Double Pump Collegiate Business Conference August 2006 Universal City, CA

Bill Russell and Bill Walton “Life Lessons from NBA Hall of Famers” 1

- “Practice personal integrity so it’s a movement, not a cause.” – Bill Russell

- If you make $3 a day at work, give them $4 worth of work per day. This gives you job security and allows you to always look a man in the eye and know that you are valuable.

- To be successful, you can’t just be orthodox.

- Russell blocked his 1st 7 shots in his 1st college game and his coach told him to stop leaving his feet on defense. He and his coach did not see eye to eye.

- Never recruit a player or a coach who you do not want to invite to have dinner with your own family- must have integrity.

- When you get confused, listen to the music play! –Bill Walton

- “We used to play for silver, now we play for life.

- Walton’s parents were the most unathletic people on earth. Never recruit a player based solely on genetics.

- Wooden gave Walton a “chance” to play for UCLA. He promised opportunity to develop human qualities, excel academically- but no other promises after every other college coach in the country promised the world.

- Wooden recruited him differently than any other college coach and his parents loved it.

- The ultimate level of your success depends upon your teammates’ ability to excel as well. Must sell recruits on abilities of their future teammates.

- Do not depend on others’ judgements to value your own success.

- For Russell, it was ALL ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIPS- nobody could argue with that when discussing best centers of all time.

- 1967 76ers were the best team of all-time.

- Frank Ramsey- 1st 6th man concept for Celtics. Russell told him to just keep his man off my back and I will take care of all of the rebounding.

- Russell scouted his teammates first every season. Thought it was very important to understand all of his teammates’ strengths and weaknesses. This way, he knew how to help his teammates when they needed it.

Collated by Rob Beveridge – Bevo International Coaching

Double Pump Collegiate Business Conference August 2006 Universal City, CA

- Do whatever you can to make coaching an honorable profession. It’s not about 2 “what can you get away with”.

- He told guards that the #’s on the front of opponent’s jerseys were smaller than the one’s on the back- see the smaller #’s and you are doing your job.

- Red Auerbach was a great listener. He allowed his team to become part owners in team’s success because he wanted feedback.

- Wooden rarely talked about basketball, rather he talked about life.

- To Wooden, it was about skill, timing, and position, not about size and strength. Must out-think people like Steve Nash.

- “It’s the things you learn after you know it all that matters in life.

- Russell- If he was late for practice, the rule was nobody would talk with him and he would be fined. Eventually, he did not practice as he played 46 minutes a night.

- Red always gave his players respect.

- The Celtics are friends for life, friends til death. There was never a clique of friends on the Celtics- they hung out together and did things with entire team.

- “It’s not how or what you teach, it’s the teacher himself.”

- When Russell coached the Sonics, he sent in a tough guy to stop Walton in season opener- hit him right in the face, Sonics came back from down 20 to win game.

- At USF, got into 7 fights during his freshman year. He only had 1 scholarship offer! Times were different, he came from incredible high school with Jackie Robinson.

- His agenda was get a great education and find out how good a player he could become.

- He really worked hard at USF- Be content with your achievements.

- When you are evaluating players, ask yourself this question “CAN HE PLAY?”

- Russell was 10-0 in career game 7 playoff games- amazing! He did not get nervous because he know that “he did not have to play against Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics.”

- Magic was one of the toughest guys to guard because he was unpredictable and always moving. You could never find him.

Collated by Rob Beveridge – Bevo International Coaching

Double Pump Collegiate Business Conference August 2006 Universal City, CA

- Avoid predictability in the playoffs and never dwell on what we did wrong- keep it positive-what did we do well- if you want to win. 3

- Preparation must remain positive.

- He played with his mind, his heart, and he had fun.

- In Wooden’s house, shrines to Abe Lincoln and Mother Theresa. “A game not played for others is not a game:.”

- “Magic was such a great player that he made Kurt Rambis a good player.” Your best players must make other players better.

- How would Coach Wooden deal with ego’s in today’s game? He would select the right players- Nash Robinson Hill Duncan Spurs, etc.

- Biggest differences between Russell and Magic, possibly the 2 best players ever:

o Magic always had the ball, Russell never had the ball, but they both were legendary players for what they did.

Collated by Rob Beveridge – Bevo International Coaching