Lesson Learned?

This time around, it appears the men’s USA Basketball Team may have learned it’s lesson regarding the importance that team chemistry plays in achieving success.

In 2004, Team USA earned the nickname “LeBronze” after failing to beat Puerto Rico, Argentina and Lithuania and earned only a Bronze Medal, despite being loaded with talented players like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dewayne Wade and Allen Iverson.

Great teams are not made of talent alone. Ask the 2004 Puerto Rican team with no stars but lots of chemistry that embarrassed Team USA on world-wide television with a 19-point thrashing.

A team that likes each other, interacts well with each other, and trusts each other will be cooperative, communicative, and honest. They will be willing to play for each other in order to accomplish the team goals.

A team that has personality clashes will be ineffective. Every member of the team might be talented... but because a few players on the team rub each other the wrong way they will accomplish little if anything at a group level. Each player alone might be dynamite, but as a team they will fail without commitment to each other.

There will be no synergy, no trust, and no loyalty within the team even if these individuals want to win. Panama City Christian’s team two seasons ago was a perfect example of this. On paper, they were the favorite to win the conference title. They had four experienced senior starters and they had size…but they couldn’t play together as a team. On the other hand, Covenant had nine new girls (three of which were eighth-graders) and they played for each other.

When there is great chemistry, these brilliant talents will explode with excellence. Their commitment to one another will empower the group to excel beyond expectations.

It is how the individual players intersect and interact that distinguishes a good team from a collection of good players. Modern sports history proves it. From the New England Patriots, to the San Antonio Spurs, to the Chicago White Sox – teammates that are committed to each other win championships.

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