Every player has a ceiling: the best game they’ve ever played. Coaches don’t build teams around ceilings. They build around floors, the minimum level a player gives you on their worst day. The player you can count on Think about the teammates you trust most. Coaches, think about the players you would put on the floor in a close game. Those are the players whose “off” night still shows effort: they defend, talk, take the open shot, and reset after a miss. You always know what

For the last few years, my team has ended practice, left the locker room, or broken a huddle with the same cheer: “1…2…3…Family.” On paper, this is exactly the kind of tradition I discuss in Chapter 12 of MIND GAMES. Traditions build identity. They are not about flash; they are about meaning. And “family” is about as clear a sign of team-first culture as one could get. But to be honest with you, I don’t think most of my players say it because they mean it. I think they say it

This quiz is a companion to MIND GAMES: Build The Mindset Of A Basketball Champion Chapter 11: Dealing With Difficult Teammates & Coaches Every basketball player eventually has to deal with difficult personalities. A teammate who tests your patience. A coach who criticizes you. Someone who brings negativity to the locker room. A situation unrelated to the team. The question isn’t whether you will face these situations; it’s how you will handle them. Chapter 11 of MIND GAMES i