» Category : Ganon Baker Thoughts

Summer Tour with Ganon Baker – Week 9 July 25-31 Glasgow Scotland

Posted by Ganon Baker at 3:40 pm

Week 9  July 25-31- Glasgow Scotland

I have never been here, this was my first visit to the northern part of the UK.

We first visited the Sterling Castle which is a historic castle overlooking all of Glasgow.  We saw where the famous William Wallace had battles and fought for his country’s freedom.  Very spiritual place!  You could feel the history in the air!  Wallace’s reputation is still known in Scotland and very much respected.

We started camp the next day and had an incredible 120 players.  Biggest camp we have ever done in the 18 countries we have been to overseas.  Most of the players were 15-19.  We had quite a few Jr National girls to workout.  Some players had to get up at 430am to be there at 9am.  We had others take the train or fly all the way from England.  That is dedication!

Overall the players worked hard and were super passionate about improving.   The style of play was very rough and rugged.   For what they did not make up for in talent they had in toughness.  The only problem with the Scottish players is what they do after workouts.  They need to push themselves on their own as hard as I pushed them.  They responded well.  Like a lot of US player , the Scottish basketball IQ was low.

The court we played on was the oldest I have ever played on.  Worn down wood, dead spots, wood backboards. But PLENTY of space.   Nice booming sound system.  The Scott’s loved my tunes.  They all said they have never had so much fun going through so much pain   Below is what I learned:

1. To build talented players the Coaches have to be Talented.  The Scottish BB Association does not put a high standard for BB.  Soccer is the main sport, so BB suffers.  Where there is no vision the people perish!  Nothing significant happens without a purpose backed up with passion

2. Boys and Girls ages 12-19 can have the most fun at feeling the most pain!!  We did not have any absences in the 2 day camp.  No one quit.  One guy had tears of pain at the workout.  Another girl was cramping.  All players were sore, yet they kept moving forward!  Players want their minds and bodies taken to another level!!  They crave it!

However you can always do more.  There is no standing still in achieving greatness.  There was a certain group of male players who could have given more, who could have gone to another level, but coasted. Paced and disgraced their potential!!   This happens.   As a coach, you have to keep pushing!

3.  In Europe players are about substance first, style second.  We worked out in a “ghetto” gym.  Old, not fancy, had some personality to it, like a historic museum!  Not a glass backboard in site.  Dead wood spots every where.  The floor creaked like an old wooden roller coaster.  You could not dive on the floor for fear of getting splinters. Yet NO-ONE complained!  They were there to learn and compete to get better.  No one griped!!

4.  Due to the language barrier (their accent was deep )  I made them do partner drills where they had to use their directors  (their fingers and hands ) to lead their partner where to go. We also did communication drills.   We made them use their enforcer (their tongue) to lead.

5. William Wallace is still the most famous Scott. His life was about fighting for Freedom.  I told the kids that ” Life ” or someone some day may be able to take a leg, arm, ear, eye, or any body part. You may lose your money, lose your house or even something as small as a watch or ring. But NO ONE or ThING can take your SPIRIT, YOUR JOY and YOUR FREEDOM of mind to be positive hopeful and happy!  Don’t be a SLAVE to Fear and Laziness.  NOTHING can Put Limits on you unless you let it!!  Be Free from that negativity!!  Because if you keep your mind right your body is gonna follow it!!

6.  3 skills you need to teach your players

• A work ethic- as a coach I emphasize this but I show them physically what it means to WORK OUT.  I am still in my 30′s and I can get on the floor and reach them with my intensity and sweat!!
• Listening to coaching on the fly – as players go through drills I want them to respond to my instruction as they are on their feet with out stopping.  I don’t want to stop “play” all the time in practice as this stops their sweat, heart rate and its not game like.  They need to make decisions quickly.   I call it “thinking on their feet.
• Communication- this is non verbal and verbal.  As coaches we must make players aware of what to say and when to say it.  What to dictate and how to do it.  Players need to be taught these things.  Coaches have to incorporate these strategies in their lesson plans and drills.

At the end of the camp I surprised my wife, MJ .  Originally we were supposed to go to Jordan for a camp with Alan Stein and Kevin Eastman but it got cancelled because of the unrest in the Middle East, so I surprised her with a weekend getaway to Barcelona Spain.  No basketball only Enjoyment of the City.

