The minimal guide to owning a Wilson Evolution Basketball

How a Wilson Evolution Basketball helps reduce minimalism boredom

As a minimalist, what do you do for fun? That’s the only trouble I foresee should I decide to embrace the minimalist ideal.

This brings up a common myth about minimalism — that we have empty lives, and can’t do anything fun because we try to eschew consumerism and all the spending that entails.

The purpose of entertainment

A brief discussion first: what is entertainment, and why do we need it?

Entertainment is usually meant to distract, to make us feel that our lives are exciting — distractions such as TV, movies, carnivals, going shopping, playing video games, drinking and partying and yes, even sports, such as basketball. And while these each have other merits (a good film is a work of art), often they serve to distract us from work or other difficulties.

Unfortunately, this fun is only temporary, and often empty. And as soon as we’re off that temporary high, we must find a new high from entertainment, ad nauseum…

Unless the form of entertainment happens to have some kind of meaning tied to it. Unlike most TV, movies and games, basketball is a sport that, because of it’s off-the-court parables, contains great meaning and purpose for the aspiring athlete. Just like all entertainment in the most extreme form is bad, so is the idea of ‘work’ at its’ most extreme point. When the 2 meet however, the combustion leads to something more beautiful, engaging and productive.

That’s where having a Wilson Evolution basketball comes in handy. Playing ball without any meaning can sure be fun, but it’s a waste of time. A distraction. If you however play to alleviate stress, to find peace, to challenge yourself and to push your own limits, you’re channeling  your output more usefully. You can develop habits that you actually enjoy keeping that benefit you tremendously.

Minimalist fun

So the question remains: what can you do that’s fun and productive?

Some of the most fun things you can do, particularly with a Wilson Evolution basketball, is:

• Individual shoot-around sessions in empty gyms
• Cardio workouts (sprints, suicides, laps) while dribbling a basketball
• Dribbling exercises to strengthen your forearms, fingers and ball handling

Those are just a few examples, but you get the idea. They’re not everyone’s idea of fun, but I enjoy them. Instead of spending 3-5 hours on a Friday night at a party or a bar, I’d rather go to an empty gym and just shoot around for hours. I find it therapeudic and it greatly helps improve my shooting stroke especially when I pair it up with my Shooting Arm Bandit.