Basketball - Character Actors - Balancing "Adams"

"Adding value" inhabits the intersection of character and competence. Psychologists recognize conflicting personalities within each of us - "Adam 1" - about dominance and winning and "Adam 2" aligned with moral values and virtue seeking. 

Competence (Adam I) → effectiveness, achievement, results

Character (Adam II) → integrity, humility, moral grounding

All of us have features of both and each of us lives along the spectrum of character and competence. 

It's easy to identify historical figures belonging in each box. 

High Character, High Competence

• Abraham Lincoln, 16th President
• George Washington, power restrained by principle
• Mother Teresa

Low Character, Low Competence

• Adolf Hitler, mass murderer, flawed prosecution of war
• Nero, Roman Emperor, indulgence and misrule

High Character, Low Competence

• Jimmy Carter, Purposeful sacrifice, flawed manager
• Neville Chamberlain, good intent, bad judgment

Low Character, High Competence

• Lance Armstrong, elite performance, ethical collapse
• Bernie Madoff, brilliant con man, defrauded investors

Coaching Translation

Every player—and coach—sits somewhere on this grid.

• Talent (Competence) gets you on the floor
• Character keeps you there—and lifts others

Be a great teammate > be a great player

Adam II guiding Adam I. Etorre Messina said it another way, "Character is job one." 

Framework for Coaches and Players

Many coaches have shared their framework. 

John Wooden - "Make every day your masterpiece."

George Raveling - "You don't get what you want, you get what you are" and "When you're through learning, you're through." Also, “The most important thing you can teach is who someone becomes.”

Dick Bennett - had a philosophy that I call "PUSH T or PUSH-through"

P - passion, drive for excellence

U - unity, put the team first

S - servant leadership, top players serve the team

H - humility, "It's not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less"

T - thankfulness, live a live of gratitude not grievance

Final Thoughts

Coaches have a unique opportunity to model character and competence, however imperfectly. Ethical coaching, compassion, and sportsmanship all reflect character. Our ability to relate, teach, and share with players to add value by helping them "see the game" demonstrates competence. 

The best blend both character and competence. The worst abuse or wear out players without adding value. We get a vote about whom we become. 

Lagniappe. Good coaching can reflect reality and relationships. 

What was Ben McCollum’s message to his team when they trailed by 10 tonight?

“He slammed his white board and broke his marker on the floor. Ink everywhere. … He was just telling us we sucked, and we were soft.”

The best still hold players accountable

pic.twitter.com/t4d9D1PSs4

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) March 27, 2026

Newell's "See the Game" Message. Hold "Feet to the Fire"

Pete Newell said that a coach's most important job was teaching players to "see the game." Coach Joe Mazzulla, like all high level coaches, sees the game through a different lens.

Exceptional players and coaches separate themselves through translation of game understanding into execution. 

Watch the video or extract the lessons to share with players:

1. Defensive rebounding equals "possession ending"

2. Giving the game what it needs

3. "Toughness and physicality"

4. "Professionalism to stay ready"

5. Quin Snyder is an amazing coach - "going to figure out matchups"

6. "Defend without fouling"

7. More discipline needed on defense to limit fouling

8. "Shot variance" a big determinant of 3-point percentage

9. "Generate good shots"

10.Physicality to defend the three - fighting through and communicating screens

11."Everyone (on the bench) has impacted games"

12.As a player, "keep that level of trust"

13.Offensive rebounding maintains/extends possession

14."3 for 2" possessions come from understanding

15.Importance of "situational awareness"

16.Fighting for extra possessions

17.Rationale for using early timeouts "set the tone...or perspective"

18.Understand how connected offense creates defensive connection

Consider how each of these applies to "our level" of coaching or teaching. So often we hear how "great" a player is when video or watching the game shows questionable shot selection, toughness, or situational awareness lacking. Film review holds "feet to the fire." 

Lagniappe. Steve Kerr emphasized mindset, mentors, and culture in his role as GSW coach. Hugo Gonzales (NBA pick 28) has performed at a higher level (based upon net rating) with game understanding, development support, and a high motor. 

