» WHAT PLAYERS NEED TO GET TO THEIR NEXT LEVEL – The Killer Instinct!!

WHAT PLAYERS NEED TO GET TO THEIR NEXT LEVEL – The Killer Instinct!!

Posted by Ganon Baker at 7:09 pm

I hear so many coaches tell their players they have to be meaner in practice. They have to be more selfish in their play (not with the ball in regards to shots but on defense, attacking on offense). Some coaches even tell their players they have to be a prick!  I think what they really mean is listed below:

1.  Players must have a tremendous Swagger!
This is a fine line between confidence and cockiness. For example – On the court when a teammate argues with you or questions your play, you have to stand up to them with an aggressive attitude and body language. When you dribble the ball, square up vs. pressure and shoot free throws, you must protrude confidence. It must be obvious in your body language when you play!!

2.  You don’t give any crap but you don’t take any either!
What I mean by this is if an opponent talks trash, through your game shut him up! For example – a jumper in his face, pressure him into a Turnover, beat him off the dribble, take a charge on him and just look dead in his eyes!! Your stare will silence him!  Let the scoreboard and your game do all your talking. My point is take all challenges personaly and let your game speak for itself.

When you are playing pickup or scrimmage vs your team, and your teammate who you are competing against is fouling and bumping you hard, then you foul and bump them hard back!!  If a teammate is freezing you out, won’t call out screens, or won’t help, then you have to let them know! If they won’t listen, then you may have to get stern with them! DON’T just take it!!

3.  Play with a chip on your shoulder, like you always have something to prove!!
This means you are never disinterested in practice, in the locker room,or in timeouts. You are always engaged waiting to prove the haters, critics, and doubters wrong.  Every time a coach tells you that you are wrong, or can’t do something, you can’t wait to prove them wrong and get better!  Any teammate that doubts you, you are quickly ready to challenge them to find out whose right and what you are made of!  You never back down from any challenge or fight on the court!
4.  Lastly YOU have to be a KILLER.
Bobby Knight always said you have to “kill an ant with a sledge hammer!”  Kobe and Michael Jordan always knew when and where opponents were injured. They would hit and attack, legally, that body part in the game!!  That’s not dirty, that’s how you Battle.  Larry Bird would intentionally attack and get Rookies in foul trouble because he knew they were nervous and inexperienced. They never felt sorry, ever, for their opponents. If they were playing 1 on 1 with a person and were up 10-0, going to 16, they would never let them score. They would win 16-0.  Teams and people had to earn their points and stops!!  This is a Killer.

In practice you have to know how many points you scored, how many the other team and man gave up, and how many games you won that day! A Killer takes everything seriously!!

These are intangibles. You have to be Tough, you have to be Aggressive, you have to Attack. But what separates the pack is the Killer Instinct. This is what most coaches are talking about and demand from their players!!