Food was great, city was the most enjoyable and prettiest I have been in.  We rented bikes and rode ALL over Barcelona!  Literally we pedaled and walked over 75 miles in 2 and a half days…My wife is a machine!!

Off to The Bahamas – half pleasure half workouts!!

Week 7 & 8 – Canada Tour

Posted by Ganon Baker at 8:48 am

July 11-15 Toronto, Canada Week 7

Great week here.  Many Canadian players (72) came out this week seeking inspiration and knowledge to take their game to a place it has never been.  Several of these boys and girls were apart of Canada’s elite program.  The gym we used was the LTAD- Long Term Athletic Development Center (Home of Oakville Basketball Club).  We did drills and only played 3on3 and 4on 4 half court (these kids were between the ages of 11-18). Half Court is a beautiful way to develop and teach players how to play break down the game to triangles and increase their basketball IQ.  Most of our staff was former USA College players with Canadian decent…this country is not all about Hockey…they flat out got after it..Eh.

July 18-22nd Hamilton, Canada Week 8

Another exhilarating week!! We had 98 players and the about half the camp were beginners (ages 9-12). We had some of the most dedicated players and coaches who drove 2 hours just to come to camp. This week was a record high for Canada and the players showed up everyday ready to get after it…that is one thing about Canadians they are passionate about getting better and basketball.  This is one of the few camps that I train mostly beginners and below is what I learned (this goes to show you can learn from your players no matter what level you are coaching at):

1. As a teacher you have to be patient, tolerant, knowledgeable flexible, but more importantly passionate

2. The same basic drills that I did with Amare’, Brandon Knight, Maya Moore, ect… I did with these players. Basketball is a simple game were you can teach elementary drills to extraordinary players. This week I taught elementary drills to elementary players. This goes to show that know matter what level you coach at the fundamentals don’t change and need to be taught.

3. Players at this level will be entertained if you challenge them and speak the truth. I motivate them with the sandwhich method…I give them a positive, negative, and positive

4. I found 10 players to invite to our National JRNSA camp. If you know any elite boy players from grade 6th-8th grade that may be talented enough to be one of the best in the nation check out www.jrnsa.com

Now I am off to Glasgow, Scotland….stay tuned for my next blog

Week 6 – Lebron James Skills Academy

Posted by Ganon Baker at 5:29 pm

Ganon and LeBron

Lebron James Skills Academy

Akron Ohio

This was a good but short week here.  We had the top 80 players in the US at every position.  It was okay.  LBJ played with them one night.  Even he could not tame some bad habits that many HS players have at that age.

Best thing I learned all week from my boy and fellow GBB skills coach Dee Brown

• A point guard must use his directors (his fingers) and his enforcer (his mouth) in the game just as much as he uses the Ball.  A point guard can’t be a mute!!

• A point has 3 levels in his decision making process:

1. His man

2. weakside or help side defense

3. His receivers man.  There is a “Game within a Game and you always have to keep your antennas up”

• A point has 3 “alleys” he has to play in to get the best angle to deliver a pass.

1.   Pt Guard Alley – Alley 1 – this is the middle of the court

2.   Slot Alleys – this is right off the elbow of the FT line.

3.  The Sideline Alley- this is on the wing outside 3 pt line – foul line extended.

• You will have to come to a camp or work out to see Me and Dee in action to break down the “Alleys” of the Point Guard.   Its a beautiful thing and must be taught to points.  Even at an Elite NBA level, they don’t always understand angles and space.

We both enjoyed working out the Points this week!

We both will enjoy our www.jrnsa.com camps coming up as well!

Off to Canada!!

Week 5 – Chicago and Houston

Posted by Ganon Baker at 5:18 pm

Chicago- Kevin Durant Skills Academy

What an incredible week with KD and the top 30 wings in the US.   KD worked out and played with the players.   It is absolutely amazing what he can do at 6’10″.  He actually ran the point.  I was very impressed with his handle and passing ability.  The game is played with your feet and he has some of the best “dogs” in the game!  The HS kids went hard.  Most of them looked like Bigs!  I mean we had some big boys!

Here is what I learned:

1.  In HS players play with their hands.  In college they play with their hands and feet.  In the pros they play with their hands, feet, and mind and they don’t give into fear as easily!

