Part of education is “memorizing” equations and concepts like the Pythagorean Theorem. What equations might work for basketball and life?
The Achievement Equation
Achievement = Performance x Time
Great careers inform a “standard of performance” over an extended time. Sometimes a performance is so noteworthy, like Roger Bannister’s eclipsing the four-minute mile barrier that a single event becomes iconic. The record evolved from years of performance and training.
The Outcome Equation
E + R = O
The event plus the response equals the outcome.
Urban Meyer promoted the Outcome Equation in his Above the Line. Whatever our opinion of Coach Meyer and his struggles, his book is excellent. Preparation drives response.
The Compounding Equation
Leverage the benefits of incremental gains. Tiny improvements over extended periods have powerful consequences.
Gladwell’s Achievement Equation
ACHIEVEMENT = TALENT + PREPARATION
“The magic is in the work.”
Thomas Keller’s Cooking Equation
Cooking = Time + Temperature
Time is self-explanatory. Temperature is intensity. Have the discipline to bring intensity to our arena. As Coach Dave Smart says, “Excellent teams play harder for longer. There’s also a “cook through” effect, as some ‘cooking’ continues after the dish is removed from the heat.
Escape Velocity
Basketball coaches seldom come with a physics background. However, the “escape velocity” equation has basketball relevance.
Excellence requires attaining escape velocity from the distractions that defeat us. And escape requires direction and fuel. Think about MASS and DISTANCE. Mass increases escape velocity and DISTANCE reduces it.
Examine three players who applied this formula to achieve greatness.
Michael Jordan told North Carolina assistant coach Roy Williams that he would work as hard as any player ever had to be the best Tarheel ever. Williams responded that he had to work HARDER than anyone had to become the best.
Bill Walton was a free spirit at UCLA. But Coach John Wooden explained that Walton never tired of repeating what was necessary to achieve elite footwork that propelled him to a magnificent college career.
A banker’s son, Bill Bradley wasn’t the most elite athlete. But at age twelve he embarked on full time training, three hours daily and eight hours on Saturday to hone his basketball skills. The Princeton phenom led his team to the Final Four, set a scoring record in the NCAA consolation game, won two NBA Championship with the Knicks, and became a Rhodes Scholar and US Senator.
Lagniappe. Mastery
Lagniappe 2. Coaching analogies are everywhere. Coaches don’t treat everyone equally and need to treat everyone fairly. Players see everything.
The Miami Marlins had “Bring Your Pup to the Park” day and one dog got caught on TV casually enjoying a hot dog, while the dog behind him stared like he was witnessing the greatest injustice of his life pic.twitter.com/81nnVaWZBM
— Dudes Posting Their W’s (@DudespostingWs) June 23, 2026
Lagniappe 3. Pep talks.
