Kevin Eastman Coaching U 2014 Basketball Coaching Clinic Notes

These basketball coaching clinic notes are from when Kevin Eastman spoke at the Coaching U Clinic in 2014. Coach Eastman is an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers and has been a part of Doc Rivers's coaching staff for years. He is also one of the co-founders of Coaching U. The notes were taken by Jacob Collins.

Basketball Coaching Clinic Notes

• Concept of money and coaching.

“The money will find you if you are good.”

• “It’s not how much; it’s who.”

• Networking vs. Relationships.

Networking is just a number.

• Relationships are built over time.

He spends one-year giving information to someone before asking for something in return.

• Players that challenge something.

“It’s not about you being right all the time; it’s about us getting it right all the time.”—Doc

• 3 sets for development.

Skillset.

• Mindset.

• Reset—self-evaluation.

• Jim Rohn.

“Success is a few simple disciplines practiced every day.”

• “Failure is a few errors repeated every day.”

• “Earn your leadership every day.”

• “When times are tough, leadership is about responsibility, not invisibility.”— Keven Eastman

• 3 things you will have.

Setbacks.

• Obstacles.

• Failures.

• 3 things you will be.

Challenged from the inside and out.

• Critiqued from the inside and out.

• Criticized from the inside and out.

• Is your basketball coaching philosophy strong enough to withstand failure? Pressure?

• Roles.

What we are asking you to do.

• Value of its (the role) place on the team.

Be an All-Star in your role.

• It’s so important it’s what we need you to do for us to win the Championship.

• The value you bring.

• Body language—the only window to what we think you’re thinking.

• Ask your players—“How come you get pissed when you miss a shot, but not when your guy scores on you?”—Doc

• “Your reputation is at stake: are you a competitor or a showman?”—Doc

• Don’t let the tone of the message keep you from getting the meaning of the message.

• The best team sees the game the way the coach sees the game.

• Leadership is a battle for “mind space.”

Also, a battle for the heart.

• The best way to the mind is through the heart.

• 3 musts of coaching.

Put out fires.

• Put gas in their tank.

• Refocus their lens.

• There are no longer problems—there are challenges and competitions

• Docism’s.

“Winning teams are clutter-free.”

• “Guys, we will not win until you drop the wall and let me in.”

• “He who angers you; owns you.”

• Do things for each other, not to each other.

• Must enforce the emphasis.

• “Each game I only have so many bullets.”—Doc

• If players feel you’re only interested in wins, they won’t fight for you.

• In your system, can you break the rhythm of the other team?

• Immature players—deal with them or constantly be pissed.

Can you coach the talented player?

• Confidence is contagious.

• Weakness is exposed by the top 6 teams.

• Each new season is about the players you have, not the ones you lose.

• “Champions get punched too.”—Doc

• Never compromise your team's culture.

Must confront a breach in your culture immediately.

• How many “tell the truth,” guys do you have on your team?

• Assistants—90% evaluation, 10% emotion.

• The basketball drills you do in practice should show up in the game.

• Players want to win on their terms.

Clipper Situation

• Got through it because of Doc.

Great coaches start before they start.

• The truth will only be heard if a relationship has been built.

• 4 key relationships on a championship team.

Players have to like, trust, and respect players.

• Players have to like, trust, and respect coaches.

• Coaches have to like, trust, and respect players.

• Coaches have to like, trust, and respect coaches.

Some guys don’t buy-in they give-in.

It has to be ALL buy-in.

The Power of Words

• 7 critical statements made in a 72 hour period of the Clipper situation.

Value of words chosen wisely.

• 1st thing he said to the workers when he took VP, “My title does not mean that I know it all.”

No more turfs; there is just one turf.

One-shoulder—piss poor organization.

• Open shoulders—inviting.

• Change.

Have to make it work while you see if it works.

• Not about me; it’s about us.

• Trust needs 3 things.

Time.

• Consistency.

• Proof.

• 3 things of truth.

Live it.

• Tell it.

• Take it.

• 3 things to improve right away—CEO.

Communication.

• Efficiency.

• Organization.

• Communication.

Keep people in the loop.

• Never put someone in a situation that they look dumb.

• Talk to people, not at them.

• No whisperers (kills team).

• 4 C’s of culture.

Character.

• Class.

• Commitment.

• Communication.

• Not fear we should worry about, it’s danger. Danger is real; fear is a choice.

If you fear failure, put equal fear to never trying.

• Made seven index cards and gave them to Clippers staffers and said put these in order of importance

Group of 4—order = Players, staff, employees, fans.

• Group of 3—order = championships, 1st class reputation, revenue.

• Most important things = players and championships.

About PLAYERS and winning CHAMPIONSHIPS.

• Team = visible ingredient of success.

• Coaches = invisible ingredient of success.

• Once he took over as VP of Clippers, he did these things.

Not spending money on average.

• Not restricting new ideas.

• Not living in fear.

• When it hits the fan, the first thing you have to do is turn the fan off.

• 4 core beliefs.

Every decision is based on right vs. wrong.

• Care and concern for others.

• Total honesty.

• Do your job.

• The truth never allows us to question what we said.

• Truth stands the test of time and inquiry.