Happy Wednesday - Make sure you’re taking game shots.

“What If” vs. “If Only”

Nick Saban has a quote I keep coming back to when I think about player development. He talks about the difference between what if and if only thinking, and it might be one of the clearest ways to explain controllables to young players.

His quote: "What if you played to be the best player that you could be? What if you supported your teammates all the time? What if you were a good leader and you affected somebody else by the example that you set? All those things are things that you can control on a day-to-day basis. After the fact, you always say, 'If only I would have done this. If only I would have prepared better. If only I would have supported my teammates better.' When you can't do anything about that, then you can do everything about what's happening now."

Those are things you can control every single day. The problem is that most players don’t live there. They live in if only. If only the ref made a different call. If only I hit that shot. If only. That language always shows up after the moment has passed, when nothing can be changed. What if thinking points forward. It puts responsibility back in the player’s hands before the moment arrives.

This is where I think we can coach it better. What if should be part of our daily vocabulary.
Before practice: What if you locked in on every drill today?
Before a game: What if you played the hardest you ever have for 4 quarters?
After a tough loss: What if you showed up tomorrow with the best attitude in the gym?

The beauty of Saban’s framework is that it keeps players focused on controllables. Not outcomes. Not opponents. Not circumstances. Just effort, preparation, attitude, and leadership in the moment.

The best players I've coached weren't always the most talented. They were the ones who understood they could affect every single day. Every rep. Every practice. Every interaction.

But here's the thing: we have to model that same mindset ourselves. If we're asking our players to embrace "what if" thinking, we need to live it too. What if we prepared for practice like it was the most important one of the season? What if we approached every film session, every conversation, every correction as a chance to reach a kid? That mentality doesn't just make us better coaches. It makes us better teachers. And when our players see us living it daily, the lesson lands differently than when we just talk about it.

Question for Coaches: What language do you use in your program to keep players present and focused on what they can control?

Building Your Coaching Staff: The Foundation of Every Great Program

This is the first in a five-part series on assistant coaches - the most undervalued and crucial component of successful basketball programs.

Here's the truth most head coaches know, but the general public might not understand: your program's ceiling isn't usually determined by your X's and O's, your recruiting budget, or even your own coaching ability. It's determined by the quality of your assistant coaches.

Assistant coaches may be in the background on gameday, but they do so much during the week. They do so much behind the scenes. Just because they aren't in the first seat doesn't make their value any less important. In fact, most programs rise or fall on their assistant coaches because players often hear assistants just as much as the head coach, assistants set the emotional temperature of the bench, and assistants shape habits in those crucial margins that affect winning. Remember, as much as we try, a head coach can’t cover everything.

Over the upcoming newsletters, we'll dive deep into:

Whether you're a head coach building your first staff or an assistant coach looking to understand your role better, this series is designed to elevate how we think about coaching staffs.

Part 1: Picking the Right Assistants

The biggest hiring mistake coaches make? Prioritizing basketball knowledge over character and cultural fit. You can teach someone a new offensive system. You can't teach someone to care about kids or to handle adversity with grace.

The Interview Process That Actually Works

Forget asking about their favorite defense or what they think about zone offense. Start here:

"Tell me about a time you had to have a difficult conversation with a player. Walk me through exactly what you said and why."

"Describe a moment when you disagreed with a head coach's decision. How did you handle it?"

"What's your philosophy on building relationships with players who aren't getting much playing time?"

These questions reveal character, communication skills, and emotional intelligence – the traits that actually matter when you're trying to develop young people.

The Four Non-Negotiables

When evaluating potential assistants, these four traits are absolute must-haves:

Strategic Placement: The Right Coach for the Right Level

Where you place your assistants matters enormously:

JV/Freshman Coach: Look for teachers first, coaches second. These players need fundamentals, confidence, and someone who can make basketball fun while building good habits. Your best pure teacher should be here.

Varsity Assistant: This coach needs to handle pressure, think strategically during games, and connect with players who have high expectations. Look for experience and emotional maturity.

Volunteer/Student Assistant: Energy and enthusiasm matter most here. They're often closest in age to your players and can bridge generational gaps you might not even realize exist.

Red Flags to Avoid

The Diversity Advantage

Your staff should bring different strengths, perspectives, and backgrounds. If you're intense, consider an assistant who's more encouraging. If you're detail-oriented, maybe you need someone who's better at big-picture motivation. Different playing backgrounds, coaching experiences, and even personalities make your staff more effective at reaching all types of players.

Questions for Reflection:

Next week, we'll dive into what actually makes a great assistant coach – the daily habits and mindsets that separate good assistants from great ones.

The Scouting Report is your weekly dose of resources that can help your coaching. Plays of the Week, videos, drills, etc. What’s the old joke? The best coaches are just the best thieves?

Shared Resources

Great drill for defensive verticality from Coach Matt Painter at Purdue:

We’ve all gotten that one message from a parent that makes you pause, blink twice, and say… “Did they really just send that?”

If you’ve got a funny, confusing, or just plain wild message sitting in your inbox, send it in to [email protected]. We’ll feature the best ones anonymously - names and personal info will be removed.

Let’s remind each other we’re not alone in this coaching journey.

That’s a wrap on Episode 26 of Game Shots. Thank you for subscribing.

My mission has always been, and will always be, to support coaches around the world who love the game and want to keep getting better.