Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Basketball: Adopt the Professionalism of All Sports

What is professionalism? Professionalism consistently applies timely, efficient, detail-oriented approaches. Show up on time, ready to go, physically and mentally prepared. Be stretched out when practice starts and have total mental focus.  

1. Consider lessons from Gridiron Genius

"Champions behave like champions before they’re champions." —BILL WALSH 

As a young player or young coach, develop "professionalism" or something less leaves us short of our best version. Professionals are on time, "off book" and thoroughly prepared. If a player doesn't know her job, how can she do it?

"Moss displayed another Belichick staple: mental toughness, which the Patriots define as “doing what is best for the team when it might not be best for you.” In New England, Moss was a “program guy”: someone who works hard, is a supportive teammate, and cares deeply about winning. In other words, someone with football character.

2. Analyze a player using the Selection Process of Ed Smith

Physical makeup. It's not only about skill, size, and athleticism, but health history and durability. 

Psychological makeup. Can we look under the hood and examine the player's character, commitment, 'heart', and resilience? 

Performance. Smith reminds us of the difference between academics - those who often design by 'concepts' and the man in the street - who frames choices by experience. 

The Decision. Is our goal consensus, compromise, or getting the absolute best outcome? 

3. Professionals are different. 

Pete Newell said, "teach players to SEE THE GAME." 

Phil Jackson taught, "Basketball is sharing."

Bob Knight advised, "Basketball is a game of mistakes." His warning was to reduce them. 

Dean Smith's primary lesson was CARING. 

Bill Walsh coached to his "standards of performance." 

4. Leadership It takes many elements to win

Leadership. Leadership adds value to not just 'the game' but the lives of the individuals. Leaders get buy-in. Buy-in creates loyalty and starts the 'chain of belief', so well-developed in Ted Lasso. 

5. Develop great habits. Preparation is habit forming. Hard work is habit forming. Winning is habit forming. 

Grow our habits. "We make our habits and our habits make us." Habits can be pleasurable - a walk, a workout, reading, mindfulness, writing. Attitude is habit. I read a suggestion to put an elastic on our wrist and switch to the opposite wrist every complaint. That makes complaining obvious. One of James Clear's signs to change habits is "make it obvious." Change the elastic a few times in an hour and grievance is real.

Lagniappe. Create advantage. 

Lagniappe 2. Create multiple options to find edges.  

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