The NBA returns tonight after a wild summer of trades and free agent signings. Huge stars have switched teams and fans are extremely curious to see how the new lineups work out.
The Cavs and Warriors seem to remain the favorites to win the Championship, with the Rockets, Thunder, and Celtics keeping it interesting.
After the San Antonio Spurs had a disappointing playoff run last year, there are loads of questions about the makeup of their roster and whether or not they have the right pieces to win a championship.
One of the main concerns following last season was the underwhelming performance from LaMarcus Aldridge. It appeared he wasn’t clicking with the Spurs, and the team even tried to trade him in the offseason.
However, the trade didn’t work out and Aldridge made the decision to have a heart-to-heart conversation with his head coach, Gregg Popovich, over the summer.
With Popovich having an open-door policy for his players, Aldridge finally took him up on it. Apparently, they discussed his role with the team and the reasons he was unhappy.
During training camp, Aldridge shared with ESPN about this conversation: “It was me kind of being blunt about it, and being kind of forward. He was open to it. I kind of just spilled my heart about how I felt about how things were, and how things had been going.
“I think he was kind of caught off guard. I don’t think he really had noticed [that I was unhappy]. But once I said it, he was great about listening, and it was good from there.”
Yesterday Aldridge signed a three-year extension with the Spurs, and it appears the open communication with him and Popovich allowed them to clear the air and move forward.
Not only in sports, but in any relationship, having honest dialogue with the goal of reconciliation and resolution is important. Once we bring our issues to light, instead of holding onto bitterness and frustration, we can work toward getting on the same page.
A transparent “heart-to-heart” conversation, filled with humility and forgiveness, allows relationships to mend and clarity to take place.
Often when we start talking with our spouse or a friend about the unspoken tension in the relationship, we begin to realize the issues we thought we had were just misunderstandings.
When both sides are willing to work on the relationship by communicating openly, we’re able to clear the air and move forward. It’s imperative to take the first step and initiate a converstaion when we sense there are problems that need to be worked through.
As followers of Jesus, we know how much we’ve been forgiven and shown grace, so we need to show the same toward others. Also, if we know that we’ve hurt someone, it’s crucial to reach out, seek reconciliation, and try to make peace.
The Bible says in Matthew 5:23-24 (AMP), “So if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and while there you remember that your brother has something [such as a grievance or legitimate complaint] against you, leave your offering there at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come and present your offering.”
Today, let’s have an “open-door policy” where honest communictaion, forgiveness, and humility lead us into deeper relationships.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray You’d give me the strength and confidence to have open dialogue with people, so that I can live in peace with them. Please help me seek reconciliation in my broken relationships, and clear the air with those I have tension with. Thank you for the grace You show me through Jesus. In His name I pray, Amen.
