Basketball Advice that Players Will Never Regret

Target your audience. Today it's players. There's a lot to learn and the more you know, the more you realize there's much more to know.

Absorb and process a handful of truths.

1. "Do hard better." Skill development is hard. Conditioning is hard. Studying the game is hard. Make doing hard better a priority.

2. "Learn every day." Find resources to help you improve across a spectrum of sources - books, video, clinics online, leadership articles. 

3. "Find a mentor." Passionate athletes find people who want to help them develop. "Mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence." Ask. 

4. "Chunk" visual information. Chess grandmasters see a board and see relationships among the pieces. Basketball "minds" see 'setups' and read the play. 

Real-time, I saw a 1-4 high set with the wing at the top leaving and the wing at the bottom cutting, knowing this Iverson action would create a great shot. 

5. "Play with purpose." In Jay Bilas's "Toughness" article, he describes "set up your cut" as a tough action. Failure to set up cuts or to cut urgently is a major definition of offensive success or failure. Basketball is "a game of separation." If you don't separate you either won't get the ball or will be crowded on the catch. 

6. "Win in space." Your parents taught you not "to play in the traffic." Don't dribble into traffic or pass into traffic. Both play exactly into what the defense wants. If you "draw two" that opens a teammate. 

7. "The quality of the shot relates to the quality of the pass." - Pete Carril  Passers can lead players into open space or into trouble. Passes to the "shot pocket" allow the shooter better shooting conditions. Crisp passes open shots better than lackadaisical ones. 

8. "Think shot first." - Don Kelbick  If you're always ready to shoot, then you're always a threat. 

9. "Become a possession ender." Possession enders create scores and stops. Rebounds, steals, turnovers, and time end opponent possessions. Sometimes blocks and deflections do. 

10. "What is your primary skill?" Do more of what gets and keeps you in the lineup and less of what doesn't. If you don't know what your primary skill is, then you don't have one. 

Lagniappe. Simplify. What can we eliminate to become more successful? 

“A few extremely well-chosen objectives,” Grove wrote, “impart a clear message about what we say ‘yes’ to and what we say ‘no’ to.” A limit of three to five OKRs per cycle leads companies, teams, and individuals to choose what matters most." - "Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs" by John Doerr

Lagniappe 2. Stay abreast of new developments. This video shares what the author calls, "Three across." 

More Thoughts on Basketball Efficiency

What does 'efficiency' mean for a basketball player? There's the 'eyeball' reading and analytical metrics.

It makes sense that more positive contributions and fewer negative ones result in higher efficiency. I wrote about this first in 2015, although it was not a new concept. 

NBA and WNBA player efficiency calculations differ. ChatGPT explains:

The WNBA Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a measure of a player's per-minute productivity, similar to the NBA's version created by John Hollinger. The WNBA does not officially publish PER on its website, but basketball analysts and advanced stat sites calculate it using the same core formula.

Here’s how PER is generally calculated (same as in the NBA, with WNBA-specific stats plugged in):

---

Formula (Simplified Overview)

The basic structure of PER is:

$$\text{PER}=\frac{\mathrm{1/}}{\text{Minutes}}\times \text{(Positive Contributions - Negative Contributions)}\times \text{League Adjustment)}$$

But in practice, it’s a very complex formula that includes:

Positive Contributions:

• Points

• Assists

• Rebounds (Offensive and Defensive)

• Steals

• Blocks

• Free Throws Made

• Field Goals Made

• Three-Pointers Made

Negative Contributions:

• Turnovers

• Missed Field Goals

• Missed Free Throws

• Personal Fouls

---

Complete Calculation (Highly Technical)

Hollinger’s original formula weights each action using statistical constants and adjusts for:

• Team pace

• League averages

• Minutes played

The detailed equation includes terms like:

$$uPER = \frac{1}{MP} \left[ (3P) + \frac{2}{3} (AST) + (2-FGM) + 0.5 (FTM) - VOP \cdot TO - VOP \cdot DRBP \cdot (FGA - FGM) - VOP \cdot 0.44 \cdot (FTA - FTM) + VOP \cdot (1 - DRBP) \cdot (TRB - OREB) + VOP \cdot DRBP \cdot OREB + VOP \cdot STL + VOP \cdot DRBP \cdot BLK - PF \cdot (lgFT / lgPF) \right]$$

Where:

• VOP = Value of Possession

• DRBP = Defensive Rebound %

• lgFT = League FT made

• lgPF = League Personal Fouls

Then the league average is normalized to PER = 15.0.

