This week on Slappin’ Glass, we sit down with NBA and G-League coach Coby Karl for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation on leadership, teaching, and connecting the many layers of a basketball program.
Coach Karl shares his philosophy of “coaching the whole”—how schemes, relationships, and organizational dynamics all intertwine to shape performance. We dive into:
- Building Flow and Simplicity: Why starting with fundamentals like spacing and pattern recognition is the foundation for freedom, creativity, and player confidence.
- Coaching Human Beings, Not Just Players: How empathy, integrity, and trust form the backbone of development both on and off the court.
- Leadership Depth and Growth: The personal challenges, failures, and reflections that help coaches evolve in meaningful ways.
- Tactical Insights: From the value of opening possessions with a cut, to designing pressure releases, shoot-around efficiency, and adjusting systems to fit personnel.
- Failure as Micro vs. Macro: How to reframe mistakes as opportunities for learning while balancing the real-world stakes of professional coaching.
And of course, Coach Karl joins the always-fun “Start, Sub, or Sit” segment to break down offensive concepts and leadership lessons with his signature depth and honesty.
Whether you’re a coach, player, or fan of the game, this episode offers a masterclass in how basketball’s details, relationships, and philosophies all connect to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 60 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
