"He knows how to play the game."
Every coach sometimes complains about the basketball IQ of players. Every great player has great game understanding. Elite size, athleticism, and skill with poor basketball IQ yield underachievement.
When you think of basketball IQ, which players come to mind first? Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, LeBron, Jordan?
What is Basketball IQ?
- "Know how to play."
- "Coach on the floor"
- "Make the right play at the right time."
- I say VDE - vision, decisions, and execution.
- "Make teammates better."
What are some examples of "heady plays?"
Two minutes of offensive pick-and-roll education.
Ignore the first minute of video.
- Video illustrates "Gap, kick, swing."
- "Great offense is multiple actions."
- Force the defense into scramble.
How do I execute?
- Read the defense
- Read the passer
- Understand timing...when using screens it's better to be late. "Wait, wait, wait."
I read about one coach who got so frustrated by his starters' lack of knowledge and understanding that he informed players they would be tested (written) and failure meant losing their starting positions to player who passed. They learned. A "performance-focused, feedback-rich" environment enhances learning.
There's no foolproof way to build basketball IQ. Given a choice, I'd rather have a player who finds an obsession to learn than one who simply wants to learn. "The first price you pay is paying attention."