Basketball - Intangibles and Specifics

Six of the most important intangibles that coaches look for in players:
1. High character
2. Great attitude
3. Work ethic
4. Mental toughness
5. Leadership
6. Intelligence

— Sports Psychology (@SportPsychTips) July 7, 2026

Traffic in specifics. Don't say, "I play hard." Explain. "I communicate. I'm first to the floor. I'm first to pick a teammate up off the court." Examples:

High character 

• Teamwork
• Selflessness (Team first)

Great attitude

• Positivity
• Coachability

Work ethic

• "Never cheats the drill."
• Relentless 

Mental toughness

• Performs under situational duress (pressure)
• Performs when not physically at peak

Leadership

• Models excellence (home, school, sport)
• Resource for teammates ("available")

Intelligence

• Makes the right play consistently
• Reads plays to become a step quicker 

Lagniappe. "Hindsight held a level of perfection that real-time decision-making could not provide." - David Baldacci in "Long Road to Mercy"

Lagniappe 2. How are we making a difference in development? 

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