NBA Summer League Trip to Orlando by Mike Cyprien, Jr.

One thing I’ve always done upon entering the coaching business is lean on my uncle for advice. He’s a basketball lifer, having spent the better part of 30 years coaching high major basketball. Now a scout and operations assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies, it is because of his progression through the ranks of our profession that I was able to join him in Orlando this past summer for the July 4-10 session of the NBA summer league. It was an opportunity that many young coaches such as myself would kill for. Not only did I have an opportunity to pick the brains of the Grizzlies’ assistant coaches, but I sat shoot-around, met with current NBA rookies, former NBA players and other NBA executives.

Here are notes I took during my three day trip to Orlando.

Got a chance to talk to Sam Cassell (3-Time NBA Champ, Asst. Coach- LA Clippers) on leadership from point guards

• PG’s HAVE to be tone setters. Both vocally and through their play.
• Can’t worry about hurt feelings. Must hold guys accountable. Said it’s one of Chris Paul’s best qualities.
• Just as selfish to allow teammates to take bad shots and not say anything as it is to take a bad shot himself.
• Said he & Kevin Garnett went at it all the time. Not to be bad teammates to one another but because they both shared a common goal, WIN. Held each other accountable.

Met a few rookies and asked them what kind of work they put in on their own outside of practice during college.

• Joe Young (Pacers 2^nd round pick, Pac-12 POY) said he MADE 1,000 shots per day during the season and off-season.
• Andrew Harrison (Grizzlies 2^nd round pick, National Champ at Kentucky) said he MADE 300 shots per day in off-season and 150 during the season but most important thing he did was run extra. The conditioning improved his workouts. Allowed him to go harder during and workout longer.

On the topic of getting extra work in, I got a chance to speak briefly with Dennis Scott (NBA TV commentator, Ga. Tech Standout, 10 year NBA vet)

• Said during his college days he made 1,000 shots per day in the off-season and 500 per day during the season.
• Mentioned that no matter what the form looks like players must get constant reps and be consistent.

Had a 15 minute conversation with Vince Carter (Former All-NBA selection, Olympics Gold Medalist) about sacrificing for the team and his role now coming off the bench for the Grizzlies.

• Mentioned that he never loses confidence in himself or his abilities.
• He keeps a starter’s mentality. Told me that is what keeps him ready, no matter when his number is called.
• Told me he has NO EGO. Whatever Coach Joeger needs him to do or whatever it takes to help the team win, he’s willing to do.
• Suggested that I relay to our players, that if winning TRULY matters most then the team’s needs should come first.

Talked to Grizz asst. Jeff Bzdelik (former college head coach) about team culture on the pro and college levels.

• Said the main difference with the culture at the two levels who establishes the culture. College, coaches establishes the culture recruits players who they feel will buy in to it. NBA, players do a good job of keeping each other in line. Told me that they RARELY have to call Randolph, Allen, Gasol, Conley on anything. Those guys are great at holding themselves accountable and respect each other enough to be held accountable by teammates. No egos in their locker room. It allows coaches to focus strictly on basketball issues.
• The common factor is the “Buy In”. At both levels, he said, you HAVE to have guys who’ll come in, check egos at the door, regardless of what they’ve done in the past, and buy in to what the staff is preaching. It’s hard to get a former All-NBA selection to buy in to being a role player, but having a stable locker room and a roster of guys who have no ego makes buy in easier.

During a morning shoot around I kept hearing Grizz asst. Jason March preaching “space” and “to keep moving”.

• He mentioned to me that’s something they preach with all their guys. Proper spacing gives their guys room to operate in “isolation” situations and constant movement keeps the defense occupied.
• Told me their teaching and philosophies during the summer league are the same things they preach to the guys in the regular season.

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NBA Summer League Trip to Orlando by Mike Cyprien, Jr.