Lagniappe 2. Situational awareness follows situational coaching. I recall watching a game (years ago) where a team up eight with 55 seconds (and a full shot clock) inbounded the ball and a senior guard immediately jacked up a (missed) three instead of using clock. Teams get what they accept. I'm not saying that the coach should "ream the player out in front of the team" but it can't happen ever again. 

Payton Pritchard on where his awareness on these shots comes from:

“I really don’t know… My high school coach, we used to do situations all the time of like end the game, and we would run through like, 8 to 10 situations every day of practice. And I just got really good at… https://t.co/J1VUwurRmp pic.twitter.com/VE1iufEY7u

— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) March 28, 2026

Sports - Moving the Needle

In an analog world, some physical action moved a "needle" incrementally - speedometers, pressure gauges, temperature sensors. Only significant inputs could "literally" move the needle signaling change.

Moving the needle in basketball can result from a variety of events:

• Ownership change can reset a franchise change.
• Philosophical change can work (OKC) or not work so much (Philly).
• A draft choice like Victor Wembanyama can produce tectonic shifts
• Rules changes (shot clocks, lane width, no hand checks, and three-point shooting) leave footprints.
• Coaching change sometimes changes outcomes or lives with transformational coaching.
• Structural change (e.g. NIL, transfer portal). 

The degree of change depends on many factors. 

Money

The Dodgers are a "legacy franchise" but achieved 'escape velocity' with a free spending policy. The Dodgers spend over five times as much as the Miami Marlins. Bricks and feathers by comparison. 

The NBA salary cap has punitive impact designed to "level the playing field." Here's data from Brave AI:

Top 3 (Most Efficient Spending per Win)

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

   • Active Payroll: ~$184.4M

   • Wins: 57

   • Cost per Win: ~$3.23 million

   • High efficiency despite average spending, leading the league in wins. 

2. San Antonio Spurs

   • Active Payroll: ~$175.7M

   • Wins: 55

   • Cost per Win: ~$3.20 million 

3. Detroit Pistons

   • Active Payroll: ~$178.4M

   • Wins: 53

   • Cost per Win: ~$3.37 million 

Bottom 3 (Least Efficient Spending per Win)

1. Sacramento Kings

   • Active Payroll: ~$187.4M

   • Wins: 19

   • Cost per Win: ~$9.86 million

   • Highest cost per win due to poor performance despite high spending. 

2. Golden State Warriors

   • Active Payroll: ~$204.9M

   • Wins: 35

   • Cost per Win: ~$5.85 million 

3. Washington Wizards

• Active Payroll: ~$162.9M

• Wins: 17

• Cost per Win: ~$9.58 million 

It's easier to argue that management efficiency varies a lot. 

Philosophical Change

Sam Presti is the architect of transformation of OKC into a superpower with key moves from 2019 launching the Thunder. Sometimes you have to move on and draft well. This understates the process:

1. Paul George Trade (2019):
   Presti traded Paul George to the LA Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), Danilo Gallinari, and five future first-round picks (including picks in 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026), plus two pick swaps. This trade delivered the franchise cornerstone in SGA and laid the foundation for the rebuild. 

2. Russell Westbrook Trade (2019):Shortly after, Presti sent Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul and two first-round picks (2024 and 2026, both top-four protected), plus two pick swaps.  This move accelerated the rebuild by clearing cap space and adding more future assets. 

The Needle Moves in Both Directions

Within a community, a program might move up or down at the confluence of circumstances. 

• Coaching change may foster development and/or player acquisition or retention. Players do follow coaches. 
• A youth program may have strong vertical integration or successful player development. 
• Players leave under choice or inducements (e.g. financial aid) for prep or private programs. If you lose several exceptional players, you can become a "losing program" and lose more players in the future. That doesn't imply nefarious behavior, just reality. 
• The evolution of NIL and the transfer portal can "trickle down" and cause players to "chase the rainbow." 

It's an oversimplification to assign blame or bad intent to any parties. Everyone looks out for their best interests, resulting in winners and losers in a zero sum game. 

Lagniappe. Fundamental excellence most often explains results without ignoring the impact of talent, health, and occasional luck. 

