If you analyze successful teams, you’ll find a few common threads. One of the most vital things is that successful teams don’t believe in excuses. I can tell you that we work very hard at being a team of no excuses. We don’t win every game we play and we may not win the NBA Championship, but we are man enough to admit “my fault.” We strongly believe in personal accountability. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rasheed Wallace will immediately admit their mistakes, even if costs them some personal embarrassment. Though it may be tough at times, winners know this is an integral part of any success.
Blaming teammates and coaches is a team killer. Taking personal accountability for your mistakes is a team builder. Winning teams do everything they can to build their team. Losing teams always seem to tear themselves down.
The USA Gold Medal team had “no excuses” as one of their standards — and one of their most important standards, at that. They understood that the opponent would do everything they could to try to tear Team USA down so they certainly didn’t need to do that to themselves.
I have often said that every team has an enemy each night out. You just have to make sure the enemy is not in your locker room! No excuses!!
