HARDWORK WORKS!
As a coach, and in life, my goal is to consistently show up as myself. For me, that means leading with integrity and authenticity. In order to help someone else with whatever their issue is, I must be sure that I can solve it.
Here are some of the responses to the question
“Name one issue I help basketball athletes solve”
Scott Machado
You have helped in many different aspects in your own way. If I was forced to label it, I would say instilling confidence. “Empowering”! You constantly want the best out of me and don’t want me to give less. I’d say you continued to help sharpen me. From the very beginning to preventative work all the way to the end, from nothing but net free throws(throughout our workouts). Breathing techniques, all probably simple to someone that doesn’t know the game but when you play you know how important that all is. You help see things I don’t and I value that you have played a lot, because you have played basketball you understand it at a different level then most. I want to learn different techniques but I can’t just listen to anyone.
I’d say as far as skill work, it would have to be footwork and dribble movement. It’s something you teach but to say that I’ve never used it before or always use it now, it would be a lie of me. I’m not a drill cone type player. I adapt.
Last few summers you have been trying to change my mindset to score because the rest comes natural. Hence why I say empowering!!!
Gary Forbes
Nah although it was late in my career and wish I would’ve linked with you at the start of my pro career, your approach to every game was what I was taught in life. How to take things piece by piece and stack up on the days. Emotionally managing my mental approach to the game and life as well. Prepared me for the mental battles an adult faces especially as an entrepreneur. But overall a lot of mental approach things for example “why would I do this move or take this shot instead of doing something that has a higher percentage for me to repeat it with high efficiency
Tyson Etienne
The problem that you have helped me solve in my game that stands out is finding the ability to play the game mindfully. Your approach of teaching has helped me gain more presence, insight & more feeling. You’ve helped me switch from playing with lots of energy to now being in the process of gathering all of that energy and focusing it like a laser beam. Being able to play with presence and intention in the current play in front of me.
Jack Bailey
First thing that comes to mind is probably not letting one shot snowball and affect the next one. Today wasn’t a great representation of that, but when I was younger missing a shot would really throw me off mentally and I guess you continuously instilling the next shot mentality has been huge for me. This applies for everything as well not just shooting.
Shane Southwell
The biggest component of my game that you helped me with was being intentional in every game, practice, workout, or rep! I was good at the game before we worked with each other but I realized we were intentional about every workout or rep. Being intentional helped me improve rapidly.
AJ English
Footwork, brother, understanding how to get to spots on the floor with using footwork at my own pace. Understanding how to control my body, through movements of all types of footwork with moves and different kinds of cross jabs. you know, just a bunch of different varieties of footwork.
Maurice Odom
Helping me understanding pace of the game and different angles to attack the defense.
Kris Clark
I wouldn’t consider it a problem but you’ve helped me mature my game. I can say that you help players with their problem of understanding THEIR game.
Cam Estevez
Getting to my most comfortable spots more and making those shots.
Vanessa Gidden
Feeling more comfortable putting the ball on the floor.
Jordan Theodore
You help me strategize how effective my footwork can be. Knowing when to use my euro step. Utilizing my handle with the euro and using my body at the same time.
Julien Soumaoro
One of the most recent that comes to mind is looking past shots. Not noticing shot opportunities which lead to bad play or play that could’ve been more simple.
Brandon McCreesh
I’d definitely say that you helped improve my counters and helped me break out my shell creativity wise by teaching me new moves and allowing me to play around with it.
Christian Bliss
Understanding the concept of pace. Getting better at actually executing it, but now I understand the concept.
Chidi Nwigwe
When attacking the rim take the first bump from ur defender a push through it. Then you can change direction on the second bump.
Jessica Fairweather
There’s a lot, but I think the main one is to understand that a journey takes time and is a process. You need the lows and the highs. Sometimes, you need to even be still and stagnant. & understanding that my mindset is the most important skill that I need to sharpen on the daily.
Jalen Jenkins
Efficiency in dribbles and shooting the first available shot.
Josh Gomez
I would definitely say helping focus on detail of just my overall game. From the jumpshot footwork. Pretty much less is more.
Renee Taylor
Only one? Sheesh
Footwork and Counters. I was used to just being fast. you helped with those things. You gave me some poise and the ability to move a lot smarter instead of just being fast.
Niki Avery
Patience.
Jayden Reaves
Confidence and pace. Specifically my handle is better so I can focus more on reading the defense and getting to my spots.
Charlie Weisberg
The ability to read on-ball screens and how to properly attack close outs off the bounce.
Julius Coles
Patience. Understanding when I need to be quick. Playing the game with my mind and not always instincts.
Nathan Hickman
Decision making. You helped all decisions become instinctive. From which dribble move to use to which shot or pass to go with.
Mike Williams
Keeping my feet alive…i use to have my feet glued to the floor…you have helped me improve my footwork by leaps and bounds.
Anell Alexis
Footwork. My natural rhythm and pace. Helped me slow the game down.
Caleb Crawford
You’ve helped me to improve my discipline within my shot. Knowing that if I shoot the same shot, holding my follow through along with maintaining a steady balance, I will make more shots than I will miss.
J.T. Lindi
You have helped me with my change of pace and my footwork when dribbling.
Ismael Massoud
You helped me understand basketball is simple but it still has room for creativity and for everyone to leave their own imprint on it.
Luqman Lundy
Being on balance.
Dontae Walker
Slowing down, I was always 100 miles per hour . You taught me to play smart calm down how to change pace and not be at one speed.
Joshua Decady
Damn there’s a lot. My mental approach when I work out. For example if I’m messing , it means im getting better and I’m pushing myself.
Abou Ousmane
Setting proper screens and the work ethic required to play at a high level.
