Even Stevens

Certain realities exist in sports from youth sports to professional sports. Players get a lot of inputs - coaching, family, friends, and media.

Brad Stevens did a press conference after the season and was asked about Jrue Holiday and his contract extension.

"All that came into play was, what kind of teammate am I being and can I help us win?"

1) What kind of teammate am I being?

2) Can I help us win?

The best players at every level make everyone around them better. They make starters, reserves, and the coaches better. Alan Williams wrote a book Teammates Matter about his experience as a walk-on (non-recruited player) at Wake Forest. He made the team and the equipment manager didn't issue him a black and gold travel bag with his number on it.

Later, he found a WF bag in his locker with the number of the star player on it. The star gave up his bag as an act of TEAM. Commit to being on a team. Commit to sacrifice. Be like Tim Duncan. 

Impact winning. Everything at practice should impact winning. There are no 'busy work' drills, no 'routine for routine's sake'. The twelfth player on the team makes everyone better by being on time, communicating, practicing hard, scrimmaging hard. 

Roy Williams, former Carolina basketball coach, talked about recruiting a guy at a tournament. The player fouled out and immediately ran to the water station to get water for the guys still in the game. He didn't sulk, he didn't whine at the officials, he kept helping. He chose the recruit for  Carolina. 

Everyone can't be a great player. Choose to be a great teammate. 

Lagniappe. Coach Donnie discusses being a great teammate.