View on Threads

Basketball Cliches as Truths

Video is the truth machine, supplemented by analysis. 

Viewers can watch at faster playback speed for efficiency or 

here's the "CliffsNotes" version. Find a couple to emphasize for your players - "connector" resonates for me. 

1. Win the one-on-one battles

2. 70 second half points against the NBA's number one defense

3. NBA draft "steal" at number 30, Baylor Scheierman

4. Influenced games with feel, timing, decision-making

5. Versatility defines development

6. Ability to create advantage

7. "Processing speed" and decision-making

8. Toughness, vision, confidence

9. Identify "winning traits" 

10.Connector to enhance surrounding players

11.Decision-making without sacrificing spacing

12.Resilience despite injury

13.The game requires collective execution

14.Shooting gravity enhances spacing

15.Depth produces antifragility

16.Emphasis on reading plays ("feel for the game")

17."Continuing to crash every play"

18."Work has prepared me for this."

19."Grateful for the opportunity..."

20.Elite teammates' gravity create shots via spacing

Lagniappe. Surround yourself with compounders. 45 years ago as a young doctor, I ate lunch with older doctors and "picked their brains." My peers asked why I sometimes ate with older guys. "They know things and share them." 

Surround yourself with compounders: pic.twitter.com/IKyLiE69o8

— Reads with Ravi (@readswithravi) March 21, 2026

Lagniappe 2. Officials need to call what they see. Often they do. 

This is what people mean when say “unethical” hoops. This is simply not Basketball. Try to stick your arm underneath someone else’s to make it look like you got hooked. No real effort to try and get by them. Call it crafty if you want, I say it’s lazy.pic.twitter.com/uG0MziO3cx

— John Zannis (@John_Zannis) March 26, 2026

 

Brad Stevens to UNC - Not Happening

As North Carolina moves on from Hubert Davis, Brad Stevens was the first name out of the "Dream Catcher" chute. Stevens has a college coaching resume' taking mid-major Butler to the Finals in consecutive seasons. Add an NBA Championship pelt on his horse with the bleed-green franchise in Boston.

Stevens' resume rocks 

He checks every box:

• Elite tactician
• Proven culture builder
• Elite results at Butler
• NBA credibility as both coach and GM

What have you done for me lately?

“Brad Stevens didn’t just save money - he avoided mistakes that compound.”

The Celtics won a banner in 2024 and contended in 2025. Amidst a franchise sale for megabucks, Stevens wrote his own ticket with a massive reset saving new ownership between $200-325 million dollars by retooling the roster and skirting the second apron of the salary cap. His maneuvers saved luxury tax dollars, repeater penalties and future downstream disaster (as a business). NBA taxes are progressive and punitive. 

Who wouldn't want the Carolina job?

Meet the new job, not same as the old job. Yes, the money but:

College basketball 2026 is:

• NIL
• Transfer portal
• Year-round roster management

The top job at a legendary program has changed entirely. Do you want to coach NBA professionals or college professionals who come and go as they want? 

College Hoop Jefes' Reality in 2026

Who wants both the use and abuse of contemporary college basketball? Who will thrive not just survive? It's not 'accepting' the new chaos of the NIL-transfer landscape, it's about embracing and wanting a life without roster stability. You're not just landing the plane, you're landing a different plane every season. 

Stevens can write the ticket for his family and himself whenever and wherever. Meanwhile, he has supportive ownership, arguably a top five program, top five coach, and the "known unknowns" of the NBA experience.

If you're prone to headaches, choose the lifestyle least likely to have an abundance of people pounding you in the head. 

Stevens quickly ruled himself out of the process. 

Lagniappe. "Ego stops greatness." 

Rick Pitino was asked what stops people from being great. His answer was one word.

"Ego stops greatness. I call it edging greatness out."

"In a spiritual sense, ego is edging God out. But ego is edging greatness out."

And he made a key distinction:
"I'm not talking about… pic.twitter.com/Kc3osE9IAu

 — Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) March 16, 2026

Lagniappe 2. Reality from Pitino...seeding doesn't affect how hard guys play.  

