The Basketball Podcast: EP210 with Jason Terry on Coaching Philosophy

Jason Terry Coach Quotes:

“There’s something to be said about self-accountability. Guys that are disciplined, guys that have a routine, guys that are focused in on the task at hand, are the ones that usually have the most amount of success.”

“Everybody’s journey is different. I want to empower these guys to take ownership in their own individual journey, knowing that I’ve been somewhere they’re trying to go. Not necessarily telling them, ‘Do it my way,’ because my way may not work for you. Find what works for you, and then master it.”

“Some of the best practices are player led practices . . with those experiences, they gain valuable knowledge and confidence, as well.”

“It was the way he [Isaiah Thomas] mentored the younger guys. One, he led by example. But [he also] led by his voice. When a guy who played at a high level, has been an All-Star comes in and he tells them, ‘Look, you’re going to go through some adversity. That’s part of it. You’ve got to keep going, you’ve got to play harder right here, you’ve got to get up on defense or listen to coach.’ That’s one of the most impactful things.”

“You have to understand what you’re great at, tap into what you’re great at, and you have to do that consistently. When you’re a leader of a team . . you’ve got to know every nuance of that team, you’ve got to know your players, you’ve got to know what they like and what they don’t like . . and then you’ve got to know yourself and trust your own skill set, too.”

“If you’re going to be the leader of anything. You don’t need the approval of everybody else. You’ve just got to know how to get the job done. Be a great communicator, be positive, and lead by example.”

“All my coaches asked me, ‘What is your goal? What do you want to do after basketball? We understand you’ve got 10 more years to play, but what is your focus for after basketball?’ There’s something in you that I see that I know that one day, you’re going to become a great coach. So how can I help you in that process?”

“As a G league coach, part of your responsibility is implementing the [NBA team’s] system, so that when the players come down and go up, there’s no lag time. They understand there’s a direct connection with what they’re teaching there, and what we’re teaching in the G league.”

“When you have those core values established, it makes it easier to critique and to teach and to hold guys accountable.”

“Nobody is out there trying to make mistakes. As a coach, you realize that for the one or two mistakes they’ve made . . they’ve done eight or nine great things out there on the floor. And I think as coaches, sometimes you get too caught up in the moment, too caught up in this particular possession, that you don’t praise your guys for the eight or nine good things they do.”

“It’s about creating those good, winning habits . . we understand that we have to put the work in to get things accomplished and the only way we can do that is to understand what you’re great at. Whatever you’re great at, I want that every day; what you’re not great at, we’ll work on that before and after practice. But when we step on this floor, and the whistle is blown, we want to rely on our strengths every day.”

“As coaches, you have to be transparent with your players. If you tell a guy exactly what you’re expecting, exactly what’s coming, then it makes it easier for those guys to go out and perform. Now, they may not like it a lot of times what they hear, but you’re building trust by being transparent.”

“As a head coach, there’s so much basketball to be had, that if you empower others around you, it makes your job easier.”

“You have to be able to adapt and adjust and tailor your coaching style around each individual guy. Certain guys are just not going to respond to yelling. Certain guys don’t want to be stroked all the time, they want to be told the truth. So, you’ve got to find that balance without sacrificing your non-negotiables.”

Jason Terry Breakdown:

1:00 – Why He is Coaching
3:30 – Coaching in G-League and College
6:00 – Best Practices in Managing People
8:30 – Struggles as a Young Player
11:00 – Mentorships
13:00 – Advice to Point Guards
17:00 – What’s His Goal
21:00 – Best Way to Correct a Player
23:00 – Balancing Teaching and Coaching
25:00 – Teachings from Kevin McHale
28:00 – X Perspective on Defenders
33:00 – Shaping Philosophy of Coaching
39:00 – Yellers and Screamers
43:00 – Observing The Players
45:00 – Conclusion

Jason Terry Links from the Podcast:

Ron Drayton

Lute Olson

Lon Kruger

Lenny Wilkens

Don Nelson

Avery Johnson

Rick Carlisle

Jason Kidd

Kevin McHale

Tim Grgurich

Isaiah Thomas

Thon Maker

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Mike Malone

Dirk Nowitzki

Corey Brewer

Gary Payton

Damon Stoudamire

Kevin Garnett