Sometimes, even the most dominant performers need help with fundamentals.
In Phil Jackson’s Eleven Rings (2013), there’s a story about Shaquille O’Neal that stuck with me—not because of the championships or highlight reels, but because of what it revealed about coaching, leadership, and the power of bringing in a specialist.
It was the 2000–2001 NBA season. Shaq had just come off an MVP year and his first championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was unstoppable in the paint. But his free-throw shooting—a long-standing weakness—had become a major liability.
In December of that season, Shaq went 0-for-11 at the free-throw line in a single game, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record for futility. The situation got so bad that fans sent Phil Jackson amulets and crystals to help. Even Shaq’s 3-year-old daughter offered tips. Assistant coach T…