---

Alternative: Efficiency (EFF)

The WNBA does publish a simpler version called Efficiency (EFF), often used by broadcasters and box scores:

$$\text{EFF}=(PTS+REB+AST+STL+BLK)-(FGA-FGM+FTA-FTM+TO)$$

This is not PER, but a rougher and easier-to-calculate metric of total productivity.

---

Summary

Metric	Use	Pros	Cons
PER	Advanced stat sites	Adjusted for pace, team, and league	Complex and less transparent
EFF	Broadcast & WNBA.com	Easy to calculate	Doesn’t adjust for pace or context

If you're tracking player impact in the WNBA and need a balance of accuracy and clarity, EFF works for casual analysis, while PER is better for deeper insights when calculated correctly.

If you wanted to apply one to high school or youth play, the latter is much easier.

How can we "be a scientist" not a preacher as a coach? 

"Possession enders" get scores and help get stops (steals, blocks, deflections, defensive rebounds). 

Inefficiencies show up as turnovers and high volume shooting without many points. Neither Hollinger PER or WNBA "Efficiency" show up as defensive rating. 

Here's a link to the most current WNBA stats ranked by Player Efficiency. Napheesa Collier had been the league leader but A'ja Wilson has slipped ahead. Note that Angel Reese is a highly productive fifth.  

Here's a link to current WNBA defensive player ratings, sorted by those playing at least 20 minutes/game. Individual defensive ratings will depend to some extent on team defensive rating. For example, Dallas trails Indiana by 6.3 points per game so comparing individual defensive ratings might take that into account. 

Analytics don't replace the 'eyeball test'. They add to it. 

Lagniappe. Maintaining relationships with coaches and players is a blessing. 

The worst mistake a coach can make isn’t a bad substitution or drawing up the wrong play—it’s ignoring your players as people.
The game ends.
The buzzer sounds.
But the relationships? Those last forever. Invest in your team *now.* That’s the real win.

— Steve Collins (@TeachHoopsBBall) August 19, 2025

Lagniappe 2. Effort, unselfishness, body language, character...and you have to be a player... 

Geno Auriemma was asked: "What do you look for in a recruit?"

He named 4 things. They have everything to do with life - not basketball.

Simple, repeatable, and transformational.

Here's what they are and why they matter:🧵 pic.twitter.com/Gs5BvpItzp

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) August 4, 2025

Stoicism and Basketball*

*Inspired by and modified from "The Daily Stoic" 

Professional sports, teams and individuals, embrace stoicism as a high performance strategy. Stoic philosophy comes from a Greek word ‘stoa’ or porch. Stoics were the “porch guys.” 

As Coach Bob Knight said, "the mental is to the physical four to one," competitive advantage flows from mental edges. 

Two famous Stoic practitioners stood at opposite ends of the spectrum - the Emperor Marcus Aurelius and the former slave Epictetus. 

Stoicism encourages virtue - courage, wisdom, justice, and moderation. 

Basketball: Basketball virtue manifests in different ways including "competitive character." 

“Control what you can control.” Professionals control attitudes, choices, and effort. They don’t control what happens to them, but how they respond.

Basketball: When players enter the league, they commit to career development or sometimes to "The Life." It's hard to excel as a pro while burning the candle at both ends. 

“Aspire to virtue.” Marcus Aurelius had overwhelming responsibilities as emperor. He chose to focus on good character, good intentions, and good actions.” 

Basketball: Virtue shows up in work ethic, humility, and temperance.

“Self-control is a choice.” 

Basketball: In a physical sport, a narrow gap exists between stimulus (contact) and response (retaliation). 

Develop the fortress within. The Stoics called this the "inner citadel." He who is tested has the privilege of learning resilience.

Basketball: The basketball inner citadel is the metaphorical place where a player finds peace. 

“The good of the many matters.” Marcus Aurelius shared the analogy of bees. What is good for the hive is good for the bees. 

Basketball: Stoic philosophy puts the team first. 

