How to Coach an NBA Team

Your first coaching position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) brings with it plenty of challenges. Players on an NBA team typically receive higher pay than coaches and their elite position in the basketball world means that they want to be the top player. In order to coach an NBA team, you need to make sure that you utilize your talent wisely while juggling egos. Read on to learn how to coach an NBA team.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Basketballs
• Whistle
• Dry Erase Clipboard and Markers

Manage a Team in the NBA

1. Create a diverse set of drills to keep the attention of your players in practice. Websites like Five Star Hoops provide video diagrams of drills for everything from warm ups to shooting. See the Resources section below for a link. Review every drill available to find one that fits your team.
2. Work with your team's scouts to find international players. The NBA Draft and the free agent market have been flooded with international talent over the last decade. Your team needs to find overseas players in order to stay ahead of changes in game speed and skill level.
3. Drill your team on free throw technique on a daily basis. One of the difficult tasks of an NBA coach is to get their players to work on mechanics at the free throw line. You should simulate game conditions in order to create a realistic environment for free throw shooting.
4. Develop a set of inbound plays to get your offense off on the right foot. You should utilize screens and picks while the ball is being passed into play to get key players open for a shot.
5. Warm up your players by using shoot-arounds on game day. Most NBA players like to shoot the ball before the game starts to get stretched out and in the right mind set to hit a big shot. You should have your players shoot around in the arena to get used to the playing environment.
6. Delegate specific responsibilities to each of your assistant coaches during a game. Younger assistants should keep track of minutes and fouls for each player to help determine the right substitutions. Experienced assistants should coach individual players to adjust to game situations.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you have specialty players on your bench for situations common in NBA games. For example, your team needs an excellent three point shooter on the bench to come in when your team is down by a significant margin. These players can also commit fouls and allow your starters to stay in the game.

Who Can Help: