by Alan Stein 06-15-2009 01:19 AM
June is always one of my favorite months of the year because of the NBA Finals and the NBA Draft. The buzz surrounding the pre-draft combine and individual team workouts is always intense. I have been extremely fortunate to have helped numerous players prepare for the draft the last several years; highlighted by back to back #2 overall picks Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley. This year, I had the pleasure of working with a fantastic group of talented players: Stephen Curry (Davidson), Tywon Lawson (UNC), Greivis Vasquez (Maryland), Josh Heytvelt (Gonzaga), Jack McClinton (Miami), Wes Matthews (Marquette), and Ater Majok (Connecticut).
While I certainly worked with some guys more than others, I got to spend quality time with each of these guys and really enjoyed getting to know them. I was honored for the opportunity to help them achieve their dreams. I wish them all the absolute best and will be glued to the TV on draft night from my hotel in Orlando (my schedule allowed me to attend the draft in 2007; but this year I will be working the Vince Carter Skills Academy).
I also want to mention that I have known and been working with Greivis since he was in 11th grade at Montrose Christian. I met him the first day he arrived in the United States. I always knew there was something very special about him. He may get a bad rap from some folks because of his flamboyancy and flare; but G is without question, one of the most dedicated, sincere, and amazing young men I have ever worked with. And he is hands down the most competitive. And for anyone who saw him record a triple double and beat #1 ranked UNC this year, he obviously has the potential to be a big time player. I also want to note Greivis has been extremely mature and professional about the entire NBA draft process and is weighing all of his options with an open mind. He has not signed with an agent and is leaving open the possibility of returning to Maryland (same goes for Ater Majok with UConn). They have until June 15th to decide.
The reason I am able to work with these guys is because the DC area is home to many of the NBA’s top agents, many of which I have established a solid professional relationship (and friendship) with over the past several years. These agents usually give their clients the option of moving to DC for anywhere from two to six weeks to train. When they do move here, all they do is eat, sleep, and train! It is a strength coach’s dream! They work with me several times a week and work with a skills coach on individual player development every day; honing their ball handling, shooting, and an arsenal of offensive moves and skills. While we (the skills coaches and I) don’t have the notoriety of some of the other more established pre-draft training programs and facilities, we get the job done, and our players are always very well-prepared.
Prepared for what you ask? We prepare them for one of the most grueling months of their lives. Some players work out for as many as 15 teams prior to the draft! And the workouts can be brutal. They are usually an hour and half to two hours long and are extremely intense. Most of the time guys are going against several other players within their draft range; so the competition is fierce. Intense workouts, demanding interviews, and constant travel can really wear them down. But that’s that nature of the NBA, so they need to get used to it!
It is also my job to prepare them for the NBA combine, which just took place two weekends ago in Chicago. I understand why they do the combine, and the NBA strength coaches who implement the testing, do an extraordinary job and collect very accurate date. But in my opinion, the combine is a totally overrated part of the draft process and the numbers themselves do very little in predicting success on the court.
Don’t believe me? Two years ago, Kevin Durant scored poorly overall (including the inability to bench press 185 even once). DJ Strawberry ranked the highest overall; posting the best scores across the board. The result? KD was drafted 2nd overall, won Rookie of the Year, and was the league’s 4th leading scorer last year. DJ was drafted at the end of the 2nd round and is no longer in the league. Their fates were the exact opposite of the combine numbers! And please know, I am not knocking DJ at all. I just want to make the point that the combine tests do not correlate to success on the court. I had the pleasure of working with DJ several times when he was at Maryland. He is an outstanding basketball player and a great guy, and I am sure he will earn his way back into the league if that is his goal.
Using the combine tests as a barometer is full of faulty logic. Just look at the bench press. Having long arms is a huge disadvantage when bench pressing. The longer your arms, the farther you have to move the weight. That is why the world’s best bench pressers have arms like a Tyrannosaurus Rex and big barrel chests! Yet having long arms is a distinct advantage on the court – makes you a more formidable defender and helps with getting your shot off. So what do you want, someone with long arms or short arms? I have bench pressed 185 lbs as many as 25 times before, which is more than anyone at this year’s combine, including the projected #1 pick Blake Griffin. Anyone think I should be drafted?
On the topic of faulty logic, let’s examine it from another perspective. Each of the combine tests are closed skills. By definition, closed skills are “performed with a pre-determined starting point and finish. They do not require the central nervous system to process feedback from external stimuli in order to properly perform the movement.” Too scientific? Closed skills do not require the player to react, which is an integral ingredient in basketball. Also, closed skills can be practiced, over and over for thousands of repetitions, until the nervous system has “memorized” the movement. Meaning yes, if you run through the pro lane agility a million times before the combine, you will improve your score. But is that time well spent? Does having a fast pro lane agility time mean you are quicker on the court? Nope on both accounts.
While the combine tests are closed skills, basketball is a game of open skills. Open skills “require the player to process information from external stimuli and react accordingly. The player must take this external information, such as the movement of an offensive player, process it, and then produce appropriate movements.” I know, too technical, sorry. Whether going for a rebound, guarding an offensive player, or cutting to the basket to catch a pass, basketball is predicated on being able to read and react! Basketball is a game of open skills! So why are we testing players with a battery of closed skill tests?
Bottom line is this: the combine tests do not measure reaction, anticipation, basketball IQ, competitiveness, leadership, or toughness – all of which are traits that will dictate how successful a player will be at the next level. Examining all of the aspects of the entire draft process, the combine tests should end up very low on the totem pole of importance.
My next blog will be a follow up to this one and will take a look at the role of training for the combine tests, a few quick thoughts on vertical jump, and a quick look back at some recent draft successes and busts!
In the meantime please check it out and subscribe to www.YouTube.com/StrongerTeamDotCom, and check out the latest exercise of the week. And if you want the inside scoop on the summer training scene, as well as daily inspirational quotes, follow me on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/AlanStein.
Train hard. Train smart.
Alan Stein
www.StrongerTeam.com
Alan Stein is the owner of Stronger Team and the Head Strength & Conditioning coach for the nationally renowned, Nike Elite Montrose Christian Mustangs boy’s basketball program. Alan is a performance consultant for Nike Basketball as well heavily involved with Nike SPARQ Basketball. He is the head conditioning coach for the annual McDonald’s All American game, the Jordan Brand All American Classic, and the Nike Summer Skills Academies. Alan is a Camp Coach at the prestigious NBA Player’s Association’s Top 100 Camp as well as the Chris Paul CP3 Elite Backcourt Camp. Alan has filmed over a dozen DVD’s on improving performance and is a sought after lecturer at basketball camps and clinics across the world. He has been featured in Winning Hoops, Time Out, Dime, SI.com, SLAMonline.com, American Basketball Quarterly, Stack, Men’s Health, and FIBA Assist Magazine.
Published 06-14-2009 © 2026 Access Athletes, LLC
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