Set our standard. “Is this what the person I’d like to be would do?” Every day provides choices.

Basketball: Our choices and our habits define our destiny. 

A personal philosophy helps people with identity and performance, who we are and what we do. 

Lagniappe: (via ChatGPT Plus)

NBA Players & Coaches with Stoic Leanings

CJ McCollum

• Context: The NBA guard CJ McCollum embraced Stoic philosophy after a teammate gifted him Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle Is the Way.

• Impact: The book helped him find balance between his personal life and professional demands.

Brad Stevens (Coach, formerly Butler & Boston Celtics Executive)

• Approach: Known for his quiet composure on the sideline, Stevens models Stoic presence—he stays calm, focuses on what he can control (“the next play”), avoids emotional outbursts, and reinforces the “do your job” mentality of steady excellence.

Phil Jackson (Coach of Bulls & Lakers)

• Though not explicitly Stoic, Jackson is known as the “Zen Master” for his integration of Eastern philosophy. His calm, meditative approach and psychological insight share substantial overlap with Stoic values of inner control, mental discipline, and composure.

---

Broader Professional Sports & Stoicism

NFL Coaches & Executives

• Bill Belichick, Michael Lombardi, and the New England Patriots staff circulated The Obstacle Is the Way during their 2014 Super Bowl run. Similarly, John Schneider and Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks passed the book around their locker room the following season.

Other Sports Figures

• LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have been associated with Stoic practices, such as visualizing outcomes (including negative ones) and focusing on process over results.

• Kawhi Leonard is often described as having a naturally stoic disposition: calm, measured, and unflappable under pressure.

Olympic Gold Medalist Speed Skater: Mark Tuitert

• Tuitert credits Marcus Aurelius’ core Stoic principle—“what stands in the way becomes the way”—for transforming his approach after burnout and multiple crises. He went on to win gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics by focusing on what he could control and letting go of outcomes.

Greg Harden (Peak Performance Coach)

• Though not Stoic in name, Harden’s mantra—“control the controllables”—echoes core Stoic teaching. He coached elite performers like Tom Brady, Michael Phelps, Desmond Howard, and NBA draft pick Nik Stauskas, helping them manage pressure and focus on internal resilience.

Lagniappe 2. Stoic principles include a bias to action. For example, Amelia Earhart became a pilot in an era with fewer opportunities for women. 

Lagniappe 3. A Stoicism infographic prepared by AI 

Basketball - Understand Military and Sports Parallels

"Never give an order that can't be enforced." - Gen. Wesley Clark in "American Military History" (The Great Courses)

Sport has war parallels, but war is deadly serious. Military experience teaches lessons about training, leadership, strategy, and operations. Preparation is paramount. Never ignore the hard-fought lessons from other domains. 

Lessons include impacts from politics, equipment needs, and leadership.

General Clark was West Point valedictorian and Rhodes Scholar earning an Oxford masters. He shared lessons he earned in class, Ranger School, and on Vietnam battlefields.

The first class discussed the rise of George Washington, an inconsistent journey, with experiences before and during the French and Indian War. He understood that North American fighting, a guerilla warfare, differed from European theaters warfare. Clark emphasized collaboration (multinational) and joint operations (land and sea).

What major parallels can coaches exploit? 

Training. An early advocate of proper treatment of his men was Russian General Alexander Suvorov. "The General Who Never Lost." An exception in his time, he treated troops well and taught, "Always forward." 

Individual and team development often define a coach.

Scouting. During General Robert E. Lee's greatest battle at Chancellorsville (VA) in 1863, he leveraged scouting to defeat Union forces despite being severely under-resourced in troops. His cavalry provided critical information about Union troop locations and movement. 

Even at lower levels, coaches can often access game video to anticipate opponent offenses and defenses, allowing strategies against top players. A coach told me that Lowell had a great point guard, the team averaging over 60 points a game in Middle School, winning by over 30 points per game. We used a modified triangle and two with a player covering her and rolling the other guard to that side to double. We lost 42-25 in a moral victory despite our top player out for the season. 

Leadership (Chain of Command and diffused). Many distinguished coaches had military background and experience. Coach Gregg Popovich coached at the Air Force Academy as did Coach Dean Smith. Coach Bob Knight coached at Army including coaching future Coach Mike Krzyzewski. Superior leadership training and experience is a proven edge. 

