Player Development From A Championship Perspective

Player development is all year round. 

The NBA’s schedules are too compact with games, travel and practice. Where do coaches find the time to help their players develop? 

Practice makes perfect, that is the best time to really take the time necessary to work on drills and abilities. Taking that extra step to develop and fine tune their craft. Targeted and intricate drills can focus on certain areas of improvement. Workouts need to challenge players to leave their comfort zones and learn new ways to elevate their game. Basketball is a game of habit, in order to obtain good fundamental habits repetition must take place. 

In order for the coaching staff to assign certain workouts to certain players, they must be well in tone with the players and their needs. Development starts with what works for your players and the concept of development is to make sure that the talent is successful. Big men down in the post working on rebounds and moves, point guards repeatedly working on ball handling skills and passing, shooting guards and power forwards working on jump shots and three pointers. It's all dependent on what is necessary and what areas need improvement. 

Watching game film is a fast and clear way to identify and understand what needs work and which players require more one on one attention. Players who review films know the mistakes that were made and why. A deep analysis of the game play is a powerful tool, it gives the player the opportunity to fix the problem before it can reoccur. Some of the best players in the league consistently review film in order to enhance their game and ultimately help the team win. 

In this course, the Assistant Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers Phil Handy reveals his "Bible" of things that he works on with the Lakers in order to further develop them from players into champions. He breaks down what drills and techniques the coaching staff incorporate in practice. Coach Phil Handy knows about championship finals, having been to six consecutive. Everything you need to know about player development, from a championship perspective.