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

The inspiration behind the book and how even an experienced, veteran player can still learn a lesson.

In my thirty years of coaching, I have worked with countless players. One season in particular, I had the honor of working with two great kids who approached the game differently. You have probably played with (or coached) these two types of players, or maybe you even see yourself in one of them. (Names changed to protect the innocent) Joe Of the two players, Joe was the more talented. Bigger, stronger, better handles, a pure scorer all over the court. However, every time he