2.  As good as you are, it’s hard to get to the next level, particularly the NBA.  There is a guy named Justin Reed ( according to Coach Eastman) that never got into practice scrimmages with the Celtics and yet he kicked every college Rookie All-American’s butt in 1 on 1 games during the pre-draft workouts.

3. Champions have physical and mental talent.   They spend time training both.

4. To be Great, you have to have a work ethic!!  The truth will eliminate you if you don’t embrace it!!

5. You have to focus through Fatigue!  Fatigue Kills your game!

6. Success is about the truth. You can’t lie your way to the top.  Can you handle the truth!!

7. KD says he tries to make simple efficient plays.

• He averages 1 FT every 4 mins 30 second

• Efficiency is what he wants on the offensive end!

• He said Tony Allen is the toughest guy he had to play against!  He got up in him!

Houston – Alodia Academy

Loved my 2 day workout here!  Had 60 players who were unsure of what to expect and after the first day they had a mindset to work!! (www.alodiasports.com)  They had one of the top 2 AAU 15 and under teams in the Nation.  The fellas worked, I enjoyed it!

Here is what I learned:

1. That coolness can kill your game.  The workout and your skills has nothing to do with who is watching. It is not about them but you!! Workout to get “me” right, so when you take it to the game you can get “WE” right!

2. If you show players you care, they will take your dare!  Meaning they love coaches who sweat with them have energy and are constantly giving them attention!

3. Coaches can see me do something 1 time and understand it!  This academy had the smartest, most energetic coaches I have been with in a long time! Sometimes I wonder when I am at other gyms and cities why the coaches don’t understand and why their energy drops after 1 hour.  Not here, we got after it!!

Week Four – Ganon Baker Summer Tour – San Antonio and Chicago

Posted by Angie Diamond at 11:38 am

Week 4

San Antonio, Texas – June 20-22

I Worked 3 days at the George Gerving Center.  I met the “The IceMan” George Gervin and I really enjoyed listening to him and spending time with the NBA Hall of Famer.  What a great role model and ambassador of the NBA.

Here is what I learned:
1. He played the right way and with toughness

2. He was competitive and NEVER took a night off.  Winning meant something to him!!

3. He acknowledged all his coaches and players he played with that contributed to his success!!  He talked about people that helped him!

Remember that  “you can not be anyone, without someone, so you better love and respect EVERYONE!!”

4. The Iceman is now giving back!  He is retired from ball but not from LIFE!  He has an academy in San Antonio for at risk kids.  A place where they can grow, go to school, learn and develop into leaders that make a difference in life!  Iceman has an academy and a school  for youth.  He just added the gym.  Beautiful 3 court facility with NBA courts.  His brother and his son are helping him with the academy as well as a lot of cousins, aunts, etc..  It’s a F-A-M-I-L-Y affair.  Forget  About Me, I Love You

FAMILY is the best home team!!!!!!

Chicago, IL – July 24-26

We had a lot of fun at the Deron Williams Skill Academy.  GBB represented well!  Myself, Dee Brown and Mike Morrison all were heavily involved in workouts.  We worked out some of the best point guards in the country, maybe even the WORLD.   These guys were talented!!  D- Will jumped in the workouts, showed his moves and his BB IQ.   Nike has a great Ambassador to the game and community in D-Will.  Kevin Eastman was the Director whom I learned a lot from this week. He is the best in the Game!! 

Here is what I learned:

1. The HS elite players still needed to work on simple things.  Extraordinary talent sometimes struggle doing simple ordinary things.  They need to have “Consistency with Simplicity.”   This means do simple little things over and over and over again to get better.

2. We had to stretch their minds.  Their IQ was low.  We taught them that  “success leaves footprints” so follow them!  We encouraged them to do research on good players.  Mike Procopio (NBA workout guy) taught them how to watch film.

3. Points need to learn how to change speed.  D-Will had some great drills and points about this.  Change speed to change the defense’s stance.

