The great Dean Smith was the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heel basketball team from 1961-1997. Smith had a rule that everyone who played for him followed, and that continues today at Carolina.
When you make a basket after getting a pass from a teammate, you point to the person who passed you the ball. This quick act of gratitude and acknowledgement highlights what’s necessary to be a good teammate. People who share the ball, who are looking not for their own glory but for the player with the best chance to score, receive accolades for their generosity.
Pointing to the passer creates a culture that values the team over the individual. It means all five people on the court are seeking what’s best for the group, seeing more possibilities and options than they would if they were searching for only themselves.
How can you point to the passer in your work?