Basketball - At the Big Dance

"Dance like no one's watching," thought Shirley Dander...because the point of dancing is everyone's watching, or they are if you're doing it right." - from Slough House by Mick Herron

Dancing is inherently performative and relational - it's display, it's communication, it's dominance and invitation simultaneously. 

Basketball is also "performative" and best executed when played as though nobody's watching. Athletes can't be self-conscious, concerned about how they look instead of focused on the play in the moment. 

Focus 

Whether you play in front of nobody in practice or thousands at a playoff game, focus completely. The next ball deserves your full attention.

Communication

Talk engages, energizes, and intimidates. Be ELO - early, loud, and often. 

"Reading"

Top players aren’t always faster. They’re earlier. They see it sooner.  Reading your opponent, their intent, and actions are part of the continuum of CARE - concentration-> anticipation-> reaction-> and execution. Top players are "one step quicker." 

Situational Understanding

Sometimes you play fast and others are control the tempo moments. Trust is built when players match decisions to moment. Play the right play.

Mindset 

Former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz had a saying, "You hang it, we bang it." Basketball rewards consistency and aggressiveness and taking advantage of opponent mistakes.

The Paradox

Basketball is a performance. But the best performances happen when players: forget the crowd, forget the noise, and forget themselves and lock into the game.

Final Thoughts

Dance like nobody’s watching. Because the moment you stop thinking about the audience…you start playing at your best.

Lagniappe. Place your focus on the person you want to become. 

The person you will be in 5 years: pic.twitter.com/Sfac2zq4ye

— Reads with Ravi (@readswithravi) February 19, 2026

 Lagniappe 2. Top coaches are naturally curious. 

The best coaches don’t just study the game. They study other ways to see the game.

That’s what Joe Mazzulla did this summer.

Instead of staying comfortable, he went to France, not for vacation, but to learn.

He spent time with Le Mans head coach Guillaume Vizade to exchange… pic.twitter.com/syMb0IQtza

— James Purchin (@JamesPurchin) March 23, 2026

Basketball - Managing Constraints

"First, the constraints must accurately be identified. If money and funding were short, the first area I looked into was infrastructure. Was it out of balance? Too big? Too small? Improperly organized for the expected output? What does each activity cost? I’ve found that in life, most decisions come down to two primary considerations: timing and money. And, how they are dealt with involves judgment, which I will get into later." - Hal Moore, Hal Moore on Leadership

There are always constraints in life and in basketball. Leadership is how we maneuver and manage. Obvious constraints for coaches are:

• Player availability and development
• Budget and facilities
• Practice time 
• Support - including assistants 

Moore explains that next the leader controls "center of gravity." A dysfunctional center of gravity guarantees failure. 

• In Vietnam it was the Landing Zone (ammo, water, medevac)
• In a training base, it's having elite training NCO personnel - drill sergeants effective and motivated
• In an admin job, it might be recruiting and retention

In coaching our "center of gravity" includes:

• Teamwork
• Player morale/attitude/work ethic
• Focus amidst 'distractions' facing young student-athletes

Moore adds, "Truly great leaders have acuity, are perceptive, aggressive, enthusiastic, can see the trends, analyze them carefully and correctly, have a vision, have confidence in it - and can inspire and motivate himself and his people to make it happen."

It's vital to "read the room" and understand how players perceive the working operation and culture. Assistants (especially younger ones) and captains have key roles in taking the temperature of the team - regardless of whether a team wins or loses. 

Ed Smith, former British cricket selector also emphasizes the difference between the "inside perspective" (inside the room) and the "outside perspective" (media and outsiders - backseat drivers) with different agendas. 

Lagniappe. Better shooting comes with both shot selection and more shots off the catch. 

Have you noticed this SUPER IMPORTANT trend in the NCAA tournament?

Half of your shots come off the catch!

And according to analytics (HS to NBA and WNBA), they're the highest Points Per Shot or EFG%.

Each additional dribble you take after the catch, your shooting…

— Joe Haefner | Breakthrough Basketball (@BreakthruBball) March 18, 2026

Lagniappe 2. You can't just "play with your buddies" if you want to excel. 