4. As a point it’s not a competition to be the best on the team, you have to find COHESION with your teammates not Competition with your teammates

• Encourage rather than yell

• Lift them up rather than curse at them

• Your Tongue is a great enforcer, let your tongue bring life to your teammates not death

5. Dee Brown said “play in straight lines on offense, go past ways not side ways

6. All rookies go through a verbal IQ session with Doc Rivers if they play for him and the Celtics

7. Kendall Marshall of UNC who I have  worked out alot, had these points:

• “There is a HUGE difference between HS defense and college defense.  If I did not D up in college, I WOULD NOT play”

• “College is more physical, faster, stronger, and competitive.”

• “Time Management is a big key in my success in college.  I have to manage my time!”

• “In the first week of practice I had to learn 10 new plays or actions Coach Williams gave me and that is just off the secondary break lol”

8.  To be a Winner you have to not only have Talent but you have to be TalentED (Extra Dimensions)

• Listen, coachable, work ethic, selfless, energy giver, defensive minded

Stay Tuned for next weeks Blog-

We will talk about the Kevin Durant Skills Academy and the Alodia Academy in Houston Let’s go!!

Week 3 – Little Rock AR & Berlin OH

Posted by Ganon Baker at 5:44 pm

Week 3- Little Rock, Arkansas & Berlin Ohio

Had the best week of the summer so far!  Not to take any thing away from the other spots, but the players from Arkansas and Ohio were just more grateful!  I also got to spend a week with my fellow pro staff coach, Dee Brown!  A lot of People don’t know this but Dee Brown had 1 scholarship offer in HS- Presbyterian College (a D2 school) and had to beg Jacksonville to take him.  He went there and worked, sweated, played both ends of the floor with a chip on their shoulder.  He lasted 13 years in the NBA.  Mostly with the Celtics.  He was the 1992 Slam dunk champion and had the best selling shoe for years, right next to Jordan’s.  The Reebock Pumps were the truth!!

My point is he is a former celebrity in our field, and is Impacting LIVES!  Does not have to GRIND like he does but chooses to because he knows what it means to Give back!  To pass on wisdom to a hungry and the lost generation of youthful basketball players!  He and I are around a lot of Celebrities with tremendous influence and some Impact NO ONE and nothing!! I respect Dee and the passion and work ethic he brings as a coach!

Hats off to Ron Crawford and the Arkansas Wings to run a great academy. 80 players, some were top 50 in the country in their class. Great talent, hard working and energetic.

Here is what I learned!

- Basketball can be a tool as a coach to help fight- Laziness, Fear, Selfishness, and mediocrity! Some of the most common human emotions we have!

- Most dangerous person on the court on offense, is the man with the ball! But the best way to guard the Best player on offense is to NOT let him get the Ball!

- The only two things that move on the court is the Ball and the people.

- When dealing with people, you have to know where they came from. Below is a great formula that Dee gave me over a “yellow pepsi” one night Words produce>Thoughts that trigger>Emotions that effect>Actions that produce>Habits which shapes >Character which brings>Destination of Where You are now! Good or Bad, we can trace that person back to their thoughts.

Well said- meaning as a coach, a true Coach you BETTER be prepared to get into a players Soul and Spirit if you want to bring out their very Best!  To do that be ready to be transparent yourself, develop motivating and inspiring energy and wisdom to reach the player!! As coaches we don’t do a good job, in general at building relationships with players.  I get tons and tons of comments about players hating their coach cause he/she is boring, negative and non engaging!  A lot of these players are correct!  It saddens me to see soo many grass root middle school, High school, travel, and AAU coaches taking their practice and game platform for Granted! They can do soo much more to use basketball as a teaching tool for life!  One thing you CAN’T SAY about my staff and I is that we are boring- negative- or non engaging!  We are Live- Real- and always stretching our players mind, body, and spirit!!

Berlin Ohio was an absolute Joyful experience. Berlin is the 2nd largest tourist attraction in Ohio.  Its economy is fueled by tourist because of the large Amish community. David Borters and Dave Schlabach really treated me with respect! They have won 4 State Championships and are still counting.  They Do it the Right way and they teach players not only TO Win but HOW To Win on the Court and in Life!!  You have to drop by and see their program! A Class Act!!

Here is What a Learned:

That you can’t expect your players to be Special unless you treat them that Way.  You can’t expect your Game to be special unless you treat it that way. My point is give your energy, brutal honesty, praise, and attention to detail to the people your coaching or your own game you are trying to improve on! Easier said than done!

