You can have all the talent in the world, but if they are missing things, they will not win everything

1. They need to play as a team. If they are a bunch of individuals doing their own thing, playing 1-on-1 basketball, etc. they can be beaten. They need a system that demands team play. The problem in the NBA, for example, as well as some AAU teams and some college programs, is that the emphasis in mens basketball is 1-on-1, do my own thing, highlight reel, fancy moves (rather than solid, finishing moves)

2. They need discipline...

3. They need to be put in roles that allow them to be successful. Good players are good at some things, but not necessarily good at other things. A good shooter may not be a very good passer, good dribbler, or good defender.

4. Actually speaking of which, many players coming into college are NOT good defenders. They were good enough to beat other players or teams in HS or AAU simply because of their athleticism or the team pressed alot, etc.

5. Team Culture - Respect, unselfishness, hard work, team-first mentality, etc

6. How to win - Time and Situation - I have seen players who don't know how to close out a game with a lead. I have seen teams or players who jack up shots with limited time left and a lead...giving an opponent a chance to get back in the game. I have seen GOOD players not know they can hold onto the ball and not dribble, not know how to hold the ball, fake a drive and do pull back dribble...keep their dribble alive...to burn clock. I have see good players and teams not know how to come back when down late in the game.

7. Game management, including substitutions, time and situation, etc. AND getting players to change tendencies during the game that are hurting the team. If a team is jacking up 3s and missing, demand and implement a change.

8. Player development.... I would hazard that, even at Duke, who gets the top players in the country, players still need to work on footwork, posts might have 1 might but can they do up-and-unders from different spots and using different feet, Pro-step moves from both sides of the lane,


There are at least 5-6 things that Good-to-Great coaches should be able to do:
1. Skill development
2. Build a system
3. Game management during the game. Not just Xs and O's, but actual game management
4. Substitutions
5 Communicate and motivate
6. See what is actually happening in the game... have the vision to see what the other team is doing, what you are doing, what isn't working, etc..
(There are other things of course)

Most coaches are good at a couple of things. They have assistants who are good at other things. Great coaches are good at most of these things. And that doesn't include culture, leadership, etc.

There are AAU and HS programs that the primary things they work on in their practices are pressing and shooting 3s. No skill work, no team-oriented offense and defense systems (beyond pressing), no situational work. And when some of their players go on the recruiting circuit, it shows that they just rely on their athleticism and their recruiting isn't as as good as you might think their point production on their team warrants.

yes, there will be the "great players make great coaches" but many great players don't become great without coaching, They might be good athletes or have a certain skill, but they need more.