Scarcity adds value. Basketball ‘gold’ has value. Theory says gold has value because a limited amount is available for discovery, mining, and extraction.
1) Win a gold medal. When Coach Mike Krzyzewski coached the US Men’s National team, he asked players, before they stood before the gold medal game, to think about the one person most responsible for them being there. Weighty stuff.
2) “The ball is gold.” Value the ball. Long before analytics arrived on the scene, Coach preached taking care of the basketball, shot selection and limiting turnovers. That’s part of how I earned a role, inbounding the basketball.
3) “We’re golden.” That phrase lives in locker rooms. It’s shorthand for confidence, synergy, trust. When a team feels golden, it’s not about flawless execution—it’s about belief that together, they’ll find a way.
4) The Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The coaching version asks, “How does it feel to be coached by me?” As a player, how you treat teammates speaks as to how you want them to treat you.
5) The NBA Cup. The NBA in-season tournament trophy reflects the premium on gold.
6) The Golden Era. Dominant teams like Auerbach’s Celtics, Wooden’s UCLA Bruins, the Jordan-era Bulls, and Auriemma’s UCONN women all earned that respect.
7) The Golden Touch. We live in an era where Steph Curry’s shooting prowess earned him titles and respect.
8) Fool’s Gold. As Shakespeare wrote, “All that glisters is not gold.” Shiny objects aren’t always the real thing. Flashy highlights, empty stats, or teams chasing shortcuts. draw attention but not championships.
Lagniappe. Chris Oliver shows ‘Spain’ versus a zone.
Curious how Spain Pick and Roll action can work vs. a zone defense?
👀 ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/cNefrpdQJt
— Chris Oliver (@BBallImmersion) September 15, 2025
Lagniappe 2. Coach Hacks shares a high volume shooting drill.
My 5 Favorite Team Shooting Drills
In this video sample:
“5 Man 4 Ball” – volume shooting reps
“Tennessee Shooting” – shooting reps simulating your offense pic.twitter.com/QuhMmY8z8h
— Matt Hackenberg (@CoachHackGO) September 14, 2025