Education changes behavior. Coaches are educators. Educators change behavior.
Reading opens new worlds to us, new perspective. "I never thought of it that way." Reading changes us, like software changes a computer. We choose to become learning machines...or not.
Investigative journalist Bob Woodward talks about getting the sunrise on a story. We have an obligation to our teams to learn and to prepare better.
From SB Nation, "last year, Milwaukee was 25th in three-pointers attempted and in the top half of the league in most shots attempted from 16-23 feet. In their season opener against Charlotte, they attempted just four straggling two-pointers from beyond 12 feet." NBA defenses want to force teams to take "hard 2s." Teams look to score open 3s and at the rim. Golden State wins with ball movement (passes/game) and perimeter scoring.
Among the NBA's top three point percentage teams, only the Nets (4-6) are below .500.
Readers gain insight from the world. Kevin Eastman writes, “To be a great teacher of the game you must study the game; know your craft & be proud of your knowledge; but never satisfied with your knowledge.” He adds, “Interesting thing about the best leaders is that they immerse themselves in both teaching and learning. Growth comes by both.”
Coach George Raveling has an entire space on his website dedicated to reading.
Coach John Calipari is a reader, too. "Coach Cal carries a book with him wherever he goes. He reads at least three books at a time, keeping one in his car for when he travels, one on his desk at the Joe Craft Center and one at home."
If you don't read, then you won't access the plethora of basketball information available. You might even find a play you can use someday (above).
The median salary in the WNBA is about $72,000, not bad. But if you're not in the WNBA, success corresponds with reading. "Fast Company found that the most successful people obsessively pour over the autobiographies of other successful individuals to look for guidance, find inspiration, and get motivated."
When you read regularly and apply it, good things happen for you.
Lagniappe:
Successful players READ on the court, too...reading defenses and adjusting. Here's a brief (two minute) video examining ball screen reads.