I learned the most about how to play basketball when I played with grown men on Friday and Saturday mornings.. 7am-10am every week from 6th grade through HS

If you didn’t pass & cut, screen away, play defense, move without the ball or take the correct shots, you sat & watched

— Anthony Pugh (@Anthony_Pugh2) March 18, 2026

Basketball Conflict Resolution

Kara Lawson (@karalawson20) said, "Conflict is a pivotal part of a successful team."

"You commit to one another, so, when there is conflict, you can move past it."

Constructive conflict builds stronger teams.

It leads to better decision making and relationships. pic.twitter.com/a6ywDG8z2n

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) March 18, 2026

Kara Lawson said it simply: “Conflict is a pivotal part of a successful team.”

And more importantly: “You commit to one another, so when there is conflict, you can move past it.”

Conflict isn’t the problem. Unresolved conflict is.

Conflict Happens Every Day

We think of conflict as arguments. It’s not. Conflict shows up in quieter moments: “I don’t feel like doing this drill.” “I should sprint, but I won’t.” “I want playing time, but I'm not into it today." That’s conflict.

Nick Saban says it best: "The challenge is doing what you should do when you don’t want to - and not doing what you shouldn’t do when you want to."

The “Get To” Shift

Part of resolving conflict is language.

• “I get to set up equipment so we start on time.”

• “I get to clean up the bench because it’s our responsibility.”

• “I get to practice hard because I’m part of something bigger.”

“Have to” creates resistance. “Get to” creates ownership.

Talent Creates Conflict

Strong teams are deep. Upperclassmen. Underclassmen. Every position. That’s a good thing. It also guarantees conflict.

Because competitors want to play, want to improve, want to win. Tension shapes edges. 

If there’s no tension, there’s no edge.

The Right Kind of Competitor

Adam Grant, in Give and Take, describes three types:

• Takers - look out for themselves

• Matchers - keep score

• Givers - invest in others

The surprising finding: Givers can finish first or last. The difference?

Ambition. The best are ambitious givers who compete, push, demand, and lift others. They make the team better while getting better.

What Exceptional Teams Do

They don’t avoid conflict. They embrace it. Competition sharpens practice. Accountability builds trust. Honest conversations strengthen relationships.

And over time, conflict becomes connection.

Closing Ideas

Every player faces a choice. Avoid conflict, stay comfortable, stay the same. Engage conflict, grow, help the team grow. 

Resolve it the right way - daily, quietly, consistently. Because the teams that handle conflict best…

Those teams are still playing when it matters most.

Lagniappe. "Nothing." 

 

Basketball - Engaging Players...and Readers

INTENTION changes everything!

Two athletes. Same starting point. Same exact program.⁰But one keeps improving… and the other stays stuck.
Why?

Athlete A is just going through the motions. Showing up because they have to. Checking the box.⁰
Athlete B shows UP. Every rep has… pic.twitter.com/PwNEvot4Q1

— Darren Hansen (@CoachDHansen) February 8, 2026

Put yourself in the position of your athlete. Which message do you prefer?

"You're doing it wrong. It's not working."

Or "Let's figure out how we can do this better?"

As a coach/mentor communicate to build relationships and strengthen the athlete's mindset. 

Raise the student-athlete's 'internal drivers':

• Pride in preparation 
• Standards...seeking "personal bests" and improvement
• Autonomy...own the process. 

Character is the engine of performance.

The Olympic cyclist looks for 'tenths' of seconds to succeed. 

The Hollywood writer seeks to "shave syllables" to make the joke work. 

"The director is the keeper of the story." - Ron Howard

Attention to detail...and words...separate extraordinary from ordinary.

Lagniappe. Power in printing

Students who took notes by hand scored ~28% higher on conceptual questions than laptop note-takers.

Writing forces your brain to process and compress ideas instead of copying them. pic.twitter.com/TUw7vqTlC4

— Brandon Luu, MD (@BrandonLuuMD) March 17, 2026

Lagniappe 2. Conflict isn't the problem. It's failure to resolve it.  

