Basketball Without the Ball Hogging Superstars

TEAM. That is the best way to describe how to win championships and make a basketball team function accordingly. Many question this philosophy and being a coach for over 3 years now, I have learned one thing; most of the teams I have brought to the finals are composed mainly of basketball players that complement each other. No stars.

Don't get me wrong. I am no great coach. I learn the game through studying and from the players who inspire me. Yes, it is the players who discipline themselves and show me that they want to win that makes me coach for free. I am not in the caliber of professional coaches who get paid to whip up winning teams. I live and die with my team as long as they give their 100% each time.

I have had my share of stars in my fold. Most of them are hard to teach and normally they will not listen to you. The first sign you will see from me when a team has no place to go is when I sit down during a game and simply make substitutions. No timeouts no plays no nothing. You will not see me calling out plays or even blaming the referees for bad calls. I just sit down and watch the game like any spectator would.

But to the teams that I have coached, only three teams have been my ideal ones. Many would wonder how these guys would become champions. They have no stars nor distinct players in height and skills. It is all about chemistry and a coach's inspiration. Basketball is a team game and there are approaches to apply. That is exactly the reason why there are defensive and offensive plays; to see how people will be able to fit into a coach's system, my system.

At times when I have a fully loaded lineup, many would ask how come it didn't become a champion. Well, for one, I too was a player before and not being a star and happy to be a mere role player, it is all about playing and having fun. I was part of many championship teams and though I was not the star, I could care less. Basketball awards are about team accomplishments and not the usual Most Valuable Player or Mythical Teams that some people long for.

My players know how I feel about superstars. I am not afraid to voice out how I feel about having them on my team. I got rid of some stars this past year and while I got a mixed up team, I am still happy at the results. Why? Well, at least I regained my appetite to coach them. Leadership and motivation, those are the two things that people seem to want from me. And I am happy to oblige as long as everything is under my policies in handling a team.

It seems that I have fallen in love with coaching players who want a championship and would not complain being relegated to normal players. They know what it takes to win championships. No one player can win a tournament by his own. Even the NBA can attest to this as we have seen from the former champs like the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs. It takes 5 or more players to make a difference. So I guess that is why most people would wonder why I hate Kobe Bryant so much. No ballhogs, no superstars. That is my policy and that will stick until I decide to stop coaching and just watch individualistic players destroy the game of basketball. Right Cons este Kobe?!?

Congratulations to the West Midgets for being the first LEGIT Back to Back Champions (2007 & 2008) and for my West Juniors team who competed in the Seniors Division and won 2nd Place. Those are special accomplishments and the best gift you gave me as a coach.