Thursday, March 26, 2020

Basketball: Media Lessons for Young Players

"Never get into a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel." - Chuck Daly

Model excellence. Players see everything, how we treat others. Authenticity has no value if we are an authentic jerk. 

Take time to counsel players about expectations and cautions. 
  1. Be respectful at all times. Playing is your job; communicating is theirs. 
  2. It's not all about you, so don't make it all about you. 
  3. Know what's important - family, school, and then extracurriculars. Be thankful publicly; have sound priorities. Fair or not, readers and viewers will judge you by your maturity and communication skills.  
  4. Share credit. Nobody likes arrogance. If you want to be an outcast, make it about you. Thank your teammates and recognize that without them, your job is impossible. 
  5. Stay in your lane. When media ask questions about coaches and strategy, deflect and say the coaching staff has the experience and ability to answer those questions. 
  6. Be accountable. If you made a poor decision, it's fine to say "I'm not happy with that decision and I'm working to make the best decisions consistently." 
  7. Practice, in front of a mirror or with a parent. Present yourself as a responsible, thoughtful young adult. Minimize the "like", "um", and poor grammar. "My teammates and I" sounds much better than "Me and my teammates." Have a friend, sibling, or parent do a brief (two minute) cellphone video for you. 
  8. Develop a thick skin. As film director Mira Nair says, "have the soul of a poet and the skin of an elephant." 
  9. Present your best self. "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." 
  10. Get feedback. After an interview, ask whether the interviewer has suggestions on how you can improve in the future. 
 Lagniappe: Innovative idea, "designated cutter." 

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