Milwaukee Bucks: Will lack of fans affect players in Orlando?

Milwaukee Bucks: Will lack of fans affect players in Orlando? – Motivation of players

The largest obstacle that players will have to adjust to is the motivational aspect of not having fans cheer or jeer them on. NBA players, like other professional athletes, are used to performing for an extrinsic reward every game.

David Wharton from the Los Angeles Times wrote that this concept is called “social facilitation”. It’s the urge humans feel to be at their best in front of others. As Wharton detailed:

"“When it comes to motivation — teams won’t always have a crosstown rival to get them excited — sports psychologists say the athletes that focus on adapting to the new circumstances will fare best. They wonder if mental preparation specialists are getting more work these days.”"

Could NBA players feel less motivated during games in the bubble? This is certainly a possibility since they have had fans supporting them in the stands for their entire career.

For the Bucks, part of the stakes are usually attached to the frenzied response of fans at Fiserv Forum, or the hostile environment created in visiting arenas.

Now, these athletes will have to rely solely on their teammates and themselves for motivation. This will show which team’s culture is truly strongest and most supportive.