🏆 16 Point Loss... and This Is What You’re Mad About?

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💭 ONE THOUGHT
16 Point Loss… and This Is What You’re Mad About?

The Real Problem Wasn’t the Layup.
Last Saturday, the Minnesota Timberwolves were up 14. The game was over.

Short-handed.
Down two starters.
Without their superstar.
And they still found a way to win.

At the end of the game, Denver took a late shot (they could have held it).

There was a rebound.
A throw ahead.
A simple layup by Jaden McDaniels with 1.1 seconds left.

Nothing flashy. Nothing disrespectful. Just… a layup. "
And sure, he didn’t need to do it. The game was over.

It was what came next that I want to talk about…

Nikola Jokić sprinted the length of the floor to confront Jaden McDaniels at the Timberwolves bench.

Postgame comments followed.
“Unwritten rules.”
“It shouldn’t have been done.”

And then Nuggets Coach, David Adelman, said this, "I didn't like what McDaniels did. The game was over...in 2026 that stuff just doesn't happen anymore that's something that happens in the 80s where teams would continue to score, but that's who he is.”

And that’s where this becomes a leadership lesson.
Because the real problem wasn’t the layup.

You just lost the game.

You turned the ball over, didn’t execute, missed shots, and didn’t respond when you had an advantage.

And this is what you’re talking about?
In my opinion, that’s a losing mindset.

What you choose to focus on and say after adversity becomes your culture.

You can:

1. Focus on what you can’t control
→ Opponents
→ Officials
→ Injuries
→ “Unwritten rules.”
→ “These things don’t happen in 2026.”

Or…

2. Focus on what actually matters
→ Execution
→ Effort
→ Decisions
→ Toughness
→ Preparation

You don’t get both.

This is where teams quietly lose their edge. Not in the game. But in the response.

Because when leaders allow:

They give their team an out.

And once players feel that, accountability drops, standards drop, and so does winning.

Flip the script. Immediately. Walk into the locker room and say:

“We got beat. Own it. This isn't about a layup at the end of the game. We put ourselves in that position. If that upsets you, use it as motivation to focus and be ready for our next game. Our goal is simple: win the next game. That’s it.”

No distractions.
No excuses.
No side stories.

Just truth. Because truth builds toughness. That moment could’ve been used as:

Instead, it became a shield. And shields don’t build great teams.

If you don’t want a team to score late, stop them. If you don’t like how the game ended, play better earlier.

That’s it.
No gray area.

Adversity doesn’t just test your team.
It tests your leadership.

Because in those moments, everyone is watching:

What do you emphasize?
What do you allow?
What do you excuse?

And over time, this becomes your culture.

Reflection for Coaches:

After your last tough loss…

What did you focus on first?
And what did your team learn from it?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this as well.
Reply to share…

Be great!
- Greg

P.S. The hardest part of coaching isn’t the game. It’s everything around it—communication, culture, leadership, and handling moments like this the right way.

That’s exactly why I built Better Coach OS.

Right now it’s discounted… but that won’t last long.
In May, I’m adding The Parent Communication Playbook to it.

👉 Get it now, and you’ll get that included when it drops.

📜 GREAT QUOTE

🔗 LINKS FOR LEADERS

🎥 Video: Coach K - Leadership Essentials [LINK]

🆇 ICYMI: “You can’t unscramble eggs!” [LINK]

📰 Article: The 3 Secrets of Resilient People

👀 LOOKING FOR MORE?

Contact Me: Greg Berge, [email protected]