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Monday, January 12, 2026

Basketball - "Different" Quotes as the Springboard to Growth

"If you want to be different from everybody else, then you've got to pay the price." - Anton Myrer in Once an Eagle 

Drive expresses itself in different ways. Dan Pink shared three components in his book ("Drive") - autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Sara Blakely, founder and CEO of Spanx says, "Obsess the product." Actor Sam Jackson adds, "Bring the best version of yourself to work every day." And Kevin Durant (top 10 scorer in NBA history) wakes every day asking himself, "How do I get better today?"

Quotes can serve as an impetus:

"Basketball is sharing." - Phil Jackson

Sharing implies collaboration, communication, connection. These manifest as helping each other at both ends of the floor. On offense, space to open driving and passing lanes and stretch the defense. Move without the ball, cutting urgently, screen, deliver on-time, on-target passes, and take quality shots (ROB shots - in range, open, on balance). The opposite of sharing is selfishness. 

"Impact winning." - Dr. Fergus Connolly

Examine every phase of practice from warmup to recovery. If something doesn't drive the process, why are we doing it? Be as quick to remove something unhelpful as we are to add. Be efficient (using time wisely) to drive execution (what shows up in games). 

"The coach's job is to help players see the game." - Pete Newell

Newell's Cal Bears defeated Wooden's UCLA Bruins eight consecutive meetings. Newell preached footwork, balance, and maneuvering speed. His books and tapes (e.g. "Big Man Moves") provide blueprints for separation from wing to post. Because video is "The Truth Machine," underutilizing tape underappreciates an essential teaching tool. Watch tape of coaches and players who create advantage for players. 

"An easy game to learn and a difficult one to master." - James Naismith

There is no overnight success. It's a grind and partially explains some migration away from basketball to other sports (e.g. volleyball). The exploding costs, unrealistic participants, ego, and delusions of grandeur (NIL riches for a few) can drive bad behavior (e.g. abuse of officials and sometimes coaches). 

"Every day is player development day." - Dave Smart

Talent isn't everything but no coach wins without it. Find it and develop it. In parallel with building technique and tactics, coaches need to develop or outsource physical and emotional (resilience) training. 

  • "Think shot first." - Don Kelbick 
  • "Develop a GO TO and COUNTER move." 
  • "Find four ways to score."
  • "What is your NBA (or other level) skill?"
  • "Life is hard." - Nick Saban
At the same time, coaches cultivate leadership skills. 
  • "Everyone benefits from coaching." - Sean McVay
  • "The magic is in the work." 
  • "Be warm and demanding." - Brad Stevens
  • "The game honors toughness." 
  • "Sacrifice." 
Newell's mandate to teach players to "see the game" is a big ask. Players have many choices and distractions. It reminds me of the saying in the Navy, "If the Navy wanted you to have a wife, they would have issued you one." 

Lagniappe. Zoom is versatile. Chris Steed shares Zoom Elevator. 


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