Kobe’s Last Stand by Alex Paramo
As a kid, you are usually taught to share, play together, get along and all that good stuff that we seem to forget when we become adults. In team sports, coaches commonly tell their players “there is no I in TEAM.”
In fact the greatest teams have reached the vaunted level of champion by employing the use of team work. In the NBA, watch the Golden State Warriors or the San Antonio Spurs who have practiced the use of team work over decades.
In sports as in society we encounter many selfish people/players. Most often this selfishness becomes a detriment to success of the whole. Even those that dominate the ball (in basketball) need to find a way to make their teammates better i.e. keep them interested in performing with maximum effort. Making your teammates better is a common refrain heard by basketball commentators.
Could Kobe Bryant Have Been Even Better
History recognizes Kobe as a great player with 5 NBA Championships, as well as many awards and accomplishments. I mean has anyone ever scored 60 points in their last game? But could he have been better? Kobe, unlike many noted NBA ball hogs (Moses Malone comes to mind) is a good passer. By good passer I mean he accurately passes the ball and has a great sense of timing. Unfortunately Kobe did not utilize those unique passing skills often enough. Additionally his treatment of his players is notable for his rudeness and use of intimidation tactics.
Kobe did average a respectable 4.7 assists per game but Imagine if Kobe would have dished out a few more dimes? When you are playing ball and you know that at any minute you might get the ball, then your effort increases ten fold on both sides of the court. On the flip-side, when you know you are most likely not going to get the ball then you are not quite invested in the offense, unfortunately. Knowing that you are going to get the ball at some point also builds trust and camaraderie among teammates. Kobe passing the ball more often would have led to good will among his teammates and made his team that much better.
Teamwork in Society
The same can be said of non-sports work settings. The equivalent of passing the ball is passing on responsibilities to others. There are many very capable managers who over achieve but have issues with delegating. Is that a control issue? The most successful managers are those that can get all of their employees invested in the success of the organization. They must be genuine toward each employee, using organizational resources to ensure their needs are met. Teamwork creates success for all and helps the organization reach its goals.
So the next time you are on the court are in the office, pass the rock!
Read more of my series From the Left Field Bleachers.
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Alex Paramo is a native New Yorker of Colombian descent. He is an Author and Co-Founder of Community Publishing. He currently resides in Albuquerque, NM. Read More about him here.
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