In the future after being introduced as the brand new head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, Natalie Nakase sat down for a brief speak with Swish Attraction.
You’re recognized on your behavior of taking notes. The place did it come from?
It’s as a result of I can’t keep in mind issues (snigger)… However critically, there are 5 forms of studying and I’m a visible learner, so I’ve at all times been taking notes. I’ve discovered that once I watch one thing or take heed to one thing, whether or not it’s a sport or a drill, I can keep in mind it higher and return to it a lot simpler once I write issues down. Ever since I used to be a younger coach, I took plenty of notes. I wrote every part down.
What’s the primary distinction between working with ladies and with males?
There’s none. Each really feel the identical stress, each want observe and repetition. The way in which they reply to teaching has nothing to do with them being both males or ladies. As a coach, I’ve to verify I deliver within the gamers that may execute the objective of profitable a championship. I feel the larger distinction is between common season and postseason video games.
Having the help of the Golden State Warriors, how a lot of a problem do you assume establishing a profitable tradition might be? Do you are feeling that the construction might be a bonus or it would add additional stress to your job?
Oh, positively no stress, it’s a bonus. Who wouldn’t need to stroll into a company that already has the blueprint, the profitable tradition, the profitable folks round? Joe Lacob (majority proprietor of the Warriors and Valkyries) stated, “I’m going to offer you the observe facility, I’m going to offer you a locker room within the Chase Middle.” We’re taking part in in the identical enviornment because the Warriors! To me, that’s a setup for fulfillment. I see it as an entire constructive and a bonus.
You bought your first head teaching job in Germany. What teaching classes did you get working with ladies there?
I actually didn’t need to coach immediately. I injured my knee once more and so I wanted a job. So, let’s begin teaching. However I used to be so younger and I nonetheless wished to play. I assume the lesson at that age was simply being prepared for something, prepared for the subsequent stage of your life. I used to be actually fortunate to get, you recognize, a possibility in the identical league that I used to be teaching. So really taking part in in it, I already did my scouting as a result of, you recognize, I already knew the gamers and training in Germany was only a actually nice expertise. I didn’t have a giant workers. It was only a gentleman that volunteered within the metropolis, which I used to be very grateful for, however actually it was simply me and him. It actually taught me easy methods to belief myself and consider in myself.
Can we are saying that the harm was type of a blessing in disguise, which means it it taught you easy methods to see the sport in another way? I’m clearly not speaking in regards to the ache and the rehab, simply the truth that you have been sitting on the bench as an alternative of being the playmaker and you bought to see how the sport unfolded.
Yeah, I assume you would say that, however I nonetheless beloved basketball and I nonetheless love taking part in and, as any athlete is aware of, that simply by no means goes away. Once you finish taking part in, it’s nearly like a slight melancholy has simply occurred. It’s actually unhappy since you’re not capable of get on the court docket and compete and sweat. I assume you would say now, trying again, it was a blessing in disguise, however I want I may have performed 10 extra years, to be trustworthy.
How did taking part in the purpose guard place affect your teaching? As a degree guard, you’re the extension of the coach, proper? So was that mind-set and seeing the sport at all times there while you began taking part in?
I feel it’s an enormous purpose why I’m teaching, as a result of you have got already taken half in huddles the place you’re the one who’s speaking. You’re the one who’s directing, as a degree guard, throughout the video games. I’m saying, “Properly, after free throw, we’re working this.” So principally, such as you stated, you’re the extension of the coach. You’re the coach. For [the Las Vegas Aces] Chelsea Grey was the coach. When you see one thing and also you name it, as a result of gamers see it quicker than coaches, they see it quicker as a result of they’re really in it. So for me, I feel that that was the rationale why I grew to become a coach. Similar factor as Becky Hammon. We’re each level guards and we already knew easy methods to management huddles. We knew easy methods to inspire. We knew easy methods to encourage, we knew easy methods to be there for our gamers.
And what your gamers might count on from you when coaching camp opens? Will you stroll by means of the door together with your championship rings in your fingers as motivation?
No, no, no, no, no. As a result of they obtained to earn it. They must earn it. Nothing is given to them and that’s going to be one thing that they’re going to know from the beginning. It is extremely arduous to win a championship. Don’t even take the rings out of the field. They simply sit there within the room. We’re going to be actually organized and we’re going to begin with protection. We’re going to hold our hat on protection—the drills, our breakdown of how we’re going to assault groups after which in all probability present [the players] plenty of movie in the direction of the tip, simply to see. After which we’ll transfer to the offense.
