Toughness.

A word many use, but few understand. One we throw around often, but rarely teach well.

@JayBilas has written extensively on this topic, and we've taken notes.

Here are a 16 ways to avoid the fake, and to strengthen your real...toughness

(a thread)

Toughness is a skill.

One that can be developed & improved. The toughest players to guard are the ones that make it tough on their opponent.

Set a good screen.

The toughest players are the players who set good screens.

When you set a good screen, you're improving the chances for a teammate to get open, and you're improving the chances of you getting open.

Set up your cut.

Basketball is about deception. A hard cut may get you a basket, but it also may get your teammate a basket.

Set it up, then cut card. That's what the tough players do.

Talk on defense.

The toughest players talk on defense and communicate with their teammates.

If you talk, you let your teammates know you're there & make them & yourself better defenders.

It also lets your opponent know you're fully engaged.

Don't get screened.

Tough players have a sense of urgency not to get screened so the cutter cannot catch the ball where they want.

A tough player makes the catch difficult.

Run the floor.

Tough players sprint the floor, which drags the defense and opens up things for others.

Tough players run hard and get "easy" buckets, even though there is nothing easy about them.

Easy buckets are hard to get.

Get to your teammates first.

When your teammates lay their body on the line to dive on the floor or take a charge, the tough players get to them first to help them back up.

If your teammates miss a free throw, get to them right away.

Tough players are great teammates.

Finish plays.

Tough players don't just get fouled, they get fouled & complete the play.

They don't give up on a play or assume that a teammate will do it.

A tough player plays through to the end & works to finish each play.

Take & give criticism the right way.

Tough players listen and are not afraid to say what other teammates may not want to hear, but need to.

Show strength in your body language.

You'll make a mistake. You'll mess up. Tough players avoid hanging their heads & whining to officials.

Instead...

Project confidence & security with your body language.

Make getting better every day your goal.

Tough players hate losing but aren't shaken or deterred by a loss. Tough players enjoy winning but aren't satisfied.

For tough players, a championship or a trophy isn't a goal, it's a destination.

The goal is to get better every day.

Side note. @JayBilas

Thank you for everything you do for the game. Our founder, Dick Devenzio, would be proud of the work you're doing today!

Thanks for being a light in the basketball world.

Be alert.

Tough players are not "too cool."

They are alert & active, constantly communicating with teammates so that they're alert, too.

Tough players echo commands until everyone is on the same page.

Make every game important.

Tough players don't categories opponent & games. They know if they're playing, it's important.

Tough players understand if they want to play in championship games, they must treat every game as a championship game.

Be hard to play against & easy to play with.

Tough players make their teammate's job easier & their opponent's job tougher.

Eye contact.

Tough players don't drop their heads.

They look coaches & teammates in the eye because if they are talking, it's important to them & to you.

It shows respect.

It's not your shot; it's our shot.

Tough players don't take bad shots, and they certainly don't worry about getting "my" shot.

Tough players work for good shots & understand that it's not "my shot," it's "our" shot.

Tough players celebrate when "we" score.