1. Contribution is more than scoring. "It's the scoreboard not the scorebook." The totality of your game defines you, not a single column in the book. Don't allow the last column in the book to define your worth.
2. Great players make everyone better. If it's all about your minutes, your touches, and your shots, it's your problem. Self-assessment of how you impact teammates matters.
3. Great players end more possessions with scores and stops. "Possession enders" get scores (via assists or scoring) and stops (rebounds, steals, blocks, "one bad shot" for opponents).
4. "The 95" counts. Billy Donovan calls your actions without the ball "the 95 percent." Communicate, see the game, cut, screen, pressure the ball, take charges, get deflections, block out.
5. Use space and time. Opportunity comes with creation of space and time. Players "let down" for a second after a score, allowing you a "golden moment" to convert and gain advantage. Bad teams often have bad spacing and don't "shrink space" defensively. Failure to contain the ball opens space and time for opponents.
6. Impact winning positively. What "skill" gets you and keeps you on the court? If you don't have an answer then you probably aren't getting the time and role you want.
7. Know time, score, and situation. If you play long enough, bad decisions in 'crunch time' will cause heartbreak. Do that in a championship game and it's hard to erase that.
8. At every level, coachable players reap benefits. First, they improve. Improvement crafts legacy. Choose to be remembered as a "pleasure to coach" and a "delight to be around."
9. Know that behavior and choices impact others. An energy giver energizes teammates. Unselfishness engages teammates. Humility and sharing credit earns teammates' respect.
10.Player or family toxicity costs opportunities. Years ago, an AAU coach explained to a group of parents, "Your daughter's college coach won't care about your opinion." Get used to it.
11.“Fouling negates hustle.” Fouling bad shots, getting opponents into the bonus early, retaliation fouls, and frustration fouls show immaturity and lack of discipline. And they reduce winning.
12."Excellent teams don't beat themselves." Missed assignments, bad free throw shooting, lackadaisical transition defense, and fouling three-point shooters are just a few examples of beating yourselves. They corrupt high points/possession chances.
Lagniappe. Great design on a BOB. Reduce traffic in the lane and then a backscreen forcing choices.
Lagniappe. Good things happen with paint touches and ball movement.