How To Build a Championship Basketball Team

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Every year a champion emerges from the NBA. 

Each year, another team has that right balance of chemistry, team spirit, talent, and coaching to bring the team to the top. 

As a middle school basketball coach, I have had the pleasure of coaching this great sport, and the way to make a winner is universal from middle school to high school to college to the NBA. 

5.  Have an intelligent and strategic coach

Having a great coach is a no brainer.  A coach has to be able to adjust to game situations and be willing to adjust his offensive system from game to game. 

Being knowledgeable as to what plays and players will counteract other teams players and plays is essential. 

However, some coaches can have success with talented players, even if the coach lacks in game skills.  Stan Van Gundy is a prime example of this.  He has talented players in Orlando, and yet he does not have the sense to utilize his talent. 

4. Have a Go-to Guy

Kobe Bryant.  LeBron James.  Carmello Anthony.  Dirk Nowitzki.  Ray Allen.  Dwayne Wade.  Chris Paul.

These names strike fear into the hearts of all NBA opponents.  In the fourth quarter when you need a big run or a big score, these guys get you going.  When your offense is struggling and you need a spark.  These guys get you going. 

Every team needs a go to guy.  If not, you can let big leads dissipate and be unable to make comebacks of your own.  Usually, this player is also your team leader on the court.  EVERY champion has one of these on their team. 

3. You must have depth at every position

Go to guys can come in a wide variety of flavors.  Some are forwards, some are guards, and there can be a few centers here and there. 

Take those away though, and you have to have a talented core around the player.  To me, this is the order of importance in position.

A-Point Guard

The Current Prototype: Chris Paul

Necessary Skills:  Must be an incredible ball handler.  Must be the best passer on your team and avoid turnovers.  Should be able to dribble penetrate to create open shots for the guards and forwards.  Should be very quick, and defend well.

A good point guard should have a wide variety of ball fakes and fade moves to create shots.

Secondary Skills:  Should be able to be a shooting threat.  Hopefully, a great point guard can play like a shooting guard to create points.  You would also hope that the point guard has great leadership skills.

The point guard is the quarterback of your team.  He should be the person who calls plays, and the ball always goes through this player.  He should be able to produce points in the lane.  Championship teams always have championship point guard play.

B-Center

The Current Prototype: Dwight Howard

Necessary Skills:  A Center must be tall AND strong.  Just being tall is not enough to be a center.  If you are a little weaker, you are a power forward.  Must have a plethora of post moves to compliment his rebounding, blocking, and interior defense.

Should be a good dunker/lay-up shooter.  Needs to be able to establish position inside the paint by using his body and his strength.  Must be a good passer with excellent vision.

Secondary Skills:  It is a luxury to have a center who can shoot outside the paint.  (See Brad Miller, Yao Ming, and Big Z.) 

A center is a critical component to any team.  Not because of plays that run through him, but because of the play extensions a center can bring to a team.  Rebounds, put backs, easy buckets, the inside/outside strategy for the guards to get open threes, and drawing a double team are all things that a dominant center can bring to your team. 

My suggestion:  Find this piece first if your are building a team, regardless of level.     

C-Shooting Guard

The Current Prototype: Kobe Bryant

Necessary Skills: Must be a shooting assassin from all ranges.  Must be able to dribble off screens and split double teams.  Should be an excellent passer.  Usually the top defender of the team.  

Secondary Skills:  Should be able to run the point.  Should be able to dribble penetrate and be aggressive towards the rim. 

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