Response: "Silent NBA Games Are Worse for Players Than Fans, Psychology Reveals"

A few days ago there was an NBA game played by the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden versing the Golden State Warriors. On paper this may seem like a typical game that would occur during the NBA regular season however there was a catch- the management stuff at Madison Square Garden decided to conduct an "in-game experiment" in the first half of the game whereby there was no "noise" in the area besides from the game itself and the fans. This included "no music, video, or in-game entertainment". The management team did this to "present basketball in its purest form" like how it played years before. However this proved to have major consequences on the athletes that I found really intriguing.

A few people were for this idea, however a lot of people (primarily the players) were completely against it. Warriors player Draymond Green later said in a release statement that it "changed the flow of the game" and that the typical music that is played at arenas helps players "get into a certain area".

An article from Inverse commented on this, and also referenced a 2011 psychology study that found that "upbeat, receptive music reduced an individual's perception of fatigue and increased their work output". I think this is extremely interesting. By simply removing all entertainment in the arena, the mindset and actual physical presence of athletes is completely changed, and can heavily impact the result of the game. Another interesting reference from the article is how it mentions a 2008 study that found that "players who had previously listened to catchy, upbeat music choked less on free throws." Something as simple as music can help players both emotionally and physically. This can also coincide with most people listening to upbeat songs when exercising, as it is believed to keep your mind off of what you are doing and motivate you to continue.

As someone who plays netball as an extra-curricular activity, although I don't play in sold-out stadiums like these professional NBA players, I can definitely understand the players' negative feedback towards this. If you have rehearsed something in a particular way for your whole life, for it to be changed in some way (or completely removed, in this situation) it can have a very negative impact in you trying to perform at your highest capability.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed learning about this as it related to something that I have interest in, and I like learning new ways in which psychology is present everywhere.

The full article can be read here: https://www.inverse.com/article/28713-knicks-warriors-silent-game-nba