1. How do young players’ paths differ in places like Serbia compared to the typical AAU player in the U.S.? 2. How do players work through their national teams and how do find or know where to look for these players? 3. How do players get into professional academies like Real Madrid? What implications does it have for these young players? 4. Overuse injuries in these players who are playing 4-5 basketball games. every day at such a young age? 5. Ryan’s typical rhythms and routines. 6. How do you react when you find talent? 7. Synthesizing data and information for the GM and coaches. 8. What distinguishes Bucks scouting (humble, hungry, smart). 9. The game expanding to Africa. 10. Risk mitigation in international talent evaluation. 11. Have superstars like Giannis and Jokic changed how the game is played in other parts of the world? 12. How Ryan’s college coach stepped in at a critical turning point…and how Ryan seized the opportunity.

All teams face the grind, the mundane, even the doldrums, throughout the course of their time together. How can coaches keep spirits up, and "even make the mundane sacred?” Coach Jackson and Professor Miller discussed: The responsibility that players have for playing. The coach can bring some fun and joy to the season. Times of the season that can become a drag. Giving out books to players.  Giving players a “shield.” “Name your hero. Who motivated you? Favorite music?…” The “bulls-eye.” “What’s your relationship to the team? Where do you fit on the team? Using the bulls-eye as a discussion point. “Why did you place yourself outside of the circle?” Getting a personal relationship with the players. Collected silly fines as winnings for shooting games. Fun and competition. “It changes up the day or gives them some little incentive... just something different." Had rookies read "20 principles of good behavior.” Then got to know players’ reading levels and gave other books. Formal meditation session before videos. George Mumford assessing, “How are we doing as a group (in relation to the mid-line)?” Conversation starter. Get to know lives of teammates. Relating the 8-fold principles of Buddism to the offense. Inserting comedian clips into the video. Bring humor into it. Theme videos for particular opponents. Drawing from certain movies, etc.  Having players grit their teeth on pencils to demonstrate aggression. Led to laughter. Tai Chi in front of big mirrors. Be willing to try new things! Seeing an eagle fly by. “Be patient with me, because I’m going to try different stuff.” Giving players Sundays off. “It’s a day for you family. A day for your spiritual recovery.” Working closely with trainers to gauge players’ recovery and readiness. How to handle long lay-offs and keep players fresh. The Thanksgiving practice routine: Turkey Trot game. Keeping things fresh and fun. Using symbolism: “The Way of the Warrior,” “The Chase for the White Buffalo” Shields, arrows, prayer arrow, headdress all in the team meeting room. What is your space? How do you respond when someone comes into your space? Retaliation? Fight mode? Being centered. Rubber band snap for re-centering. Knowing Awareness Training (KAT). Players were having difficulty learning.  A simple touch to a player to re-center him, relax him. “I liked finding things that were unique… out of the ordinary. It was kind of experimental.”

What does it mean to “have a system?” Why is it critical to build from the ground up? Ron Ekker — a longtime coaching colleague who developed “the Monk System.” Author of the Intelligent Coach. Having a system is not unique to basketball. It applies to most all sports (e.g., rowing). “It transcends basketball, no doubt about it." How Tex Winter used a system successfully at Kansas State and eventually brought it into the NBA. "The system is important — but you have to be really patient. There are certain things about the system that require bonding of the players.” "Systems are one of the necessary items, because it brings people together and gives direction... it’s not about you… it’s about the system.” (e.g., evaluation and critique can be de-personalized — so can successes) "You need to have a system that you believe in.” Bill Fitch. “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. But you can take a system apart and teach parts of the system. And the skills and the drills that we would run brought all of those things into play. They were all connected.” "Everything has to be simplistic enough that it can be taught…And player must know that they are not going to disrupt everything just by making a mistake.” Some principles of a sound offense. It’s a full court game played from end to end. You need to play with speed but still under control. Spacing is one of the most important things. Offense should incorporate the skills of all players — shooters, passers, rebounders, screeners, etc. (avoid baseline drive — one of the only “don’ts”). Move the ball after two beats. Penetrate the defense. Practice drills were set up around all of these things. Building up from the ground. Show the system, what happens in the system. And then take it apart and teach the parts.  Peer pressure in getting buy-in to the system. Veterans who understand it. Keep the standard. The standard is the key. The coach must uphold the standard. The Celtics had only six plays for many years and kept winning. The system endures as individuals come and go. Sustainability. The Bulls second three-peat only included two of the same players as from the first three-peat. Getting players that fit your system. Recruiting, assessment. AAU and college games are “raw energy.” Hard to see who has poise and understands the game. The system requires deeper skillset. One example: Steve Kerr. Had been with some different teams and not playing a whole lot. But he was a great fit for the system. The system provides a clear foundation and direction that sets basis for spontaneity. Coach’s illustration (Suzuki's Zen Mind, Beginner Mind). “We have a certain structure that we use. But inside that structure there’s a freedom of movement and opportunity to do things that are spontaneous.” “The offense was not built for Kobe or Michael Jordan. They don’t need an offense. The team needs an offense. The team needs to have that structure that is defining for them. So that they have a standard to live by. Something that you can mark up against. Something that you can teach, if you are a veteran, to younger players that are coming in that gives you a certain sense of participation. There’s ultimately an esprit de corps that comes from that. There’s a certain unity in group that comes from having to go through that exercise of doing maybe mundane parts over and over again.”  Doing something at least seven times for neuron forming and muscle memory to occur. Golf in the Kingdom. "The inner self." It’s not a thought process. You don’t have to think it out. Your body knows what to do.”  “You’re not thinking alone. You’re thinking together. It’s a team thought.” Using meditation and mindfulness with the team. “One mind, one breath.” That’s what we want to play with: one mind. There’s a higher mind. That mind is the system.” Freedom through discipline. “Have a sense, what are the parameters, and then inside those parameters you have freedom for spontaneity and creativity.”