- I learned that Performance has a lot to do with Producing! Sweating is a good thing! Having Character is great! BUT being a good person, working Hard will not get you a Championship or a great job in the real world. You have to work smart, work consistent and work Tough as well!! You have to have correct repetitions every single day to build Habits!!

- Also Coach Schlabach and Borters talked a lot about Energy Givers and Energy Takers!! Which one are You?! Are you taking or giving? Asking or doing? Building up or tearing down? Are you producing fruit or cutting trees? Planting seeds or planting Weeds? Complaining or Competing?

We all need to be Energy Givers and not Takers!!

On to San Antonio, Texas.

Let’s Get After It!

Week 2 – Mitchell IN/Chicago IL/Olathe KS

Posted by Ganon Baker at 2:43 pm

Week 2

Went to Mitchell Indiana. Worked out about 68 players.  Had a good time but had to work hard to motivate the kids.  Enjoyed visiting Bobby Knights favorite steak house in Bloomington.  Also went to French Lick.  Home of Larry Bird.  Saw his house and also ate at his restaurant.

Then we headed off to Chicago. Worked out 120 kids in two days with our GM Mike Glennon. These kids went hard. 3 hours straight with a lot of sweating! Had a chance to see one of my good friends Tim Grover(Attack Athletics).  He and I are going to do something huge next summer.

What did I learn?

-That as a teacher it’s my job to be patient, somewhat tolerant of mistakes. Allow the players to work through them. But ALWAYS be Passionate and hold them accountable for getting better!

-That small town kids do have a small town attitude. Sometimes, regardless of the role models, and heroes that have made it or heroes that people are exposed to, they still can’t get rid of that mediocrity in their DNA. It’s a vicious cycle.

-That the majority of players who come to camps and pay are not the elite players or starters on their team. The players who come are the ones that need to get better that have an edge and are not successful yet. However if they “Live” our message they eventually will catch up and pass those elite players!

We then headed to Kansas to do our first Girls Skills Select in Olathe. We had 48 girls who really tried to work hard and listen. Here is what was Learned-

-No matter how much you want your players to go hard and listen in practice, eventually their Habits take over. When a player is tired or not focused, their True self appears.

- A coach must create an engaging atmosphere and exciting environment for the kids to learn from. If the player has a practice over and over again that engages the players mind and body, then that player will be used to performing under pressure, being held to a high standard, and bringing consistent energy! These are all the qualities and standards at our workouts and yet only a handful of players can reach our expectations.  The majority of the players at this camp could not sustain excellence in energy and decision making!  Reason is they are not used to it. Why? Because in their own practices and development, their coaches are not very engaging, positive, energetic, and do not train the players basketball IQ properly!  So when I get them, they are not ready for such an environment!

Off to Lil’ Rock, AR…..

Summer 2011 Tour

Posted by Ganon Baker at 11:44 am

Summer 2011 Tour

I will journal this summer my world summer tour. I am blessed to get to travel the world every year, teaching thousands of people basketball and life skills. This is exciting to me because, not only do I get to impart knowledge to people but, I learn a lot as well, especially about myself. My weekly blogs will include what I learned in that city. It is very important that to me that I can witness what I learn to the many true basketball players and coaches who follow us. It would be my honor to reiterate my experiences to you this summer.

It is such an adventure to spend time with people of different cultures, who have new perspectives, and see life through a different set of glasses.

Below is my weekly schedule. Listed is the city, state, and country I will be in. Please feel free to come by and visit a workout or say hello.

