The NBA Finals: Strategies For Improving Mental Health During The NBA Playoffs

The culminating event of the season for the National Basketball Association (NBA) is the playoffs, which end the season by crowning a new champion. To win an NBA championship, NBA franchises must battle through four rounds, each with a best-of-seven series. 

The franchise with the most NBA titles is the Boston Celtics, with 18, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers (formerly the Minneapolis Lakers), with 17. Some other teams with multiple championships in their franchise history include:

• Golden State Warriors (formerly the San Francisco Warriors and Philadelphia Warriors): seven titles
• Chicago Bulls: six titles
• San Antonio Spurs: five titles
• Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons (formerly the Fort Wayne Pistons), and Philadelphia 76ers (formerly the Syracuse Nationals): three titles each

Below, we’ll examine the mental health impacts of the NBA Finals and explore strategies and techniques for enjoying the games with less stress and anxiety. 

Do you feel anxiety while watching sports?

Connecting with a therapist may help

The effects of the 2024 NBA Finals: Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks

In the most recent NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks, winning the series four games to one. The Mavericks, coached by former New Jersey Nets star Jason Kidd, were unable to match the firepower of Jason Tatum and the Celtics. The NBA champions were also the number one regular season team in the Eastern Conference, earning a top seed in the East. Looking forward to 2025, the Celtics hope to repeat as champions and add to their league-leading 18 titles. 

For fans, the path through the playoffs can be both exciting and upsetting and may contribute to or exacerbate stress and any mental health conditions. Understanding the potential impact of sports on mental health and engaging in emotional self-care accordingly can make watching the game more fun and may help reduce negative effects. 

The NBA playoffs and mental health

The NBA playoffs and other large-scale sporting events may be linked to negative impacts on mental health. The ups and downs of a playoff series or even an individual game can bring great joy but also great heartache for dedicated fans. Here are some of the other ways that these elements of sports may impact mental health. 

Sports-related anxiety and stress

Watching and following sports in general may cause some fans to experience elevated anxiety and stress. Sports-related anxiety is a type that can be linked to a team’s performance, as some fans may feel excessive worry when their team is struggling or loses a game. Additionally, major sporting events may also be a time of increased social interaction, which can add stress or anxiety for some individuals. 

Connecting the Boston Celtics and Mavericks finals to anxiety 

The Celtics versus Mavericks series, in particular, is an example of an event that may have caused anxiety for some viewers. For Maverick fans, there may have been increased anxiety over whether their team would be able to make a comeback as the Celtics built a commanding series lead. Celtic fans may also have experienced anxiety and stress due to the anticipation and expectation of reaching their championship goal. 

Causes of sports-related anxiety and stress

The causes and severity of sports-related anxiety and stress may vary from person to person. Some common causes of anxiety and stress due to sports may include: 

• Team performance. Fear of losing—especially during crucial games like playoffs or championships—may cause anxiety. Worrying about poor performance or injuries to key players may also cause worry.
• Emotional investment. Deep personal identification with a team’s success or failure as well as long-term loyalty may amplify the emotional stakes of outcomes.
• Social factors. Interactions with rival fans—whether it’s friendly banter or hostile exchanges—as well as the pressure to appear loyal or knowledgeable among fellow fans could be stressful for some.
• Uncertainty of outcomes. The unpredictable nature of sports may keep fans on edge, particularly in close games.
• Financial or time commitment. High personal investment in tickets, merchandise, or travel can increase stress about whether the experience is worth it or could even cause relationship strain in some cases.

Feeling anxiety caused by sporting events may lead to more anxiety in general, creating a positive feedback loop that can be challenging to break. For people who experience feelings of anxiety and stress, it may be helpful to connect with a mental health professional to learn how to implement anxiety-reduction techniques. 

