Becky Hammon Quotes

I have to know the characteristics of the players. I have to adapt myself to the characteristics of the championship and the players. Now I study my players.

I think it's the hardest part for about 80 percent of the guys in the NBA. That's just the way it is in the NBA, unless you're a mega superstar. You're just going to play wherever you go. You try to find the right fit and the right team with the right system and the right coach at the right time.

When I played with the Knicks, I was just as important or just as smart as any other of the guards I played with. I still had to call out plays, notice schemes, know the systems, do everything they had to do.

The NBA has made a real issue about really making these superstars the premium that everybody wants to go to. That's their calling card and their marketing tool. But the coaches at the other end of the sphere are trying to make everybody on the team, even nine, 10, 11, 12, just as important, and have a real role that's meaningful.

When I went to the Dolphins, we retained most of their coaching staff, and of course, we had a few veteran players. So, I just tried to add a few pieces here and there.

I didn't realize the difference between coaching college and coaching the NBA. It's a totally different animal.

Normally, the coach does not like to make changes that are not necessary - because a team has to find itself.

People asked me, 'Why aren't you doing something more important?' When I was doing well in the D-League, they were like, 'Why can't you get an NBA job? Or a college job?' I don't think people thought much of what I was doing. That's fine. I was learning. Not just X's and O's, but team dynamics.

We have to talk about the players we have.

As a coach, you have to play to how your team is built.

People talk about tactics, but when you look at it, tactics are just players. You change things so that the team can get the most out of the skills they have to offer, but you don't go any further than that.

It's important to know as much as I can about the players.

As a player, I had no idea whatsoever about getting a team ready for a game, what it entails.

Whenever you are coaching, you are trying to get the most balanced team that you can: balance between defense, offense, and rebounding.

I thought I could go into Cardiff, but different clubs have different cultures, different playing styles and philosophies. I'm more suited to the other jobs I've had.

Any new coach takes about six months to adjust to the system, and players also need time to understand his methods.

The team evolves over time, and players need replacing.

Us coaches love to have as many players available as possible.

People often talk about a coach's philosophy, but generally, I think managers look at the players they have and then decide on their style.

I didn't get a training camp in Chicago. I was behind a lot in the plays, in the team's chemistry. Everything in the organization was going in a different direction.

I have a lot of admiration for those who build tactical systems, but I always thought the most important thing a good coach must do is build the team around the characteristics of his players.

It's been tough throughout my career having different coaches and different philosophies, different style of plays throughout this entire time.

There are small things that every coach brings when they go to a new team. Like, you need to press this way or the other way.

Why does it get assumed that Zidane is a figurehead and everything Real achieve is down to the talent of the squad?

It's no good if you are at a so-called best team, but you sit on a bench.