The One Word That Could Have Saved A Teammate
One of the big things I have noticed throughout my coaching (and playing) career is the difference between teams that have succeeded and those that have not. While talent and skill certainly played a role in the successful ones, those two traits weren’t the only reason why the teams were able to compete (and win) on a nightly basis. The big factor usually came down to one thing that they did better than my other teams…they communicated.
Basketball is a controlled chaos of five (ten) bodies moving, cutting, screening, jumping, closing out all at various speeds and levels of power and explosiveness.
Visually, the brain can only compute so much. But when you add in verbal communication, it comprehends that much more. Communication turns that chaos into execution.
Poetry in motion.
Without that communication, even the most skilled players will end up guessing rather than playing at their highest ability.
On the court, silence is the difference between winning and losing.
True Story
During a summer league game, we (a team made up of former college and current men’s league players ages 25 to 30) played against a current college team. As we were coming down court, a teammate of mine, who stood roughly 6’6” and in the neighbourhood of 260lbs, set a very legal screen just on the other side of the half-court line.
Our point guard set up his man perfectly.
WACK.
THUD!
The poor defender ran into a brick wall and dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
Nobody on his team called out “SCREEN!”
The hapless defender was laid out on the ground in obvious pain. While he ultimately ended up being ok, simple communication on behalf of his teammates could have saved him some agony.
The officials stopped the game to allow the defender to get off the floor to deal with his injuries. Their coach was irate. Even my team started to get at the young college crew for not talking and giving their teammate a heads-up warning.
Why Players Stay Quiet
Some are afraid of calling out the wrong thing, so they say nothing. Maybe they feel that the silence is safer than being wrong in front of their coach and teammates.
Others don’t feel that it’s their job to direct others. They wait for the coach, the senior, or the star player to be the voice.
And then there are the lazy ones who claim it’s just a habit, a bad one.
What these players don’t realize is that a missed call often costs you more than a slightly incorrect one. They don’t understand that leadership isn’t a title; it’s a decision, whether it’s in an official game or a recreational one.
What The Best Communicators Do
While he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame for his talent, one of the best things about watching Steve Nash play was how he constantly interacted with his teammates, coaches, and officials. Watch old Mavericks, Suns, or Team Canada games (sadly, his tenure with the Lakers was not as memorable…sniff!), and you will notice five traits that made Nash one of the best leaders in the history of the game.
He was always confident. He called it out and didn’t second-guess himself.
His words were clear even when he was using body language.
He was always positive. A high five, a finger point. Even when he wasn’t directly involved in the play, he was giving credit where credit was due.
He was responsive. Instead of talking at his teammates, he talked to them.
He was a consistent voice. He didn’t disappear or change his tone based on the scoreboard.
What I’m Saying Is
Communication is a habit. It’s a skill that players need to work on just like layups, chest passes, and crossover dribbles.
It is also contagious. Whether you are on the court or on the bench, start calling out every screen, every switch, every cut. Start acknowledging every basket, every pass that led to the basket. Start giving credit to every hustle play that turned out in favor of your team, and even the ones that didn’t (eventually they will). The more you talk, others will start to follow suit.
The words don’t have to be fancy. They don’t always have to be right (just make sure they are not always wrong).
Flash back to the summer league story for a second. One simple word, “screen,” was the difference between a normal possession and a player having to leave the floor. Nobody on that college team lacked the ability to say it. They just weren’t in the habit of saying anything.
The real cost of silence isn’t just a missed rotation or blown play. It’s the difference between winning and losing a game. And in this case, the health of a teammate.
Whether it’s a workout, an open gym, a practice, or a game. Next time you are on the court, make an impact by simply opening your mouth.
Want To Build This Habit For Real?
Mind Games: Build The Mindset Of A Basketball Champion provides players with sixteen chapters of scenarios (and exercises) to help improve not only your communication skills, but also your confidence, leadership, and composure under pressure.
Grab your copy on Amazon and start putting in the reps that don’t show up in the stat sheet but will impact the scoreboard.
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