PCA

From PCA's Jim Thompson: Phil Jackson: Role Model Coach

Tuesday, 16 June 2009 06:35 TJ

Phil Jackson: Role Model Coach
By Jim Thompson

Watching the Lakers win the NBA title, last night I began to count the ways that Phil Jackson is a model for youth coaches.

1) He builds players' self-confidence. Trevor Ariza, who came up big in the playoffs, said he knew he wasn't going to get pulled from the game if he missed a shot, which fueled his confidence to keep playing hard. Jackson's players don't tighten up in the clutch, worried about what will happen if they miss. They play to win, not to avoid looking bad. Players don't do that if they are worrying about their coach giving up on them.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 June 2009 06:22

From PCA's Executive Director, Jim Thompson

Tuesday, 02 June 2009 08:22 TJ

LeBron James is confused about the meaning of "competitor."

After the Orlando Magic eliminated James' Cleveland Cavaliers from the NBA Playoffs Saturday and James refused to shake hands with his opponents, The New York Times quoted James: "It's hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them. I'm a winner. It's not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you're not going to congratulate them. That doesn't make sense to me. I'm a competitor."

No. The ultimate competitor is the Triple-Impact Competitor who makes self, teammates and the game better. James is superb on levels 1 and 2. On Level 3, he fell down, badly.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 June 2009 15:32