Week 1

- May 31 – June 2 – Birmingham Alabama

- June 3-5 – Dallas, Texas

Week 2

- June 6-8 – Mitchell, Indiana

- June 9-10 – Chicago, Illinois

- June 11-12 – Olathe, KS

Week 3

- June 13-17 – Little Rock Arkansas

- June 18-19 – Berlin, Ohio

Week 4

- June 20 – San Antonio, TX

- June 21-22 – San Francisco, CA

- June 23-26 Chicago, Illinois

Week 5

- June 27-28 – Chicago, Illinois

- June 29-30 – Houston, Texas

- July 1-3 – Phoenix, Arizona

Week 6

- July 4-7 – Akron, Ohio

- July 8 – Granville, Ohio

Week 7

- July 10-16 – Toronto, Canada

- July 17-23 – Hamilton, Canada

Week 8

- July 25-31 – Glasgow, UK

Week 9

- August 1-7 – Nassau, Bahamas

Week 10

-August 8-14 – Orlando, Fl

Week 11

- August 15-19 – Dallas, Texas

- August 19-21 – College Station, Texas

Week 12

- August 22 – Kelowna B.C., Canada

- August 24-25 – Montreal, Canada

- August 27-28 – Washington DC

- August 29-Sept 9 – HOME TEAM

Shawne Williams Workout

Posted by Ganon Baker at 9:05 am

Shawne Williams Workout

During the allstar break, I had the chance to travel to White Plains, NY and work with 6’10 power forward, Shawne Williams of the New York Knicks. From the moment we met he was locked in. He has all the attributes to be a great player, and he wants to be great. This is the entire reason he stayed back to workout, instead of following some of his teammates to party at the All-Star Game. Shawne passes these qualities of a great player:

1. He is super competitive – his DNA does not let him like losing. In any drill we did he HATED to “not get it.” He executed it until he felt he got the hang of it.

2. He listened and locked in – Every workout, all 4 days I spent with Shawne he was disciplined and showed positive body language. He wanted to get better. His eyes and ears were locked in on me the entire time!

3. He was a tireless worker – We went about an hour and a half a day and he was drenched with sweat at the end. Great players realize that after they learn the details, It’s ALL About the SWEAT!

4. He asked relevant questions – He was not just a robot or “yes” player. He left his ego at the door and asked great questions. He understood that the workout was just as much about his mind as well as his body!!

5. He was not afraid to fail – People gave to understand that you have to go through failure to reach success, not run away from it. Shawne made mistakes, kept a good attitude and finished each workout strong.

Below is the sample workout we went through:

1. Stationary 2 Ball Dribbling – 8 Minutes

a. React Crossovers

• I threw a 2nd ball at him, while he was dribbling 1. If I threw it to his dribbling hand, he had to crossover his ball

2. Tennis Ball Floaters – 3 sets of 1 min

a. He threw a tennis ball at me then I placed it on either of my hips, then he had to drive and grab it from me

3. Finish School – Make 20 each moved

a. In the lane we worked on

• Spin Finishes

• Hooks

• Floaters

4. Cone Reaction Drives – 3 sets of 10 makes

a. As he crossed the cones, he read me defending him

5. 1 v 1

a. He had to score 10 points in 1 minute 30 seconds

6. NBA Stutters – Make 5 with each move

a. As he bounced off the key, he had to make 5 of each move

• Stutter J (Lead the drive foot)

• Pull-up J

• Step Away

• Drag Foot

7. Separation Moves off Catch – Make 5 of each

a. Slow to quick – he read my hands, when I put down he shot

b. Short – front jab – a hard violent jab into a shot

c. Shotfake – side jab go – into a pull-up jumper after faking right, going left

d. Kobe pivots – a sweep through left, then go, a sweep through left, then reverse or rip pivot into a 1-2 pull-up jumper

8. 2 Ball Drives – Pass the 1st ball, shoot the one you have, then get the 2nd for a dribble handoff

9. Spot up Jumpers – Make 100

a. We took NBA 3’s from his spots the

10. Baseline Drivers – 20 Makes

a. He had to rip and attach under my arm

b. Spin Finish

c. Floater

d. Pull-up

e. Slice/Hook

Lesson for Grass Root Coaches – Tell The Truth!!

Posted by Ganon Baker at 2:24 pm

I can’t hold it in any longer.  My day is busy with my own personal workouts, working somebody else out or handling my business day to day operations.  That’s why I don’t write many blogs I just don’t have time. But today is different!  I wanted to MAKE time!  Check out the article on ESPN.COM (here is the link http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/news/story?id=5862172. It talks about the problems with the Heat and head coach Eric Spoelstra.

It talks about how the players are frustrated and unnamed sources are calling for a coaching change! Are you kidding me? The Heat are 9-8 and its Coach Spoelstra’s Fault. This is my issue!

Fact- Today’s generation of players do not take responsibility for their own actions! They are simply in general, not accountable! This starts in the homes with school.  As soon as jr. gets in trouble, big mama or poppa goes right after the teacher!  When I grew up big Poppa went right after me!!

