“This Is What You Dream About Growing Up”: The Game 7 Mindset for the Bar Exam

When Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle stepped up to the mic last night—after his team routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 108–91 in Game 6 in Indianapolis to force a decisive Game 7—he didn’t downplay the moment.

But Carlisle didn’t talk strategy. He talked mindset. And in doing so, he captured exactly what every bar examinee needs to hear right now:

“One game. This is what it’s all about. This is what you dream about growing up. This kind of opportunity. It's a very difficult place to play, we know that. But the opportunity to play a game like this is a great honor and a great privilege.” — Rick Carlisle, Indiana Pacers Head Coach

Wait… is Rick Carlisle talking about the NBA playoffs or the bar exam?

Because it sounds like both.

But let’s be clear first—while Carlisle is talking about a game, and we’re talking about a professional licensing examination, this post doesn’t trivialize the bar exam by equating it with sports. The stakes are very real. What we’re borrowing is the mindset: ✔️ how to face pressure, ✔️ meet the moment, and ✔️ rise to the occasion.

💬 "One Exam. This Is What It’s All About."

After months of preparation, practice exams, outlines, and moments of doubt, you're staring down one final test. It might not be on national television. You won’t have fans screaming your name. But in many ways, it's your Game 7.

Everything you've worked for—your career, your goals, your family’s pride, your own self-belief—comes down to two days in a quiet testing room.

Sound familiar?

💡 Carlisle’s words aren’t just for athletes. They’re for anyone who has prepared for something difficult, high-stakes, and life-changing. Like you.

💬 "A Very Difficult Place to Play"

Carlisle acknowledged the challenge ahead: playing in Oklahoma City, one of the loudest, toughest road environments in the NBA.

Just like taking the bar exam can feel like entering hostile territory. Many examinees sit for the bar in unfamiliar testing sites, sometimes far from where they studied or lived for years. That dislocation can add to the mental weight: unfamiliar hotels, testing centers, commutes, and even food options. The pressure is intense. You're outside your comfort zone. It’s mentally and emotionally exhausting.

But Carlisle doesn’t complain. He doesn’t make excuses. He recognizes the difficulty and embraces it.

💡 Bar takers must do the same. The exam will be hard—but that’s what makes it meaningful.

💬 "An Honor and a Privilege"

That’s the part most people miss.

Too often, bar prep becomes something to survive. But take a moment to reflect: How many people dreamed of this opportunity and never got it? How many were told they weren’t smart enough, or didn’t have the resources, or couldn’t make it through law school?

And yet—here you are.

💡 Whether you’re the first in your family to go to law school, or someone coming back after a setback, this opportunity to sit for the bar is something to honor. Not fear.

💬 "What You Dreamed About Growing Up"

Carlisle’s statement wasn’t just about basketball. It was about the dream.

Think back. You might not have said, “I want to be a bar exam taker when I grow up,” but maybe you did dream of helping others. Standing up in court. Representing the unrepresented. Making a difference. Becoming a lawyer.

This is the last hurdle. The final shot. The decisive moment.

💡 And just like a Game 7, the result will come down to preparation, grit, and mindset.

Treat the bar exam like your Game 7. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s pressure-packed. But it’s also exactly what you’ve been working toward. Don’t shy away from the moment—step into it.

“The opportunity to play a game like this is a great honor and a great privilege.”

Rick Carlisle gets it. And deep down, so do you.