About this episode

Mike Neighbors discusses his transition from college to professional coaching and shares insights on player development and coaching strategies in women's basketball.

Mike Neighbors, assistant coach for the LA Sparks, shared his insights on transitioning from college to professional coaching, emphasizing the importance of pace, player development, and feedback loops in the WNBA. Neighbors discussed his philosophy on assistant coaching, highlighting the need for clear communication and alignment with players' roles. He also touched on the challenges and opportunities in women's basketball, including the impact of social media and financial pressures on young players. The conversation covered Neighbors' approach to defensive strategies, practice efficiency, and the evolving role of analytics in coaching. The episode concluded with Neighbors expressing his excitement about joining the Dallas Wings and continuing to contribute to the growth of women's basketball. Episode Breakdown: 01:46 College to WNBA: Why the Transition Felt Like Being a Rookie Again 03:06 Assistant Coach Best Practices: The 5 Things You Want / 5 Things You Don’t 09:30 Sustaining a 30-Year Coaching Career (and What Happens When You Lose a Job) 12:17 Playing Fast the Right Way: Pace, Shot Quality, and Transition Defense 15:54 When to Tap the Brakes: Turnovers, Bad Shots, and…

People in this episode

Host: Chris Oliver

Guest: Mike Neighbors

Topics covered

• coaching transitions
• player development
• women's basketball
• analytics in coaching
• defensive strategies

Keywords

• coaching
• WNBA
• player development
• analytics
• women's basketball

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: LA Sparks, Dallas Wings

Places: WNBA

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