Secrets Behind Celtics’ Player Development: Brain Research & 'Making Players Fail'

How did the Boston Celtics come to build what may be the best player enhancement/development staff in the NBA? Craig Luschenat, Director of Player Enhancement for the Celtics, joins the podcast to discuss some of the behind-the-scenes secrets that has led to the recent development of a long list of impactful players, from Luke Kornet and Sam Hauser, to Jordan Walsh and Neemias Queta, to Baylor Scheierman and Ron Harper Jr., and a list that continues to this day. Luschenat reveals that a lot of it has to do with how the brain works and forms new neural connections. That’s why Boston’s staff leverages its youth and creativity to make players fail as much as possible on the practice court.

00:00: What is player enhancement/development?

02:30: Balancing team needs vs. player growth

03:30: Developing younger players vs. older players

04:45: How the Celtics build out an individual plan for each player

07:00: Explanation of different types of film sessions

09:00: Establishing a plan, and then putting it into action

13:45: How do the Celtics tweak players’ shooting form?

16:00: How the Celtics challenge elite shooters like Sam Hauser

16:45: What a day and week looks like for players

19:15: What has led to the establishment of this culture?

20:45: Explaining what player enhancement meetings entail

22:10: Craig Luschenat’s big breaks and how he got to the NBA

22:40: All of the people involved with player enhancement each day

View From The Rafters is presented by @xfinity

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