Basketball coaches can learn from military leaders with readings including "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink. Without followers there is no leader.

Fire discipline (Rules of engagement, direct orders). In his biography, General Clark discussed the importance of fire discipline in Vietnam. Shot selection is always important in basketball. Get "more and better shots" than opponents with more shots for better scorers. 

Spacing. In jungle warfare or open ground, spacing changes with greater spacing in open areas. 

Spacing always matters in basketball. Chuck Daly famously said, "Offense is spacing and spacing is offense." 

Force multipliers. Deepseek provides a wonderful comparison between military and basketball force multipliers. 

The concept of "force multipliers" in the military refers to tools, tactics, or strategies that significantly enhance the effectiveness of a given force without necessarily increasing its size. These can include technology, training, intelligence, or even psychological tactics that allow a smaller or equal-sized force to outperform a larger or more conventionally equipped opponent.

In basketball, the same idea applies—certain strategies, skills, or adjustments can dramatically increase a team's effectiveness without requiring more talent or personnel. Here’s how military force multipliers translate to basketball:

1. Technology & Intelligence (Scouting & Analytics)

• Military: Drones, satellite imagery, and signals intelligence provide real-time battlefield awareness.

• Basketball: Advanced analytics (e.g., tracking player movement, shot selection, lineup efficiency) and film study help teams exploit opponents' weaknesses and optimize their own strategies.

2. Speed & Tempo (Pace & Transition Offense)

• Military: Blitzkrieg tactics or rapid deployment overwhelm enemies before they can react.

• Basketball: Fast-paced offenses (like the "Seven Seconds or Less" Suns or the Warriors’ transition game) force defenses into mismatches and prevent setup.

3. Specialized Roles (Elite Shooters & Defenders)

• Military: Special forces (e.g., Navy SEALs, snipers) execute high-impact missions with precision.

• Basketball: Elite 3-point shooters (e.g., Steph Curry) stretch defenses, while lockdown defenders (e.g., Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard) disrupt opponents’ best players.

4. Deception & Misdirection (Offensive Schemes)

• Military: Feints, decoys, and misinformation confuse enemies.

• Basketball: Play-action passes, backdoor cuts, and the Princeton offense use misdirection to create open shots.

5. Leadership & Communication (Point Guards & Coaches)

• Military: Strong leadership (officers/NCOs) ensures coordination and adaptability.

• Basketball: Elite point guards (e.g., Chris Paul, Jason Kidd) and coaches (e.g., Gregg Popovich) maximize team execution under pressure.

6. Home-Court Advantage (Morale & Psychological Edge)

• Military: High troop morale and psychological dominance (e.g., shock and awe) can demoralize enemies.

• Basketball: Loud home crowds, momentum swings, and clutch performances (e.g., Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant) break opponents’ spirit.

7. Versatility (Positionless Basketball)

• Military: Modern warfare values adaptable, multi-role soldiers (e.g., Marines trained for air, land, sea).

• Basketball: Teams like the Warriors and Heat thrive with "positionless" players (e.g., LeBron, Giannis) who switch defensively and create mismatches.

Conclusion:

Just as a military force uses intelligence, speed, specialization, and psychology to amplify its effectiveness, basketball teams leverage analytics, pace, shooting, defense, and leadership to outperform opponents—even with less raw talent. The best teams, like the best militaries, don’t just rely on size or strength; they maximize every available advantage.

Lagniappe. Focus on being effective, not cool. 

Avoid the “cool guy” mistakes

•Missing lay ups because your putting something “extra” on it

•Turning it over because you don’t want to throw the simple pass

•Missing open teammates to “get yours”

•Going through the motions in warm ups to look cool in lay up lines

— Anthony Pugh (@Anthony_Pugh2) July 8, 2025

Lagniappe 2. How does time on the shot clock impact percentage?  

The CONTROLLING VARIABLES to how well a team will shoot are:

- Individual development
- Shot location
- Shot timing

Development falls under the technical side and the shot location/timing fall under both technical and tactical.

EVERY coach focuses on development, whether… pic.twitter.com/mdZeeGZUjm

— Chris Steed (@steeder10) June 10, 2025

Basketball - Underrated Emphasis, Use It Today

If it's 'underrated' then we should do more of it. 

