Making players the CEOs of their own development with Hornets assistant coach Josh Longstaff
This week, Woj sits down with Charlotte Hornets assistant coach Josh Longstaff to go inside the high-stakes world of NBA player development.
Longstaff, a rising name in the coaching ranks, shares the lessons he learned in the trenches of Oklahoma City, where he helped mold three future Hall of Famers, and explains the radical “CEO” culture he is now building alongside Charles Lee in Charlotte.
Josh and Woj discuss:
“He Would Test Me”: The raw honesty required to earn the respect of a young Russell Westbrook and the moment Longstaff realized that truth is a coach’s greatest currency.
The Soul of Development: Why the Hornets’ “holistic” approach reaches far beyond the court, focusing on mental performance, nutrition, and the “whole person.”
The CEO Mindset: How Charlotte empowers young stars like Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball by putting them at the head of the table (literally) to own their professional growth.
Mentoring Icons: What it was like to witness the daily, obsessive work habits of a young Kevin Durant and James Harden.
The Head Coaching Path: Longstaff’s transition from the video room to leading an expansion G League franchise.
We’ll see you next week for episode fourteen of The Program.
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1:00 – Welcome Josh Longstaff: Career path from Bryant to the NBA.
1:55 – What is “Holistic” Development? Beyond the on-court drills.
3:34 – The Charlotte Vision: Partnership between Ownership, Front Office, and Staff.
5:14 – The “CEO” Strategy: Empowering Brandon Miller and the Hornets’ young core.
7:25 – Individualizing the Plan: Integrating Sports Science and Nutrition.
9:00 – The OKC “PhD”: Lessons from a young KD, Russ, and James Harden.
10:48 – Earning Respect: How a young coach builds trust with NBA Superstars.
12:35 – The Westbrook “Tests”: The value of truth and honesty in the film room.
14:26 – G League Head Coaching: Managing a staff and the “spinning head” of the big seat.
17:15 – Habits and Consistency: Coach Steve Clifford’s Vegas Summer League story.
19:28 – The Mindset Factor: Why the Hornets draft for mentality.
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