The 3 Tenets of Be Like David

A Blueprint For True Development

written by Coach Robert

In the world of basketball, development often gets overshadowed by competition. Many players focus on winning rather than mastering the game itself. At Be Like David Basketball, we emphasize a different approach—one that fosters lifelong improvement and deep understanding. This philosophy is built on three fundamental tenets:

Learn ➡ Study ➡ Apply.

These tenets form the core of the Davidian Method, a structured way to break down the game into its essential components: skills, maneuvers, and tools. Let’s dive into each tenet and how they transform the way players develop.

Tenet 1: Learn – Identify a Problem or Purpose on the Court

The first step to improvement is awareness. Too often, players avoid acknowledging their weaknesses, thinking that ignoring them will make them disappear. But in reality, development only happens when we confront our problems head-on.

For example, if a player struggles to get to the basket, that’s a clear problem. The knowledge needed to overcome this problem is a skill—such as using The Turn, beating a defender to the block, or baseline. Within that skill, there are maneuvers—such as continuing in the same direction or changing directions.  An example of a maneuver is a crossover being used to change directions uphill or downhill.

Tenet 2: Study – Practice the Skill or Maneuver

Once a player identifies a problem, the next step is focused, intentional practice. This is where many players go wrong. Shooting around mindlessly with a friend isn’t the same as practicing. True study means deliberately working on the specific skill or maneuver that addresses its problem or purpose.

At Be Like David, we emphasize "30 minutes a day keeps the problem away." But this isn’t about random drills—it’s about laser-focused understanding.  

Once you identify the problem or purpose behind the skill or maneuver your practice becomes intentional and understood.  Allowing the player to use their imagination and athletic ability more critically in their practice time.

Tenet 3: Apply – Solve the Problem or Serve the Purpose on the Court

• This is where the student recognizes the problem on the court and uses the skill to solve it.  

• This is where the student uses a maneuver on the court for its purpose. 

And at its core, learning is application. To identify a problem is to solve it. To identify a purpose is to serve it.

Conclusion:

Where Lies the Difficulty in Basketball Development?

The challenge in improving one’s game doesn’t come from the skill or maneuver itself. The real difficulty lies in the player’s ability—or inability—to interpret the skill or maneuver correctly.

How can a player strengthen their interpretation?

By deeply understanding the problem or purpose behind the skill or maneuver. When a player fully grasps why a skill or maneuver is needed and what problem it solves or purpose it serves, their application of that skill or maneuver becomes far more effective.  

But when a player lacks this understanding, their execution suffers. The less you comprehend the problem or purpose, the weaker your application of the skill will be.

The players who excel aren’t the most physically gifted; they’re the ones who know how to apply their skills and maneuvers through problem-solving and playing with purpose.

Shalom.

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