Define Core Values

“Underrated” is always subjective. One coach may say, “That’s lower priority for us,” while another insists, “That’s a core value for us.” Both can be right—if it fits their program.

The key is to decide what your core values are and where they belong on your team’s priority list.

Program Approach

• Set daily standards

• Foster teamwork

• Build a positive culture

(Management consultant Dave Kline likens accountability to “calling your shot.”)

On-Court Standards

Offense

• Emphasize player and ball movement

• Take quality shots

• Value possessions (limit turnovers)

Defense

• Pressure and contain the ball

• Contest shots without fouling

• Control the defensive glass

Non-Negotiables

1. Teach players to make the simple play—fall in love with easy.

2. Reaffirm commitment: “That is not how we play.”

3. Eliminate the Deadly S’s—selfishness, sloth, softness.

4. Praise the praiseworthy; “sandwich” criticism inside encouragement.

5. Track shot charts and use film to show good shots.

6. Reduce the most common turnovers—pick the low-hanging fruit.

7. Simplify: trim the playbook whenever possible.

8. Reinforce positive actions with positive video.

9. Recognize unsung contributors who don’t get media “love.”

10. Give and receive feedback to stay aligned as a team.

Bonus Reminder

If you don’t have a steady inbound passer who makes good decisions and safe passes, you’ll lose close games.

Lagniappe. Quote from Austin Kleon in Steal Like an Artist. "If you’re out of ideas, wash the dishes. Take a really long walk. Stare at a spot on the wall for as long as you can. As the artist Maira Kalman says, “Avoiding work is the way to focus my mind.”" Everyone needs ways to reset, to clear the mind. 

Lagniappe 2. "Repetitions make reputations." 

Love this WORK

If you want to be great, you need to get in the gym and REP, REP, REP

(Via @GiavonniMack 🎥)

pic.twitter.com/Quz5bPtuOI

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 3, 2025

Better Than Average Coaching Results

80 percent of drivers say that they're better than average. The other 20 percent have higher rates of depression. I think a similar poll of coaches would yield similar results.

Learn every day, open to acquiring new ideas and revising existing beliefs. 

Achieve superior coaching results

1. Do the Work

• Do an apprenticeship with an established coach.
• Coach to gain experience. 
• Study the game (Books, courses, video, Clinics).
• Journal. 
• Get mentoring while coaching.

2. Get better players

• Recruit within your community.
• Recruit others if applicable and permitted.

3. Excel at player development (PD)

• Study PD trainers (e.g. Hanlen, Brickley, Kelbick, et al.). 
• Use PD consultants. 
• Develop a personal drill book, training manual

4. Teach better 

• Create a video clip library.
• Study teaching (e.g. Teach Like a Champion, The Coach's Guide to Teaching, Game Changer.
• Self-assess (After Action Review, film and review practice).
• Seek permission to watch established coaches' practice.

5. Learn strength, conditioning, and recovery

• Study on your own.
• Subcontract out to others (individual or group training).

6. Master the Head Game

• Search Inside Yourself (Book)
• UCLA Mindfulness site

Lagniappe. Assist from ChatGPT Plus

Basketball Coaching as a Holistic Discipline

When we discuss basketball coaching, focus beyond plays, drills, and the scoreboard. The best coaches know the game runs deeper. Coaching is a holistic discipline. It connects body, mind, and community to develop players who excel in basketball and in life.

---

The Physical Game

At the most visible level, basketball demands skill and fitness. Holistic coaching builds athletes’ bodies with an eye toward long-term health as well as peak performance. That means teaching sound mechanics to reduce injuries, balancing power with endurance, and emphasizing the basics—nutrition, recovery, and rest.

---

The Mental Game

Basketball is a game of decisions. Holistic coaches help players sharpen their basketball IQ: reading situations, anticipating movement, and adapting in real time. Just as important, players learn how to think about their thinking—the metacognitive habits that allow them to self-correct, stay focused, and raise awareness under pressure.

---

The Emotional Game

Successful players regulate emotions. Confidence, resilience, and composure matter. Holistic coaching creates environments where losses are lessons. Players learn to channel intensity without losing control, and to compete with passion while maintaining perspective.

