Ep. 322 David Thorpe pt. 2, The Godfather of Player Development

This week Coach Brendan Suhr continues the conversation with David Thorpe—widely regarded as the “Godfather of Player Development”—and the two dive even deeper into what it actually takes to help players grow and succeed at every level.

Thorpe breaks down the daily habits that separate real developers from drill collectors, why ball handling is non-negotiable for every position, and the simple truths young players must embrace to earn trust. He also shares his blueprint for what an NBA player development staff should look like, why so many programs miss the mark, and how great coaches keep players grounded—especially when they’re struggling.

The conversation closes with powerful insight on the assistant coach role. This episode is truly a masterclass in building players—and building a staff that actually develops them.

All that and more on episode 322 of the Coaching U Podcast presented by Noah Basketball.

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