What does it mean to be an NBA player, and what does it take to be one? What does your schedule look like? DENI AVDIJA: “What does it mean to be an NBA player? It’s not far from being a soldier in an elite military unit in terms of discipline. You’re there 100 percent. The precision in drills, in the system, in passing, and shooting – that split second you have to take a shot, your brain works in milliseconds. I think that’s what separates the highest level from the rest of the leagues: the discipline of eating, sleeping, endless flights. Sometimes it feels like you wake up in the morning, and the year never ends. You’re in another place and another place, and you become a robot. It’s very important to find something human in between, whether it’s a hobby or going out a bit because you’re in such a ‘stressful’ environment, and it becomes such a routine and robotic. I feel like the NBA environment is very tough. It has many advantages – you travel the world, meet new people, you have the opportunity to make a living from sports, but it also has its downsides.”