Why Letting Your Athlete Fail Is The Best Parenting Move You'll Make

About this episode

Jamal Branch discusses the importance of allowing young athletes to experience failure for their growth in basketball.

Former pro player and current University of Texas at Arlington assistant coach Jamal Branch joins Ashley Roberts on the It’s Just Different Podcast to talk about the realities of youth basketball, AAU culture, recruiting, parenting, and player development. From being the No. 1 player in the country to playing for the Lakers G League team and now coaching at the college level, Jamal shares lessons from every stage of the game. The conversation dives into the transfer portal’s impact on recruiting, the pressures young athletes face today, and why failure is necessary for long-term growth. If you're a parent, coach, athlete, or someone navigating the basketball world, this episode offers honest insight into what actually matters when building a successful basketball journey. About the Guest Jamal Branch is a former professional basketball player and current assistant coach at University of Texas at Arlington. Once ranked the No. 1 player in the country, Jamal played professionally with the Lakers G League organization and has built a strong reputation in player development, recruiting, and mentorship through his work in high school, AAU, and college basketball. About the Host Ashley…

People in this episode

Host: Ashley Roberts

Guest: Jamal Branch

Topics covered

• youth basketball
• AAU culture
• recruiting
• parenting
• player development
• failure
• long-term growth

Keywords

• youth basketball
• AAU
• recruiting
• parenting
• player development
• failure
• coaching

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Texas at Arlington, Lakers G League

More episodes of Its Just Different Podcast

• More Exposure Isn’t Helping Most Athletes Get Recruited · June 9, 2026 · 38 min
• Coaches Don't Want HS Athletes (Not Like Before) · May 26, 2026 · 35 min
• Most Athletes Get Overlooked By College Coaches (And Its Not Because of Talent) · May 19, 2026 · 56 min
• Parents Are Chasing Exposure… And It’s Hurting Their Athlete · May 12, 2026 · 49 min
• Most Athletes Don't Get Recruited.. Heres Why · May 6, 2026 · 59 min
• Parents Are Focused on the Wrong Things (And It’s Costing Their Athlete) · April 28, 2026 · 34 min