Kara Lawson (@karalawson20) said, "Conflict is a pivotal part of a successful team."

"You commit to one another, so, when there is conflict, you can move past it."

Constructive conflict builds stronger teams.

It leads to better decision making and relationships. pic.twitter.com/a6ywDG8z2n

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) March 18, 2026

Basketball - Winning Basketball (Changing the Game)

"Just trying to give the game what it needs..." - Derek White discussing his role

Being labeled a "winning player" is one of the highest compliments available to a player. You remember the messages that your coach repeated again and again. "Sacrifice." No 'bad' shots. "The ball is gold."

"Give the game what it needs..." 

implies both measurable possession enders (scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, stops) and intangibles (energy, communication, unselfish screening, and defending.

Get stops.

Stops are team stats...but players must win individual battles. Teams that cannot contain the ball get put into help and rotation situations creating scoring opportunities. Getting 'kills' (three consecutive stops) in volume (3-7-2, seven times a half, both halves) produces wins. 

Value the ball

Even with shot clocks, controlling tempo matters. Strong teams have more ways to score (inside, perimeter, free throws). Limiting turnovers creates a higher "margin of safety." In a 70 possession game, 10 turnovers means 60 potential shots. 20 turnovers means 50 possible shots. With few turnovers become few live ball turnovers leading to high points per possession. 

Avoid unforced errors

Valuing the ball is part of the "more and better shots" equation. 

Defend Efficiently

Make opponents get "hard twos." Take away layups, open threes, bad fouls leading to free throws, and make teams take late shot clock possessions. 

Better defenses control the defensive glass and force opponents into more contested shots, bad shots, and turnovers. 

Win Special Situations

In "close and late" situations, the ability to win special situations like ATO, SLOB, BOB, and "must have" possessions versus man or zone separate excellence from less. Teams that value success must win these moments. 

Force errors 

Finding players who can force opponent mistakes (bad shots, turnovers, mental mistakes from fatigue) create hard-to-measure advantages. You know them when you see them (the Shane Battiers and Marcus Smarts of the world). 

Lagniappe. Share specifics about standards. 

“It’s in your body language. It’s how you talk to one another. It’s how you compete in practice. Those standards become our baseline. When you have those standards, you understand the byproduct will be winning, but all those things have to show up before the scoreboard,”… pic.twitter.com/vXcbMXYlay

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) March 19, 2026

Lagniappe 2. You know it when you see it. 

Houston might have the best culture in college basketball

pic.twitter.com/8SGjQF17At

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) March 19, 2026

Teachable Moments

The "truth machine" shares lessons. Young players should study film to learn to create advantage. 

The Celtics-Warriors game informed a lot of lessons. 

Simple is powerful. Draymond Green assists on the SLOB give-and-go.  

Creating advantage. Spacing starts well for the high ball screen and Tatum gets 'early advantage.' The defense collapses and he finds the "penetrate and pitch" three with the filled corners. 

Even great players make bad plays like a challenged crosscourt pass. 

"Set up your cut." Classic "backdoor cut" with a cut toward and then an "urgent cut" away from the ball. 

Historically, a "knock" on Jaylen Brown was an inability to go left. He has addressed that while scoring about 29 points per game. 

The best shot fake is "a shot not taken." Note that on the fake the ball barely clears the top of his head. 

Horns into a backscreen, then a White slip from a possible double staggered screen and it's easy money.

 

Exceptional players separate. Tatum uses a mini "negative step" and then has the explosiveness to get to the rim. 

"The ball has energy." Four players touch the ball over about five seconds. Players are often open "behind the ball" and Queda finds the solution. 

"They're just in it for the money." In Game 69, Derrick White pursues relentlessly, forces a live ball turnover and the Celtics convert with numbers and an open three. White was lightly recruited coming out of high school and became a connector, first round draft choice, and star.

Lagniappe. Excellent players find "microadvantages" and strong defenders limit them. 

The legend, Bob Huggins, talks defensive stance

Could listen to this man coach hoops all day

Truly one of the best we have ever seen

(Via @ChampProduction 🎥)

pic.twitter.com/yQvusuif5N

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) February 24, 2026