Lesson- Coaches and parents please support the authority figure that is holding your son or daughter accountable. Unless that coach broke the law or the player’s spirit, let them do their job!  If kids learn accountability early on in life then that might make them better teammates and leaders in the future

The article also goes on to say that Coach Spoelstra called Lebron out. He expressed in front of the whole team “I can’t tell when you are serious”!!  Also, that he is too playful!

Fact- Lebron does not have a consistent Killer instinct. He is worried just as much about his style and brand than his substance as a player. MJ, Kobe, Larry B, Magic they were killers!! They never smiled if they lost! They took the game and every shoot around seriously! As do today’s Celtics.  I talk with Coach Kevin Eastman briefly every month and he validates that the vets (KG, Paul, Ray, Rhondo) all buy into Docs philosophy- “Winning is a daily consistent grind of doing the little things to gain a big Championship.”

If a coach has to tell the reigning MVP to get serious, that’s embarrassing! Especially when you are 9-8.

Lesson- If you Coach or mentor an Elite player, deal with them in reality.  DON’T FEAR THEM and their reaction to your criticism.  In my experience working out Nike’s best grass roots players in the last 5 years I know that these players will settle to stay in their comfort zone. If you do not push them they will settle to stay comfortable in their workout or game.  In general they just will work on what they are good at cause they HATE to be exposed.   So what do the majority of grass root coaches do?  They allow elite players to get away with little things and ALL the people around them DO things for the elite players and the result is the elite player stops thinking for themselves and does whatever they want.  Later on in Life when they get coached and called out, they don’t handle it well!!

To break this cycle the coach has to get them out of their comfort zone, break their will, make them fail so that they get better.  If you study Jordan or Kobe, they turned weaknesses into strengths.  The only reason Amare’ hires me to work him out is because I challenge him and get him out of his comfort zone.  The day I really got his attention was when I left the gym because he was 20 mins late.  He called 45 mins later and was mad I was not there.  I told him if he was late one more time I was going home to NC, I said champions show up early not late. He texted me the next day, said it won’t happen again and it NEVER did!!

My point is, good for Eric to call the King out. That is how winning is done!!  At an early age you have to hold players accountable to your philosophy, no matter who they are.  Yeah they might talk back, yeah they might transfer but that is what they need to develop into a champion, it’s your job to stir them up, to get them to work with a “I’ll show you attitude to getting better.”  The great teachers, and this has worked for me, is to get the players to always get to another level and to keep them always moving forward.  Because, that is why they are gifted, so they can handle the high expectations and demands that you give them.  If they learn this at an early age then this might be a habit later on!

Being around Lebron every summer, I see what Coach E sees. He needs to do more.  One of my problems with elite players is that they feel entitled to things and situations.  It’s all about their feelings!

Fact- The article quoted an unnamed source as “Coach won’t let us be ourselves.”  Well with the exception of D. Wade and Haslem no one has a championship in the NBA that’s on the Heat… Hello!!  Coach Eric is trying to take you to a place where you never have been and you have to change some things.  Improve your Focus; improve your desire, your work ethic.  Be HUNGRY daily!!  “You as you are now ain’t getting it done!!

Lesson- Keep teaching!  Just because a player is a #1 ranked frosh, Nike All-American, McDonald’s All- American, NBA all star, does not mean they are flawless.  The other day I was working out the #2 player in their HS class in the country.  A HS All-American, I had to go on a 3 minute rant for lack of energy and toughness.  I mean I was the Hulk. They responded outstandingly but it took me telling them the truth. The player looks like a Wal-Mart All-American when I work them out because our intensity is demanding, and we work on skills that they can’t do now but will need later.  The players’ parents love it.  They said the players’ coaches and the trainers back home let them “Get away with stuff.”   This is not acceptable!!  Coaches we must teach and reach players 1-15 on the team… Obviously you approach each player in a different criticism tone but you should hold all of them Accountable!!  ESPECIALLY ELITE players.  These players you should be the hardest on… for the ducklings on your team will follow the Lions Roar.

If the Lion on the Heat takes a stand for excellence and not mediocrity, if they refocus and accept the coaching, the Heat will be written about in June as one of the best Teams in the NBA.  If Grass root coaches and shoe programs deal in reality with these young talented players, I would not have to waste my day venting about disappointing attitudes by our world’s greatest players!!