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Sunday, June 28, 2026

Basketball - The High Value Person

You may not know of Ernie Adams, the man called "Belichick's Belichick." Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett's partner, was "Buffett's Buffet."

Munger who recently passed at age 99, emphasized character and decision-making. Steve Burns wrote a lengthy piece on Munger which I've shortened.

Munger's principles work for basketball and life. 

1. You Focus on Deserving What You Want

Success is a choice and work is the entry fee on that path. You get what you earn. 

Basketball: Michael Jordan's and Kobe Bryant's practice work ethic... practice hard so games are easy. 

2. You Are a “Learning Machine”

Become a lifelong learner. Munger says that he has never seen anyone succeed who doesn't read. 

Readers: George Raveling, Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr, Mike Neighbors, Brad Stevens 

3. You Actively Try to Destroy Your Own Ideas

Why am I wrong? What am I missing? Self-assessment of both our creative and critical selves can only help. 

Open to change: Steve Kerr in the 2015 NBA Finals going small with Andre Iguodala

4. You Prioritize “Not Being Stupid” Over Being Brilliant

“It is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.” — Charlie Munger.

Avoiding stupidity - Jayson Tatum sat in Game 7 against Philadelphia. Tatum was hurt and perhaps the Celtics saw the writing on the wall. 

5. You Know the Exact Edge of Your Competence

Know our "Circle of Competence." Increase it. Leverage it. And avoid straying from it. In life, we need a plumber, an electrician, a "car guy" and other specialists for projects outside our circle. 

Basketball - find coaches that complement our skills

6. You Guard Your Integrity Above Everything Else

Buffett said that success intersects with energy, intelligence, and integrity. And without integrity, the other two are dangerous. 

Basketball - In the Donald Sterling affair in the NBA, Doc Rivers was a true professional and explained that his parents taught him not to be a victim. 

7. You Refuse to Work For or With People You Don’t Respect

Reputation is what people think we are. Character is who we are. If we work with people we don't respect, what could possibly go wrong? 

Basketball - When evaluating a new position, learn about the ecosystem, community, and existing leadership.

8. You Have a Long Attention Span

Part of success is the ability to sit in a chair and do the work. Flitting from project to project never works well. Focus is a superpower. 

Basketball - Coach Dave Smart says that strong teams play "harder for longer."

9. You Actively Filter Out Intense Ideology

Think about "inversion," the opposite of an idea. Intense ideology limits flexibility, critical thinking, and active questioning of alternatives. 

Basketball - The game evolves. "Never be the first to add or the last to delete." The Knicks ran "Flex" in the playoffs. 

10. You Reject Envy, Self-Pity, and the Victim Mindset

If being a high value person is about what we bring to a team or a group, how could envy, victimhood, or feeling sorry for ourselves benefit others? 

Basketball - Model excellence as a help to others. 

Lagniappe. Teach skills and decision-making. 

 

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