Lack of Practice – the number one reason why so many athletes and basketball players feel nervous before a practice session is due to the simple fact that they feel underprepared for the practice session. This is primarily due to a lack of practice outside the scheduled practice session. There are a few reasons why most people are nervous before a basketball game. Most people are scared of making a mistake and embarrassing themselves in front of their friends and family. Another reason is the pressure of the game. People feel like they have to perform well in order to keep their team in the game. Lastly, people are always scared of getting injured.