There was a notable event at the recent training camp. I’d like to say that I noticed it from the beginning, but I didn’t realize it until it was shared on Twitter.
It marks the beginning of the drill, with Jason Kidd yelling, “Look, let’s go!”
Most notably, Dorian Finney-Smith replied:
Jason Kidd replied: you are correct. Doe, you are right.
I love how Dorian tells J Kidd to stop talking for them on defense and wants to be the defensive leader on the court by communicating with other players…
Another reason why I love durian so much pic.twitter.com/uzM6XuH4zv
—Coopz (@LukaDaGoat) October 8, 2022
This short clip is extraordinary for multiple reasons. The dialogue between the coach and the player is something like every day, right? Wrong.
First, many coaches do not allow the culture in which this situation is possible. Players should do what the coach says instead of asking questions. Especially in front of the whole team and staff. If so, you may be punished in some way. Ultimately, the ego it takes to be an NBA head coach doesn’t usually allow for this kind of humility.
But that’s not how Jason Kidd does it in Dallas. There’s a more human approach to the culture that Kidd has developed here with the help of staff. He focuses on players who subscribe to the culture with the key word accountability. In this culture, everyone understands the role they play, they know exactly what they bring to the table, and each player does everything to avoid letting their team down. In this culture, players do their best for their team without fear of coaching or punishment.
Watch the full clip here.
it’s all about talking
At Dallas, Coach Kidd has developed a culture in which players feel comfortable speaking up and speaking their minds. In this clip, Finney Smith asks Kidd to change his behavior in public.
The clip also shows that last year’s culture, which was all about chemistry and accountability, continues into this year. And it shows that Phinney Smith is the bearer of Jason Kidd’s culture, his second most important player on this team, the leader in my opinion.
Even more amazing, it shows Finney-Smith taking Jason Kidd’s coaching style and correcting the coach himself. And the coach allows it. Kidd clarifies, “You were right, I was wrong.” Finney-Smith reminds Kidd of his own philosophy.
Jason Kidd himself emphasizes that his vision is all about communication.
“It’s about being able to make mistakes and being able to move forward,” he said in January.
“In the last month or two, the guys have been able to talk to each other. The people on the floor are doing a great job of talking about problems, solving problems and making sure it doesn’t happen two or three times in a row, and that’s the way it looks like.
No tough love in Dallas
There is no doubt that Jason Kidd has made the difference for this team. The influence he had on Luca and how he used his own Hall of Fame career to build relationships with him is something Luca has pointed out many times. I’m sure it comes from the heart of
Tim Cato of The Athletic said: He described Kidd’s cultural impact as “the most impressive witnessed last season, better than his deep plays in the playoffs and his performances on the court.”
This is exactly my point. Kidd arrives with a mediocre team centered around generational talent and superstars. This particular star is also a man of high culture chemistry who cares about the people around him.
Previously, however, Jason Kidd was known for his “tough love” coaching style, which was even described as “psychological warfare” when he was with the Bucks.
Kidd reportedly asked the players in front of each other if they deserved to be off on Christmas Eve after the loss. Players voiced their opinions on the matter, but Kidd scheduled a 9 a.m. practice anyway, and at one point even called former Bucks player Larry Sanders a “st” and a “terrible player.”
But Kidd’s approach has since changed, and he’s come to Dallas with a different vision. His approach seems gentler, more inclusive, and grounded in player ownership. And if you suspect he’s up front, I can say it bluntly: You can’t fool a team as a head coach. otherwise it wouldn’t have happened.
Great culture is the last unquantifiable aspect that most teams aspire to have, and only a few can do it. It’s something that can go just a little further than their talent allows on paper. But will the Mavericks be able to repeat that success this season, or even improve on last season’s success? I’m here.
The Mavericks are more than the sum of their parts now, and that’s what makes them exciting to watch.
Check out last week’s Maverick Feeling here.
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