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.
- Some guys don’t buy-in they give-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.
- No more turfs; there is just one turf.
- 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.
2 Responses
Thank you för everything
I am always amazed at how simple and direct Kevin Eastman makes his statements and quotes. Profound simplicity at its best!