Silence is golden for United’s main man

JOSH Boone adheres to a strict routine on game days.

The Melbourne United import knows it is mind over matter, but for him, it works.

Once the headphones go on the NBL’s most prolific rebounder shuts down with music “blasting” in his ears.

Boone, 33, will not speak to anyone for about 45 minutes from the moment he walks into the arena.

He unpacks his bags and then gets his ankles taped – right always first then left. He will not speak to the trainer.

He moves onto the court and does his stretches – in a particular order. He will not speak to teammates.

He begins warming and taking shots – in a particular order. He will not speak to coaches.

Once satisfied, he returns to the locker room, the headphones come off, and Boone will open up again.

“I legitimately don’t say a word to anyone,” Boone said.

“I don’t know when I started doing it … but it’s worked for me so I don’t really want to go away from it right now.”

Boone had the routine interrupted in Brisbane recently and battled on the floor.

It started badly when a pregame nap at the hotel was interrupted, and only got worse at the arena when he began talking to Chris Goulding.

He missed out on being the first to get his ankles strapped and then United was booted off the court by officials during his pre-game “floor routine”.

“I think that was the worst shooting game I’ve had in the last two years so I don’t want that to happen again,” he said.

“My whole routine was totally messed up that day, I ended up going like 2-11 from the floor.”

Boone has been United’s most consistent performer since making his NBL debut last year on Boxing Day, averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds.

In a whirlwind 12 months, Melbourne has become a second home for the proud Maryland product, who will unveil new shoes – with an “Aussie/ US” colour scheme – in today’s Brisbane Bullets blockbuster at Hisense Arena.