The thing I wish I could have done better this year was to relate more to the kids on their level. I took a “Hoosiers” approach to coaching, as that is the only style I have seen work well consistently in basketball. Sometimes I tried coaching them too much like high schoolers and not like the young kids they were, but for the most part they responded positively to what I was teaching and why I did what I did. Hopefully they learned as much as I did this season.
In life, what I learned on the basketball court has had a whole lot to do with becoming the lawyer and person I am today. I hope these kids learn the same lessons about success and overcoming adversity. The hours of basketball practice and the hard work in the weightroom made a huge difference on the court, so I learned the value of hard work early. I also learned the power of focusing on doing a couple things – defense and rebounding – really well, and that it would dramatically improve the team and my value to the team. We are all role players in our several stations in life. In my law practice, I still focus on doing the everyday, hustle plays, as well as I can. There is no substitute for hard work and preparation in any given career, especially preparing cases for trial. Also, in basketball anyone can win, especially if they give the effort, particularly when an opponent underestimates you, doesn’t prepare well for you, or doesn’t adjust to the things you do well. Victory is often just a little hard work and a few good decisions away.