Characteristics of a Good Basketball Leader
Every coach wants to have a team where the players truly take leadership of it. The best teams in the history of basketball are filled with incredible leaders who possess special traits and qualities that naturally lead to winning.
This morning I woke up and read an article on ESPN about John Wall and how is leadership is already coming out to the older players and how important that is for his future. Imagine that…you are a first rounder, top pick and in your first game you start directing traffic and getting guys in the right spots. That’s why this guy was taken number 1. This trait is very rare and usually only the best have it. Jordan had it, Magic, Bird, Kobe. What about Lebron? I say no. I honestly don’t think he will be the leader of this team. Dwyane Wade is the leader and he proved it by getting these guys there. Lebron would have never won a title on his own and in signing with the Heat we learned of his weakness.
So what characteristics do good leaders have in basketball:
1. Communication: Leaders have an ability to communicate to those in ways that get results. This doesn’t mean yelling, but motivating and keeping them all focused. The reason people questioned Lebron’s leadership is because of his playoff debacle this year. He couldn’t keep his team in check and motivated. Those losses don’t happen to Kobe, MJ, Magic, Bird any of them.
2. Self Motivated: Leaders don’t need anyone to tell them to get going. They are the ones pushing the envelope and being the coach on the floor. They dont’ let down.
3. Focused: Leaders are focused individuals who see the big picture and convey that to the others. They lead by example and getting everyone to buy into the big picture.
John Wall showed these in one game and it was impressive. I think it is what separates him from Derrick Rose. Rose has a quiet demeanor and is a killer but he isn’t as vocal as Wall. Rose would never have done this stuff his first game with his team but Wall showed the confidence to do it. That earns respect and trust from his teammates. There is nothing more important than leadership on a team and the best coaches know that. When you see a team that is underperforming you can directly tie it to leadership as a reason for the letdowns.