---

The Social Game

Basketball is a team sport in the truest sense. Holistic coaching invests in culture—shared values of accountability, respect, and unselfishness. Players learn to communicate, listen, and encourage. Trust binds five individuals together as one.

---

Beyond the Court

The real test of holistic coaching isn’t just what shows up on game film, but life. Leadership, responsibility, and teamwork extend beyond the hardwood. When done well, basketball becomes a classroom for character—preparing players for careers, relationships, and challenges after their last game ends.

---

Integration Matters

The physical, mental, emotional, and social aren’t separate boxes. They’re  interwoven. A defensive lapse might stem from fatigue, frustration, or lack of trust. To address performance, coaches must address the whole person.

Lagniappe 2. "Joy is a competitive advantage." 

Joe Mazulla to Tatum :

'It's ok to smile during war.'

A concept that is overlooked by most, myself included, is that JOY IS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

When we view joy this way, instead of assuming that joy = soft/lack of caring, it's a huge paradigm shift in culture,…

— Chris Steed (@steeder10) August 12, 2025

Basketball - Seeking Value

Add and recognize value.  People measure us by our reputation and our contribution. Rich Paul offers a simple AI prompt: “What’s a simple way to track what I’m contributing to the business?”

In sports, the player–coach relationship is a value exchange.

• As a coach: How am I adding value to the player?

• As a player: Do I trust the coach’s care and concern for me?

We’re always either seeking value or creating it. And in both directions, words—and how they land—matter. These questions and comments have stuck with me:

1. “What does our team need now?” – Brad Stevens
   Coaching is bottom-line work; production is the scorecard. Yet survival isn’t just about strength—it’s about flexibility.

2. “How can I get better TODAY?” – Kevin Durant
   Even elite performance can slip without intentional effort. Durant, one of the game’s greatest scorers, reminds us to keep pushing daily.

3. “Cooks cook to nurture people.” – Thomas Keller
   Coaches nurture players. Like Chuck Daly said, “I’m a salesman.” Sometimes players don’t buy, but the intent to serve remains.

4. “How can I help?”
   The willingness to help shows humility. Ego resists sacrifice; service requires it.

5. “Nobody is too good to be coached.” – Sean McVay
   Great coaches search for an edge everywhere—Brad Stevens observed Belichick’s efficiency, and a UConn women’s practice revealed the power of skill and tempo.

6. “Our patients are our best teachers.” – Dr. Faith Fitzgerald
   The game teaches us, too. We learn from players, opponents, and situations—like when an opposing middle school coach told his team to foul Cecilia Kay constantly. She went 16-for-20 at the line. Lesson: they can call more fouls than you want.

Lagniappe. We can't be Spoelstra. Be you. 

Erik Spoelstra 101:

1. Identity - 'Heat Code'

A) Culture creation
B) Culture maintenance

2. Simplification through synthesis of information.

This means they have the knowledge/delegates to problem solve at an elite level while ALSO delivering the message in a SIMPLE… pic.twitter.com/k4BFY5zcJP

— Chris Steed (@steeder10) August 14, 2025

Lagniappe 2. Shooting drills from Coach Haefner.  

12 Drills to Fix Common Shooting Mistakes and Build Better Form

Shooting is the most important skill in basketball. Period.

Whether you’re trying to make a varsity roster or earn more minutes, the quickest way to stand out is by putting the ball in the hoop. But too many… pic.twitter.com/Cz7wcyvq95

— Joe Haefner | Breakthrough Basketball (@BreakthruBball) August 11, 2025

Basketball - Reserve to Starter

The "natural" progression of freshman to varsity player got lost in translation for multiple reasons. In some communities, players got "redshirted in middle school." Other players advanced via the genetic lottery or family investment in travel ball. Others got additional personal and sport-specific training. 

Bottom line, some players struggle and never reach their and their family's expectations. 

Perception is a snapshot. Some players with the commitment, aptitude, and effective training nonetheless climb that hill. 

Most 'reserve' players want to be starters. How can that happen? 

Skill development. Once 'Camp Driveway' was enough if players also had access to "playground ball." Playing against older, bigger, faster players brought "Darwinian" tests to the young player. Many young people have cellphones which allow them to study their fundamentals. 

