The Basketball Podcast: EP331 with Phil Pressey on Transitioning from Player to Coach

In this week’s coaching conversation, Boston Celtics Performance Enhancement Coach Phil Pressey joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on transitioning from player to coach, and applying skill acquisition ideas.

Known for his strategic mind and ability to develop players, Phil is a rising star in the coaching world. After serving as a graduate assistant at Missouri, he joined the Celtics’ coaching staff in 2023, bringing his court vision and leadership to the sidelines.

Phil’s basketball roots run deep. The son of former NBA player and coach Paul Pressey, Phil has basketball in his DNA. His playing career began at the University of Missouri, where he set records for assists and steals, earning First-Team All-SEC honors in 2013.

Despite going undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft, his tenacity and skill earned him a spot with the Boston Celtics, where he played as a point guard. His professional career also included stints with the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and several international teams.

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Phil Pressey Quotes:

“I have great mentors like my father. He went from player to coach, so he helped me make this transition. But I was also a coach on the floor. I was always an extension, especially being a point guard, having to know the plays better than the rest of my team, holding myself accountable, being on time, showing up every single day. As I made the transition into coaching . . I did learn that it’s just as difficult to coach as it is to play. And I had to instill the growth mindset of being a lifelong learner and constantly learning new ideas and philosophies.”

“Being able to have smaller groups allows us to focus on what we’re trying to accomplish because we have multiple coaches. We talk about the player enhancement coach, a coach being able to do multiple things. It allows us to give the players a real looks. We try to put them in game-like situations that replicate the environment that they’re going to be in. And I think the players love it because they’re constantly tested.”

“Teaching them to make better decisions. I think the better players make the best decisions more frequently. I think that’s all about perception and teaching them where to look. Being able to, through small-sided games, teach them where to look and where they’re looking for helps them translate that into the game. I think [basketball] IQ is just decision making.”

“The great soccer players on their first touch, they already know what they’re about to do. So, it’s similar to basketball. On your first touch, you should be scanning the floor and knowing what’s about to happen next. And you can teach that through practice.”

“There’s a strategy for watching film. You’re not just freestyling it. It’s very specific. It’s very intentional, and I think that’s the best way to get any type of improvement.”

“For me, being in the NBA as a player is not going to get me to where I want to get to in coaching. So, as I transitioned into coaching, there were new skills that I had to learn, I had to develop.  Video and Sports Code, PowerPoint, public speaking, being able to talk in front of a team. These are specific skills that allow you to elevate in your career in coaching.”

“Coaches are teachers. So learning how to teach has been a great challenge for me, but that’s something that I’m bought into . . it’s going to be new for a lot of players that go into coaching  . . when you’re learning new things and you’re growing, there are those things called growing pains. So, if you’re uncomfortable and things don’t seem as easy as they used to be, you’re right where you’re supposed to be.”

“The more you can do on the court, the more you’re going to play. So don’t put yourself in the box and say, oh, I’m only a two, I’m only a five. I think the numbers are outdated . . I think it’s more about being a basketball player . . Traditionally, you have the point guard bringing the ball up the court. But if you want to play more, the best thing is to develop these other skills.”

Phil Pressey Breakdown:

Phil Pressey
Matt Cline
Steve Nash
Chris Paul
Craig Luschenat
Doug Lemov
Ross McMains
James Clear
Daniel Coyle
Joe Mazzula
Draymond Green
Jrue Holiday
Derrick White