't stop me!" Little dude works hard and has earned his skill

2

u/Just-a-lil-sion Feb 20 '25

look at him go!!!

2

u/Trick_Few Feb 20 '25

What college is he interested in attending?

2

u/theasianevermore Feb 20 '25

Larry bird did the same thing

2

u/caracter_2 Feb 20 '25

Great video, but now comes the real test. Does he have the genes to be tall?

2

u/Dahlan_AD3 Feb 20 '25

If he’s not in the league in 15 years, it didn’t pay off. Also, the game of basketball is more than shooting 3 pointers.

2

u/Sypnoticklt Feb 20 '25

As much as I love seeing stuff like this and kids working hard. However, I always wonder how much is this the kid working hard and how much the parents pushing them and living through their kids.

2

u/Wyooot Feb 20 '25

Good job dad. Make sure lil homie stays happy and doesn’t get burnt out because this level of attention to detail will definitely take him somewhere.

2

u/yuribear Feb 20 '25

Yeah little man, hard work pays off 👌🏽😎🤟🏼 Keep at it and keep working it 👍🏽

2

u/WarLawck Feb 20 '25

I hope little homey makes the league

2

u/blake-young Feb 20 '25

Dude never grew an inch

2

u/Azreal36 Feb 20 '25

We will see him playing for Duke one day 👀

2

u/Practical_Channel480 Feb 22 '25

A star is made….. great great GREAT work..

3

u/UltraRoboNinja Feb 20 '25

I don’t think I’ve ever been as dedicated to anything in my life as that kid is to basketball.

4

u/Archer_Bak Feb 20 '25

Brings me back 😢😢😢, love the passion & dedication 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾 .. 🫡🫡🫡 …

7

u/doctor_of_drugs Feb 20 '25

I’d like to see how his game is, idk, 8 years from now because kid looks no older than 12

reality gonna hit lil dude hard

7

u/NewManufacturer4252 Feb 20 '25

Hope a growth spurt doesn't take to much to get used to. Imagine growing to 6ft in a year and all of a sudden the ball is going 8ft over the backboard.

2

u/International_Bug955 Feb 20 '25

Masterclass on building up expectations here. After the first shot of the film being a swish, there's a full minute of nothing but posture training, with zero shots at the basket; all for the sake of the last scene, when you see that the kid has Steph Curry levels of play. Mind blowing. Congrats to the kid and his family!

1

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1

u/oldermuscles Feb 20 '25

Hardwork pays off

1

u/Andy1Brandy Feb 20 '25

I praticed hard at snooker and worked on the details, I'm so good at screwing everything now 😊

1

u/Tamarama--- Feb 20 '25

NBA will have him sign soon.

1

u/akiodaiki Feb 20 '25

Look at the flick of the wrist, nice work.

1

u/Silverstars80 Feb 20 '25

Damn great shooting

1

u/bloodandglory31 Feb 20 '25

Nothing but net

1

u/jaytriple6 Feb 20 '25

Forcing is good practice

1

u/Annual_Individual445 Feb 20 '25

Muscle memory...

1

u/No_Taro_3443 Feb 20 '25

Like a BOSS!!

1

u/deityidentity Feb 20 '25

now watch all that again taking the ball entirely out of context ))) good progress anyway !

1

u/Indi4rence Feb 20 '25

Hard work and perseverance pays off. Who knew right.

1

u/yekimevol Feb 20 '25

Mini Steph Curry !

1

u/VaderSpeaks Feb 20 '25

What an absolute mad lad.

1

u/NoTurkeyTWYJYFM Feb 20 '25

Long as the kid likes the sport this is pretty cool

My dad was a pe teacher who literally used basketball drills as a punishment so I fucking hate the sport now haha

1

u/Independent_Hope_960 Feb 20 '25

Steph Curry's regen ?

1

u/Affectionate-Neck241 Feb 20 '25

99% sure I know who this is, and if I’m correct, his dad is top 10 all time in NCAAM 3 point shooting %. Kid is off to a great start!

1

u/Critical-Damage2932 Feb 20 '25

If I was his father, I would be proud with tears of joy.🥲

1

u/KeyzForbes Feb 20 '25

🔥🔥💙💙

1

u/Freedom-Mental Feb 20 '25

I could tell by his shoes he was a dawg

1

u/Excellent_Vehicle_45 Feb 20 '25

Hard work pays. Have fun with the repetition

1

u/BabyFishmouthTalk Feb 20 '25

Born to be an assembly line worker.

1

u/Lindo_MG Feb 20 '25

Damn that shooting form is legit , congrats young man

1

u/johnybonus Feb 20 '25

What have you become? A basketball player. What did you want to be? Me.

1

u/Douglas_duh_dragon Feb 20 '25

Frickin legend

1

u/Dannyfrommiami Feb 20 '25

Lil Tyler Herro

1

u/Sbrenzi96 Feb 20 '25

Next klay Thompson

1

u/Iluvpunny Feb 20 '25

Little man is a flamethrower 👍🏾

1

u/SpitfireSis Feb 20 '25

Jus up here tryin to get a muthafuckin scholarship

1

u/knowdis96 Feb 21 '25

SHOOTER!

1

u/doodle1600 Feb 21 '25

Jimmy chitwood.

1

u/Beginning_Pomelo_387 Feb 21 '25

Dude I’m so baked I thought he was counting his age backwards lol. I was thinking this guys kid is about to be a fucking lord on the court.

1

u/GatePuzzleheaded713 Feb 21 '25

This who the Mavs traded for Luka

1

u/One_too_many_faps Feb 21 '25

And that kid grew up to be... Lebron James

1

u/juanhugeburrito Feb 21 '25

and i can’t get my f’ling kid off the damn ipad…

1

u/IGetThePartyLit Feb 21 '25

Steph? Is that you?

1

u/Greedo15 Feb 21 '25

greatness awaits him

1

u/toxo209 Feb 20 '25

Great form. Already taunting at such a young age. 8 second left mark.

1

u/ladyapplejack214 Feb 20 '25

Absolutely earned, not given 👌🏾

1

u/Big_MommaD Feb 20 '25

Is this a Larry Bird in the making? (I live in French Lick, IN)

1

u/justbrowse2018 Feb 20 '25

I thought it was going to be adult Luka at the end lol

1

u/Ok_Dig_9242 Feb 20 '25

Experts are masters of the basics.

1

u/mrspock128 Feb 20 '25

"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."

  • Bruce Lee

1

u/DivingDeep4Healing Feb 20 '25

Proof that talent can only take you so far.. it’s the TIME INVESTED, the FOCUS, and DEDICATION :-D LOVE to see it!!!

1

u/TreeFugger69420 Feb 20 '25

Every comment about the kid not growing past 5’6 as if kids should only work on things to become a professional. We gotta just let kids enjoy working hard and being good at something.

-2

u/Cptleaf93 Feb 20 '25

Kids the next steph

-1

u/spacetownflyer Feb 20 '25

Needs to work on footwork. Breaks down in game situation.

0

u/Ottolama50 Feb 20 '25

Dedication like that is so rare, can't wait to see this kid in the league someday

-9

u/[deleted] Feb 20 '25

[deleted]

7

u/MavetheGreat Feb 20 '25

Where is this assumption coming from? The video shows that he's been practicing good form and technique for years, and the result is that he's a good shot even at an early age. We can assume he's been playing on a team throughout that time.