Who's on your team?
"Glue guys," the many different types of teammates, and the value of building a diverse team
Shane Battier.
Have you heard the name?
Here’s a few clues:
NCAA Player of the Year
NCAA Champion
2x NBA champion
You still may not know who he is because he was never really the star player. But almost everyone who played with him has described him as the “ultimate glue guy.”
What’s a glue guy?
According to Battier, a glue guy is:
A player who makes everything just work when they’re on the court.
Someone often responsible for organizing fantasy football leagues, team outings, and resolving internal disputes.
Often relied on to do the things nobody notices to help win games.
So what does that look like?
In the 2007-08 season, Battier was a starter for the Houston Rockets. He had become so respected for his detailed film study and preparation that the Rockets gave him access to all of the data the team collected on opposing teams. (this was the early days of using data in sports) As the team prepared to play the San Antonio Spurs, Battier learned that the Spurs top scorer, Manu Ginobli, would be coming off the bench. Battier went to his coach and asked to be kept out of the starting lineup so that he could be subbed in every time Ginobli came into the game so that he could guard him. Daryl Morey, the Rockets general manager, later said, “No one in the NBA does that. No one says put me on the bench so I can guard their best scorer all the time”
That’s what glue does.
In his own words, here’s another example:
“I used to ask really basic questions during film room sessions.
“Coach, can we run through that last set one more time?”
“Hold up coach, which direction do I roll out of this pick?”
“Wait coach, which player is supposed to switch here if the point guard drives?”
“Sorry, can you run through that set just one more time?”
Yeah, I was that guy. Nobody likes that guy. I know that.
But there was always a strategy behind why I did it: I always knew that if I had a certain question about a game plan, there was almost always going to be a younger, less experienced player on the team who had the same question but was too intimidated to speak up. Having that question answered could ultimately pay dividends during a game. If the moment of truth comes and that player is prepared, that’s a plus for our team.
The NBA is a league where, particularly in recent years, everyone judges production based on statistics. That’s fine, I get it. But there are a lot of small things — like asking “dumb” questions — that can’t be adequately measured by conventional stats. There are also plenty of things that are completely unrelated to basketball that most definitely affect a team’s performance.”
“Glue guys” are important whether you’re on an NBA team, corporate team, in a family, or with a non-profit. These are the types of teammates you want around when you’re pursuing something meaningful.
Life is a series of overlapping games with a rotating roster of teammates. We don’t win or lose on our own—life is a team sport.
This week, I’ve been thinking about this question— “who’s on your team?”
Starters, subs, staff, and sports fans
Let’s look at a single player.
Kobe Bryant.
On the court he had four teammates playing alongside him at any given time. These would consist of some combination of starters and substitutes. But these aren’t the only people who contributed to the outcome of the game. By the time Kobe stepped onto the hardwood the coaches, trainers, nutritionists, equipment managers, security, and other staff each played a role in determining whether Kobe could perform to the best of his ability.
What would happen if a trainer hadn’t stretched him out properly before the game?
What if the nutritionist or cook had undercooked something?
What if the weight coach hadn’t pushed him in the weeks leading up to the game?
What if the head coach hadn’t shown him the right game film?
Kobe was a phenomenal athlete.
But he was not a phenomenal athlete on his own.
He didn’t win five rings without teammates.
Ok, so we also need teammates in our own lives. Have you thought about who you are inviting to be part of your team? Sure, we’re not trying to win some grand championship, but we want to live our best life, right? Well, the people you invite along for the ride will have a significant impact on that journey.
A study by Harvard social psychologist Dr. David McClelland found that “the people you habitually associate with determine as much as 95 percent of your success or failure in life.”
That number seems too high. But even if it were lower, it still means the people we choose to bring into our lives impact our trajectory.
You
Anytime I think about others, I default back to asking the question of myself first. If I want “glue guys” around me, then I better be ble to offer that to others as well.
I’ve been thinking about this in regards to my role as a husband and father. Am I the “glue guy” in our family? What would that look like?
It could be organizing family activities.
It could be thoughtfully leading dinner discussions so everyone gets to talk and contribute.
Maybe it’s suggesting a new tradition or ensuring other traditions are maintained.
Out of everything I processed this week around this question about teammates, my biggest takeaway was actually that I need to be a better teammate!
Miscellaneous
There was so much to process with this question and I was sick for a little chunk of the week so I wasn’t able to do as much as I would have liked. Here’s a few more thoughts that I never quite nailed down…
We should be trying to build a team (not an echo chamber). Think about teams where all the players have the same exact skill - it’s not as effective as diversifying the skills and abilities. Think of your team like a puzzle - what pieces are you missing?
“Never associate with those who share your defects—they will reinforce everything that holds you back. Create associations with positive affinities.” (Robert Greene, 48 Laws of Power)
I have a friend visiting who I haven’t seen in about eight years and we have had several amazing conversations that have really lifted me. And there are other teammates who I see regularly who do the same thing. It’s been interesting to think about the way teammates can present themselves at different times in life. We should be willing to let those people come in and wow us with their contributions like we welcome a Ray Allen corner three coming off the bench.
What did I miss?
Do you have any stories or examples to share? Are there other ways to look at this question? I’d love to hear your perspective. Drop a comment or email me directly (kkaldous@gmail.com).