How is Kobe Bryant A Leader Teacher?
NBA LAKERS STAR KOBE BYANT
You might not think the NBA is a place where the Leaders As Teachers approach is practiced, or effective. Think again!
A Spike Lee documentary, “Doin’ Work”, that aired on ESPN in May, 2009, featured the personal narrative of NBA star Kobe Bryant during a game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Lee created a cocoon of cameras and microphones around Bryant to capture strategy in the locker room, his narrative to orchestrate chess-match-like moves out on the court, and sideline coaching sessions with team members where he shares analysis of the Spur’s tactics.
Bryant noted how basketball, like a business, depends on data analysis to assess and gain insights on competitors.
“You don’t disguise your calls. (Plays the team will run.) There’s so much scouting and filming, teams know what you’re going to run. They know what moves I like. But it’s about coming up with counters for that. There are so many levels of execution. It’s always a new puzzle; a new game.”
Bryant’s role is very similar to one of a senior executive with deep experience and a keen ability to foresee how a strategy is likely to play out. The documentary captured his continual teaching and coaching throughout the game as he helped teammates anticipate offensive threats, and suggested positioning and moves to counter opponents.
“Making your teammates better is instilling in them the same preparation that you had, and helping them see the same things that you see on the court. That’s how you make them better permanently,” Bryant said.
No words could make a better case for the Leader As Teachers approach.
Arguably one of the best basketball players in today’s NBA, Bryant realizes victory doesn’t come at the hands of a single super star. “In the past I would have to score 35 – 40 points just to keep us competitive. Now I don’t have to do that. I’m more of a compass; making sure we’re going in the right direction. Making sure we’re executing well.”
2 Comments
Kobe is a great basketball player but the comment that you are using is very cliche. Most athletes speak in cliches and what he said is repeated by hundreds of other players (Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Donavan McNabb, Lebron, Michael Jordan).
I felt you could have got the same point across without using someone that was accused, albeit aquitted, of rape.
How inappropriate to use an individual so closely aligned with the sexual abuse of women. Leader…..not in my book. More like an excuse to be an entertainment forum versus providing a model and/or structure for effective learning leaders.