In addition to limited solo play, play one-on-one, two-on-two, or small-sided games with more touches, defense, and decision-making.  

Strategy. Watch basketball both live and on video (e.g. YouTube, FIBA), studying what works. How do great players separate, finish, pass, defend, and rebound? 

Take advantage of opportunities. Say "yes" to chances to improve whenever you can. Playing NBA video games or surfing the Net won't get you what "tickling the twine" gets you. 

Rework your physique. Sport rewards athletic explosiveness. When players "transform their body" with resulting speed, quickness, and strength, coaches notice. It's not about being a workout warrior but developing functional movement and power without losing flexibility and skill. 

Attitude. Be coachable...do your job the way your current coach wants it done. I had a few players who continually protested my suggestions. The only one who succeeded was one who finally "got it" and realized I was there to help. 

Excel in your role. If you're best suited as a rebounder or elite defender and not a fit for a 'starring' role as a scorer, embrace what you're good at. Finding ways to help the team win gets you on the floor. 

Eventually, you will get your chance. And few things mean more to a reserve player than hearing they've earned a starting role. "It's not because we like you (although we do). It's because you earned it."

Lagniappe. Catch-and-shoot comes first. 

DON’T NEED TO BE PERFECT

The best shooters are confident and fluid. They don’t need to be perfect. They can adapt to their situation and don’t let makes/misses influence their rhythm. pic.twitter.com/bW3e9UTcNy

— Steve Dagostino (@DagsBasketball) August 13, 2025

Lagniappe 2. Whether it's school, a job, or sports, time rewards great habits.  

Kirby Smart said, "We talked about execution. What creates good execution? Habits. You only get a chance to do the habits in practice."

Great teams eliminate bad habits.

They know that you fall to the level of your systems and habits.

You are what you consistently do. pic.twitter.com/7mbEdqbqtR

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) August 11, 2025

Lagniappe 3. Some never have the burden of greatness. That means "being a dog." 

Do what others aren’t willing to do

Seperate yourself on the defensive end of the floor 🗣️

(Via @opoku_jace 🎥 )

pic.twitter.com/c0b7m35jvF

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) August 12, 2025

Basketball Icebergs

"As they say in my profession, by then the Titanic had already left the dock. The iceberg was out there waiting." - Michael Connelly in The Lincoln Lawyer

Every business, sport, and person has potential icebergs in its path. An iceberg is the element that sinks us. Our job is to identify and to avoid them.  

A business may face icebergs in logistics, competition, or macroeconomics. Basketball programs have legions of icebergs:

• Player acquisition (internal recruiting, external competition)
• Player development
• Culture
• Offense (spacing, shot selection, execution, turnovers)
• Defense (ball containment, help and recovery, rebounding, fouls)
• Conversion (particularly into transition defense)
• Decision-making

Coaches navigate intragame issues, critically manageable ones

"Control what you can control." Against superior talent, there is no "puncher's chance." The best option, even with a shot clock is to adjust the game tempo to shorten the game. At some point, if trailing, you may need to play faster. 

Strategy means presuming you have a team which could win in different ways - winning with speed, pounding the ball inside, perimeter scoring. Some teams can play multiple defenses proficiently which creates problems for some opponents. 

If a player has in-game problems with fouls or a bad matchup, substitution or changing matchups are alternatives. 

Sometimes coaches figuratively have to "apply the jockey's whip" and ask players for more focus, more toughness, more effort. That's works better with more established teams. Young, inexperienced teams may still be learning how to win. 

Lagniappe. Analytics have changed the pro game. Do not naively believe that works for younger players. 

This is the impact of analytics on modern basketball.

The only thing that has a noticeable effect on team offense over the last decade or so is SHOT QUALITY.

3s are bad if they AREN’T catch and shoot.

3s are good if they ARE catch shoot.

Pretty simple stuff.

Don’t… pic.twitter.com/msxwZ1CXyq

— Chris Steed (@steeder10) August 11, 2025

Lagniappe 2. Culture matters. How you implement it will differ.  

𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐊𝐀 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟐𝟔-𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐂 𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐓𝐒
"We say culture is simply how we act, interact, and respond. That's it."

"If it's just words on paper, it doesn't really matter. Our job is to bring it to life." pic.twitter.com/lUSvU9lEQU

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) August 12, 2025