The Transforming Basketball Podcast EP145: Coaching and Curiosity with Jon Yu
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Jan 7, 2026 Jon Yu, a passionate basketball coach and educator focused on skill development, shares his insights from coaching at a resource-limited varsity program. He delves into the significance of spacing over random movement, and why traditional pass-and-cut can hinder player development. The conversation highlights the value of small-sided games and adaptability in practice, as well as the importance of fostering team culture and competition. Jon encourages coaches to embrace curiosity and treat every practice as a chance to learn, promoting evidence-based approaches for effective coaching.
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Small Program, Big Buy-In
- Jon Yu took a varsity head coaching job at a tiny private school with no gym and only five regular-season games.
- The players grew up playing together and bought into competition-heavy practices that increased their engagement after a few games.
Teach Players To Hold Space
- Hold spacing and teach players it's okay to occupy corners instead of cutting randomly.
- Prioritize spacing to create driving lanes and predictable rotations that generate openings.
Pass-And-Cut Can Remove Space
- Pass-and-cut as an automatic team offense often removes space and reduces decision-making opportunities.
- Use pass-and-cut as a read or reaction, not a default pattern, to preserve driving lanes and domino effects.