What Makes A Player A Player?

[DALIST]

ALRIGHT HOOP LUVERS...I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE THREADS I HAVE MISSED OVER THE LAST MONTH & ONE QUESTION CONTINUOULSY COMES TO MIND...WHAT MAKES A PLAYER A PLAYER?..I HAVE HAD AN OPPOURTUNITY TO SEE TALENT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY & SOME OF THE PLAYERS YOU GUYS HYPE UP IN THE MDV AREA JUST ARENT LIVING UP TO THE HYPE! I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE YOU GUYS CLASSIFYING THESE KIDS ON..IS IT ALTHLETICISM? TALENT? LEDERSHIP?..CAN SOMEONE PLEASE PROVIDE SOME INSITE ON THIS ISSUE?..PLEASE ENLIGHTEN DALIST! :confused:

[HighLevel]

a player is made up by his/her mentality, physical attributes, work ethic, IQ, and discipline.

Mentality

I believe that "a player" has to be not only strong mentally (handle/accept-negative/positive criticism) but have a strong will and mentality to compete. A good player has the mentality that they are the best on the court each and every night. For those nights that they are proven not to be the best they go back to the gym and work on those things that were exposed.

Physical Attributes

I think this goes without saying! You can't teach size so of course if a player has some descent size to them that's one thing that'll make them more visible (not a player, just more visible) immediately. A player's athleticism propels them to another level. Speed, quickness, body control, court vision, hops and strength gets them closer to being "a player".

Work Ethic

If you haven't figured it out already "hard work beats talent in the long run". I've seen so many people (not gender or age related) get passed by people who just simply work harder than them. This concept is "life" in general.

IQ

The wicked cross over means nothing if you can't read the 2nd and 3rd defender. If your team is down late in a ball game AND in the bonus; understanding that you need to draw fouls to give yourself an opportunity to score points while the clock isn't running. Knowing your personnel, knowing everyone's situation on the court. The IQ list goes on and on but of course this gets the "not so athletic" an opportunity to compete with the athletic players w/o any IQ.

Discipline

"A player" understands that this cross court pass looks tempting but I'm really not sure if I can get it so I'm going to stay home on this one. They also understand this food is pretty good but it's not necessarily what I need to be putting in my body so I'm going to pass. They understand that although I'm tired from working out or practicing that I still need to go home and hit the books. The list goes on and on.

[lboogie]

WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING????

IS THAT A PG COUNTY THING?:p

[smokeyhip4]

WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING????

IS THAT A PG COUNTY THING?:p

Hey Ms. Diminon State just because you moved to the country you all of a sudden are becoming sensitive to a little noise..
Don't hate on PG because we are ....:cool:

[asiancoach]

a player is made up by his/her mentality, physical attributes, work ethic, IQ, and discipline.

Mentality

I believe that "a player" has to be not only strong mentally (handle/accept-negative/positive criticism) but have a strong will and mentality to compete. A good player has the mentality that they are the best on the court each and every night. For those nights that they are proven not to be the best they go back to the gym and work on those things that were exposed.

Physical Attributes

I think this goes without saying! You can't teach size so of course if a player has some descent size to them that's one thing that'll make them more visible (not a player, just more visible) immediately. A player's athleticism propels them to another level. Speed, quickness, body control, court vision, hops and strength gets them closer to being "a player".

Work Ethic

If you haven't figured it out already "hard work beats talent in the long run". I've seen so many people (not gender or age related) get passed by people who just simply work harder than them. This concept is "life" in general.

IQ

The wicked cross over means nothing if you can't read the 2nd and 3rd defender. If your team is down late in a ball game AND in the bonus; understanding that you need to draw fouls to give yourself an opportunity to score points while the clock isn't running. Knowing your personnel, knowing everyone's situation on the court. The IQ list goes on and on but of course this gets the "not so athletic" an opportunity to compete with the athletic players w/o any IQ.

Discipline

"A player" understands that this cross court pass looks tempting but I'm really not sure if I can get it so I'm going to stay home on this one. They also understand this food is pretty good but it's not necessarily what I need to be putting in my body so I'm going to pass. They understand that although I'm tired from working out or practicing that I still need to go home and hit the books. The list goes on and on.

This is a great post I am going to print it for my daughter, I think she will enjoy it too.

[teammom4]

Sorry I yelled...lol! Naw I was trying to rate HL's post with a 5 star but it I was rushing & didn't realize it rates the whole thread...it's deserving. But HL way to put it out there, I thought the work ethic sub top was my favorite, but when I re-read the post they all are equally important!!

[HighLevel]

Sorry I yelled...lol! Naw I was trying to rate HL's post with a 5 star but it I was rushing & didn't realize it rates the whole thread...it's deserving. But HL way to put it out there, I thought the work ethic sub top was my favorite, but when I re-read the post they all are equally important!!

to me. If someone has a great work ethic it strengthens their mentality and as their mentality grows their knowledge (IQ) of the game increases. The discipline comes from the top in my opinion. My definition of "the top" is a player's parent(s) AND coach(s). Kids will only do what they are allowed to do. Of course there's nothing you can do about your height but those other physical attributes are nurtured and conditioned through your hard work.

[teammom4]

Love my girl! I would sign her up, but she would make sure she was there. When she got with her HS coach when she was a rising 9th grader, they were on two-a-days. I would just shake my head at her stickwithitness! I would tell her she could sit one out sometimes, she'd go any way. Her attitude conditioned me to push her when she would hit those walls because she set her bar, and I knew what she was capable of.
As a result, last Saturday was the first day she could sleep in since she's been in summer school at college & instead when her HS team walked in the gym for a 9am game @ 830am, she was already in her new gym sweating bullets on the tail end of her workout, BY HERSELF! You gotta love it!:)

[lboogie]

ROFLMAO.....hey I guess I have been out of NYC for too long.

But to answer your question...the "mentals" are what makes a player a player. Having the mind set that allows you to push yourself beyond your physical limitations to succeed....to run that extra lap, to lift that that extra rep, to stay late after practice because you didn't get in enough quality shots, to look your coach and teammates in the face in an overtime game and say "I got this, just get me the ball"!

I think we all know players that have physical talent but if they are not mentally strong they only go so far. As a coach, I will always take a player that may not have all the physical tools but is rock solid mentally, because that type of player will always find a way to get it done.

[crossover]

To me a "player" is a girl who "GOT GAME"..............meaning, the one who is willing to step-up and compete every night. I have seen a lot of girls with all the talent in the world but are not willing to "take the chance" on the court, whether they succeed of fail. They are not willing to trust their talents and use them in a game situation. The ones who want the ball at the end (HEART & GUTS) and the WILL to "TRY" to win everytime they are out there, those are the special players. Talent is easy to develop with a good trainer............when no-one is pressing you.............but the guts to use the talent on the court, under pressure, and not for the sake of showing off but because it will help your team, that's a player. Add to it a personality that accepts other teammates successes (play-by-play.......game-by-game......shot-by-shot) as if they are her own, and that makes for a really special player.

[bballfan]

Well said, crossover. I definitely agree with your definition of what makes a player a player