Kevin Eastman | Former NBA Assistant Coach and Executive | "Why the Best Are the Best"
Today's guest, Kevin Eastman, has spent over 40 years in the game of basketball, coaching and leading at the highest levels. His career includes 13 years in the NBA as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics and LA Clippers, as well as serving as the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Clippers. He was a key member of the 2008 Boston Celtics coaching staff that captured an NBA Championship and has coached in two NBA All-Star Games.Throughout his journey, Kevin has worked with some of the game’s most iconic players including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Steph Curry, Ray Allen, Kevin Durant and many others. After his coaching career, he's become a sought-after speaker for corporate groups and sports teams known for his practical wisdom and commitment to excellence. He’s also the best-selling author of Why the Best Are the Best.Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:[12:07] — Memorizing vs. Internalizing for Learning[19:17] — The 3 I's and Levels of Leadership[25:51] — Memorable lesson from Jay Bilas[36:28] — "Weeding the Garden" as an Assistant Coach[43:49] — Self-Awareness and Knowing Your GAPS[44:52] — Trigger Words to Slow Down & Reset[47:37] — Evaluating Yourself in the Offseason[52:47] — Telling the TruthMore Resources from Kevin:Why the Best Are the Best -- https://www.amazon.com/Why-Best-Are-Powerful-Champions/dp/1642250252/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DCKLZTD7I0EC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ix3t3ZOKYL2_Dh11qjM5WhPRe2FwHJ3dOGZlXtG8zBTGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.AidyJPS-eEeLY11RaUgow-41p-xr0lr9Dfl36UR_Sn8&dib_tag=se&keywords=why+the+best+are+the+best+kevin+eastman&qid=1752441740&sprefix=why+the+best+are+the+best+kevin+eastma%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-1Kevin's website -- https://kevineastman.net/More Resources from Zach:For more practical tools and mindset stories, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/
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Checkout Lines & Patience
Ever find yourself switching grocery lines, hoping for a faster one, only to end up more frustrated? In this episode, we explore what this experience can teach us about patience and performance. We explore the subtle ways we abandon systems too early, chasing speed instead of trusting the process. If you’re tempted to pivot too soon, this episode will challenge you to lean in and keep showing up. For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/
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Einstellung Effect
Success can sometimes be a trap. When something works, it’s easy to keep going back to it even when the situation calls for something new. In this episode, we explore the Einstellung Effect, a fascinating glitch in human problem-solving that causes people to cling to familiar tactics long after their usefulness has expired. You’ll learn how to identify patterns that no longer serve you and how unlearning can become your greatest advantage. For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/
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Take the Stairs
People will find a lot more growth in taking the stairs than they will riding the escalator. In this episode, we explore what it means to live with a 2% mindset and the willingness to choose discomfort when others choose ease. You’ll hear how something as simple as taking the stairs becomes a symbol for grit and growth. Drawing from Michael Easter's book,The Comfort Crisis, this is a call to action for those who refuse to coast. For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/
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Kevin Durant's #35
Sometimes, the smallest things carry the deepest meaning. NBA All-Star, Kevin Durant’s choice to wear #35 wasn’t a random decision, but rather a tribute and a daily reminder of a piece of his purpose. This episode explores how to make your own purpose more visible and practical so it fuels you along your journey. For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/
The Threshold Lab is where “aha” moments and insights go to lift weights. Each episode cracks open a fundamental principle from the world of high performance and aims to transform how you think, work, and lead. Think of it like unlocking a door you’ve passed a hundred times, only to find it opens into a whole new way of thinking. If you're into mindset, growth, and the occasional mental mic drop, you're in the right lab.Zach Brandon is a coach, speaker, and thought leader blending principles from psychology, coaching, and high performance to empower others toward personal and professional excellence.
New Zealand