Coach Phil Jackson reflects on building trust and meaningful roles within his coaching staff at the Chicago Bulls facility. They discussed game strategies, video analysis, and the evolution of basketball. The importance of unity, embracing disagreement, and letting go was emphasized. Also explored were defense strategies, valuing opponents, and building trust within a coaching staff.

1.     Coach’s home golf course in Williston, ND. 2.     Giving players books: Why did he do it? How did he decide which book to give to each player. 3.     Shaq’s book report. 4.     Talking to Kobe about being a leader. 5.     Going from coaching in the CBA to the Bulls, Jerry Krause wanted him to wear the championship ring as a symbol, “I knew what it took to win a championship…I had some credibility.” 6.     Giving associate coaches room to speak. 7.     The impact of Tex Winter and Johnny Bach: “I learned a tremendous about about the history of the game from them.” 8.     “A lot of coaching depends on voice, on essence, on how you speak, the control that you have of the language, your ability to deliver a message, your ability to be a salesperson about what you are trying to have your team do.Those are the things that I think garner respect.” 9.     When correcting a player, “it’s not that I’m correcting you. I’m correcting the act that you need to change. I’m not demeaning you.” 10.  “You need to deliver messages with the respect that contains who you are.” 11.  The importance of building a “fraternal type of atmosphere where it’s brotherly or sisterly…You want them to have an atmosphere that’s warm and welcoming.” 12.  One of the most difficult things for humans is that you are not anything more than human. You make mistakes. And the mistakes you’re going to make are sometimes how you endear yourself to your community…The little things, stumbling over a word or how you dress…” 13.  Wearing a tie dye shirt to practice…and how it accidentally brought about relatability. 14.  “Maybe I can get a birdie on this hole…” 15.  Red Holzman. Alertness. “Being in the team, with the team.”  16.  Simple lessons from Coach Holzman. “This isn’t rocket science.” 17.  Coach Holzman: simplicity and giving players voice. 18.  Coach as teacher. 19.  Turning point: Coach Holzman brought Coach Jackson in to help during and injured period (When Coach Jackson was only 23). Learning the middle path. Staying consistent. Bring energy. 20.  Knowing how to handle players who were injured, including the mental side of injury. 21.  “What is the purpose of the game?” Love of the game. Giannis, Jokic as good models. 22.  What’s most important thing to look for in a coach?  23.  Lessons learned from coaching Horace Grant. Staying positive. Transformational. “Coaches that stand on the sidelines and yell at players are probably not going to be successful if they’re berating their players. But the ones who can teach and want to teach it, are the ones who generate the most interest to me as people to hire as coaches.” 24.  Earning players’ respect. 25.  Growing up in a home with morning devotions. “I’ve maintained that type of practice my whole life.” 26.  Getting centered and fully present every morning. 27.  The importance of having a system. Having everyone play within the system.  28.  Every player in basketball – like jazz – has a role, has a moment. 

Coach Dave Perkins led Verona High School to the state championship in 2022. He was also named the WSCA Coach of the Year and, in 2021, the Big Eight Conference Coach of the Year. Dave has a long track record of success playing and coaching at multiple levels, including club, college, and high school. Dave joined SGG to discuss his leadership journey, including what he's learned along the way, why he coaches, and what he aspires toward as a leader of young people.

Coach Caitie Ratkowski is the 2022 state champion (Division I) volleyball coach at Divine Savior Holy Angels (DSHA) High School in Milwaukee. She was honored as the 2022 AVCA Girls high school coach of the year. Among Caitie's many other awards was her 2016 induction into the DSHA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. Beyond her impressive success on the court, Caitie is committed to leading the people in her program toward holistic life success. She's impacted many lives through her coaching efforts. 

Coach Andrew Selgrad led Columbus High School to a 14-0 record and the division 4 state championship in 2022. For his efforts, he named Wisconsin Associated Press/Packers High School Coach of the Year. Coach Selgrad has a long track record as a coach in the state -- and even grew up on the sidelines when his father was a head coach. With a motto of "keep building," he focuses on "teaching the why," learning, trusting and growing every day.

Coach McDonnell leads the 2022 Wisconsin State football champions at Kettle Moraine High School. He is also a special education teacher at the school. Coach McDonnell focuses on treating the members of his team well. In doing so, he's cultivated a successful program where young people can thrive on and off the field. He joined us on the SGG podcast to discuss his journey and his perspective on coaching.

Coach Roehrig is a social studies teacher and the head softball coach at Kaukauna High School in Wisconsin. His team rides a 51 game winning streak and has won back-to-back state championship. Coach Roehrig's impact goes beyond softball victories. He's shaped a thriving community around softball. He develops rich relationships with players and families. Opportunities flow in, through, and beyond the Kaukauna softball program thanks to his leadership. We enjoyed a great conversation on the SGG podcast. Thanks, Coach Roehrig!