Godswill Erheriene
You’ve helped me think about my growth in basketball in a different way.
You’ve Taught me to take baby steps in every area I need to work, and not try to rush my development.
Eli Small
One problem you helped me solve in my game is my form. You taught me to shoot above my head and not in front of my face.
Mark Waite
Dribbling with purpose. The when and why to do certain moves and how they fit in the flow of a real game.
Noah Best
Being tense when you shoot. You taught me to exhale on my shot. I learned how to control my breathing really well because of that.
Jordan Randolph
Thinking shot first of the catch while keeping feet squared to the basket.
Bryce Bennett
You have helped me look at the game differently by the different techniques u teach as in how you move in certain parts of the game. You don’t need too much aggression in the game you just have to know how to move and stay calm and to use your body smartly.
Valencia Howard
Increase confidence.
Nick Padilla
You’ve helped me with the discipline on my shot (holding my follow through, jumping up and down…) you’ve helped me with my pace and changing of speeds. You’ve helped me learn the game from a point of view of being able to take certain angles. And most of all you’ve helped me learn pro moves at such a young age where I’ve been able to properly use it in the game.
Brandon Hill
Footwork, my footwork increased mightily working with you.
Chase Estevez
You helped me with my footwork whenever i dribbled my feet would be stuck and that would make my moves less affective as i wouldn’t be able to sell my moves. And also not thinking about the shot i missed i learned to have a next shot mentality.
Kenny Thompson
I’m still working on it but i’d say staying low in an athletic stance.
Dev Morgan
You helped me solve the problem of being rushed and make sure to change speeds. Taught me the importance of sprinting to a spot then patiently waiting to move until needed.
Josh Cameron
You definitely helped the hitch/delay in my shot and giving me moves for different situations that I will see in the game.
Jamar Jones-Sanders
Proper footwork.
You helped me improve my footwork tremendously & helped me understand the game much better which prepared me for the next level.
Darrell Victory
You taught me pace and when to use my speed to my advantage because I’m short guard I had to learn my speed always not gonna help I have to be smarter than the person in front of me.
Kelechi Okworogro
Handles and just my overall understanding of the game
Different ways to train and how crucial it is to be efficient and consistent on the court.
Ahmir Moore
You helped me figure out how to get to certain spots on the floor that’ll make me a threat in game.
Will Franks
Playing with pace/learning how to see patterns in defense and make reads especially when moving through ball screens. On defense that your job is to contest and make a difficult shot and not necessarily to make an attempt to steal or block shots at all times. Also moving with out the ball in response to dribble penetration.
Jaiden Gaston
My pace with ball handling.
Jete Griffin
One problem you have helped me solve in my game is mental toughness.
Aaron Brown
I would say confidence & efficiency.
Jaiden Glover
Pace and mentality.
Promise Opurum
A lot of mental stuff, remembering that one bad game shouldn’t effect the next game, and on the court I remember you telling me that because I’m a little undersized I need to be the most physical person on the court so I would say my physicality.
Ahmad Mickens
You helped me understand the concept of changing speeds as well as focusing on the correct footwork to make for more affective moves.
Kam Rodriguez
My balance, stance, and fluidity—i would say all go hand and hand.
Anthony Gilks
Don’t go at one speed, change the pace.
Bryce Simmons
One problem that you helped me wit was my confidence. Everytime I leave the gym from working with you, my confidence is at an all time high. One more thing that you helped me with was staying disciplined.
Bangaly Berete
You helped me realize the importance of change of pace and change in speed because I would play the game at one pace, which made me predictable, so you helped me change that.
Tyler Stephenson-Moore
Pace, I felt I came in extremely sped up when it came to decision-making and dribbling. Being able to use the moves we trained on effectively and use my imagination has definitely helped me this summer playing.
Sharif Cobb
To trust myself and the work that I put in.. no matter what happens the work will show. I wouldn’t say it was a problem I had but it wasn’t a concept I was comfortable with or hadn’t put in the adequate amount of hours to have that type of trust.
Sincere Henderson
You helped me with my jump shot. You taught me how to shoot the ball with an arc, to hold my form until the ball hits the floor, to land on both feet and stay balanced. Also with my dribbling, you taught me how not to take a lot of dribbles when I’m doing a move and showed me how to do whatever move with less dribbles in it and it feels way better also with me knowing I could get to any spot I want on the floor. I wasn’t able to shoot and make shots until you taught me how to, you gave me details and workouts. With me staying in the gym and constantly working on my shot and game overall, I have developed with the strategies and work I have put in with you.
Everage Richardson
Footwork.
Joshua Pascarelli
How to use a ball screen.
Steven Solano
Ability to push through adversity and make decisions on the perimeter.
Darius Ervin
Before I worked with you I didn’t have the ability to change pace. You helped me understand the importance of playing at different speeds. This made an impact on selling moves using my body and helping me get to my spots on the floor where I could make a play.
Kai Foote
You helped me to match my foot work with my dribbling and stay on balance while I play.
Miles Brewster
I would say being able to perform in high pressure situations.
Mike Smith
I would say confidence. if you need a skill I would say handles with pace.
Carolina Lopez
Hey John! You helped me solve the disjointedness between my footwork and the placement of the ball when I am dribbling.
Bryan Mitchell
Maintaining high level performance/playing through fatigue.
Linay Bodden
One thing that u always talked about that helped in college was its not about just putting the work in it’s more so the information that is given to u is important so that it can be implemented the correct way wen u are putting the work in.
Sam Pohlman
1. Understanding to never get mad at something that you can’t change after the fact.
2. Getting good enough to shoot only in positions you’re comfortable shooting in because you’ve worked on them so many times and you don’t rush your jumper.