The potential impact of anxiety and stress 

Some levels of stress and anxiety can be a normal part of daily life; however, when they become chronic, anxiety and stress can impact a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Physically, a person living with anxiety and stress may show signs of fatigue, as constant stress and anxiety keep the body in a state of heightened alertness. Some other physical impacts of stress may include an elevated heart rate, muscle tension, trouble sleeping, and weakened immunity. 

Emotional and mental impacts may also occur due to stress or anxiety. Examples include increased irritability or mood swings, which may be caused by a team’s performance—especially losses. Anxiety may also cause fans to ruminate on the events of a game, which can impair focus and concentration in daily life at home and work.  

NBA mental health campaigns: “Mind Health” and the San Antonio Spurs’ “Mindful Minute”

Some teams in the NBA have begun to initiate mental health improvement campaigns designed to bring awareness of mental health improvement strategies to fans. Two notable campaigns include the NBA’s Mind Health and the San Antonio Spurs’ Mindful Minute. 

The NBA’s “Mind Health” campaign

The NBA as a whole has rolled out a mental health improvement and awareness campaign called Mind Health. The goals of Mind Health are to humanize mental health, elevate performance, and honor each person’s unique journey. The Mind Health website includes different educational modules designed to improve mental health and well-being. 

The San Antonio Spurs’ “Mindful Minute”

The Mindful Minute was a San Antonio Spurs campaign that was designed to give some insight into the rituals, routines, and strategies that Spurs players use to get ready for a game or handle mental stress at other times. During the segment, which was posted on social media, players would highlight techniques they use, such as mindfulness or meditation. Through the Mindful Minute, fans could learn about how to manage stress or anxiety in their own lives. 

Strategies for managing sports-related stress and anxiety

For individuals experiencing sports-related anxiety, stepping away from the game for a minute, a half, or longer may help them maintain mental health during particularly stressful periods. In addition to taking a break, there are also other mental health strategies that a person can implement to help them during an intense playoff game or series. Two examples include mindfulness techniques and relaxation strategies. 

Mindfulness during the NBA playoffs

During the NBA playoffs, the games may begin to seem all-encompassing and may take up a lot of a person’s mental energy. Implementing mindfulness strategies such as mindfulness meditation or reflective journaling may help reduce anxiety or stress caused by sports and support a person in staying balanced. These techniques may help put the game into perspective so the person can recognize that the outcome is out of their control. 

Relaxation strategies for the NBA Finals

Another technique to reduce stress during intense sporting events like the NBA Finals is to implement relaxation strategies. Techniques such as deep breathing, grounding exercises, or a guided meditation may lower the mental impact that a person experiences during a game. These strategies may also reduce the physical fight-or-flight response that the body initiates, which can help regulate heart rate and breathing and keep the body calm. 

Do you feel anxiety while watching sports?

Connecting with a therapist may help

Connecting with a mental health professional

For individuals living with sports-related anxiety or stress, connecting with a mental health professional may be beneficial. A therapist can evaluate a person’s mental health and may make recommendations for mindfulness strategies or implement therapeutic techniques designed to help the client identify and reframe negative thought patterns. 

It can be challenging for busy individuals to attend regular therapy sessions in person, however. With online therapy sessions instead, you can log on to meet with a licensed therapist from anywhere you have an internet connection and a personal device. This means that you can get the care you may need at a time that’s convenient for you while avoiding the stress of a commute. Plus, research suggests that online therapy can be an effective way to reduce stress and anxiety in many cases. 

Takeaway

Whatever your team—whether it’s the Boston Celtics, the Sacramento Kings (formerly the Rochester Royals), or the Washington Wizards (formerly the Baltimore Bullets)—the NBA Finals can be a time of great excitement and joy for basketball fans. However, it may also be a time of increased anxiety and stress. The “final” nature of the playoffs may add an intensity that does not exist during the regular season. Managing the anxiety and stress that may accompany the finals can involve a combination of mindfulness practices and relaxation strategies. In-person or online therapy may also be an effective way to reduce the impact of sports-related stress and anxiety and improve overall mental health and well-being.