"My Teammates" - The Sign of Selfishness

I happen to watch a lot of NBA basketball. Teamwork on the court is just like teamwork in the board room. My hometown Detroit Pistons prove their mettle year in and year out. Built on a mantra of unselfishness, the Pistons have appeared in the last five Eastern Conference Finals, winning the NBA Finals in 2004. When any of the Pistons are interviewed, they talk about the team concept, they praise others, and they thank the team collectively. Same with the San Antonio Spurs (4 rings). Have you ever noticed how the new crop of NBA players refers to others on their teams as "my teammates"? Using that term rather than words like "our team" or "the team" or "other players" condescends to the true team players on each squad and exposes their unquestionable selfishness.

Now it's very true that others on their team ARE their teammates. It's the context of the quote that raises eyebrows. Case in point: Dwight Howard. Did anyone see the NBA Dunk Contest during All-Star weekend? Cheryl Miller (aka the best female basketball player who has lived or will ever live), asked "the new Superman" how he got the idea for his red-caped flight to the rack. Dwight said "my teammates came up with the ideas" for his dunks. Can we get names, please? Everyone says that was one of the most creative and dramatic dunks ever, and you can't give the guy who thought of it some credit? Was it Jameer Nelson--the guy who threw you the pass on the Superman dunk and went to chest bump you after you made it and you went the other direction? Now you know why Stan Van Gundy's been calling him out all season.

Dwight Howard - Selfish NBA Player

Who's next on the list? None other than LeBron James. If I had a dime for every time LeBron uses the term, "my teammates" to describe the Cavaliers, I wouldn't have to work. One quote, however, sums up LeBron's selfishness:

"I love sharing the ball with my teammates. I see a lot of things before my teammates see them."

What? So what you're saying is that you love to share the ball with guys who can't see? Yes, LeBron. We are all witnesses.

LeBron James - Selfish NBA Player

Here are the most frequent "my teammates" guys who will never be winners because they condescend to other players rather than honor the team itself (not in any order).

1. Dwight Howard
2. LeBron James
3. Tracy McGrady
4. Amare Stoudemire
5. Kobe Bryant (although much less so in 2007-2008)
6. Allen Iverson (the poster child)
7. Carmelo Anthony (doesn't bode well for Denver's playoff hopes, huh?)

So why did I bring all this up? Because in business--especially entrepreneurship--everything is teamwork. If you want your business to succeed each player on the team MUST set aside his or her ego and work toward the common goal. That old cliche about the "weakest link" still holds. If you have some people like the seven listed here on your team, it might time to ask what team they play for.

Enough said.